Kew Pier facts for kids
Kew Pier
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| Type | Tourist/Leisure services |
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| Locale | River Thames, London, UK |
| Owner | Westminster Passenger Services Association (Thames River Boats) |
| Operator | Westminster Passenger Services Association |
| Coordinates | 51°29′12″N 0°17′11″W / 51.4866°N 0.2865°W |
 Kew Pier
Location in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
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Kew Pier, also known as Kew Gardens Pier, is a special landing spot for boats on the famous River Thames in London, United Kingdom. It's located very close to the beautiful Kew Gardens and Kew Bridge in an area called the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. This pier is a busy place where passenger boats, run by a company called Westminster Passenger Services Association (often known as Thames River Boats), pick up and drop off people.
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Boat Trips from Kew Pier
The company Thames River Boats offers fun boat trips from Kew Pier. You can travel to different places along the River Thames.
Popular Destinations
- Westminster Pier: This trip takes about 90 minutes. Westminster Pier is near many famous London landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
- Richmond: You can take a longer boat trip upriver to Richmond. This journey takes between two hours and two hours 20 minutes from Westminster. Richmond is a lovely town with a riverside feel.
- Hampton Court: The longest trip goes all the way to Hampton Court Palace. This journey can take between three hours 30 minutes and four hours from Westminster. Hampton Court Palace is a historic royal palace.
How Tides Affect Travel
The time it takes to travel by boat on the River Thames can change. This is because of the tide. The tide is the rise and fall of the river's water level. When the tide is going out, the river flows faster, which can make trips quicker if you are going with the flow. If you are going against the tide, it might take a bit longer.
On some longer trips, boats pass through special gates called locks. Locks help boats move between different water levels on the river.
- Between Kew and Richmond, boats go through the Richmond Lock and Weir. This lock helps manage the water level in that part of the river.
- Between Richmond and Hampton Court, boats pass through Teddington Lock. This is another important lock that helps boats travel smoothly along the Thames.
