Savoy Pier facts for kids
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| Type | Designed for River bus and tourist/leisure services |
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| Locale | River Thames, London, UK |
| Owner | Woods River Cruises Ltd |
| Operator | Woods' Silver Fleet |
| Coordinates | 51°30′31.5″N 0°7′09.85″W / 51.508750°N 0.1194028°W |
  Savoy PierLocation in Central London
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The Savoy Pier was a special landing spot for boats on the River Thames in London. It was located right next to the famous Savoy Hotel. A pier is like a long platform that stretches out over water, allowing boats to dock and people to get on and off.
This pier was taken down in late 2019. It was the first main base in central London for a company called Woods River Cruises Ltd.
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A Unique Design
The Savoy Pier was designed in 1998 by Beckett Rankine. It was meant to be a temporary structure, meaning it wasn't planned to be there forever. Its design was quite unusual! It was held in place by special "radial arms" that went sideways and "mooring cables" that ran lengthwise. These cables and arms kept the pier steady on the river. The company that built it, Downtown Marine Construction, is no longer in business.
New Beginnings
After the Savoy Pier was removed, a new, much longer floating platform called 'Woods Quay' took its place. This new platform is 140 meters long and opened in July 2020.
River Bus Services
For a few years, the Savoy Pier was a busy stop for river bus services. These are like public buses, but they travel on the river! Regular river bus trips ran from Savoy Pier starting in April 2004. However, in November 2008, these services moved to Embankment Pier, which is another pier a short distance up the Thames.
Getting Around Nearby
If you were visiting Savoy Pier, there were many ways to get to other parts of London.
Nearby River and Train Stations
- Embankment Pier: This is another pier where you can catch Thames Clippers river buses.
- Embankment Underground station: You could catch the Circle and District lines here.
- Temple Underground station: This station also has the Circle and District lines.
- Covent Garden Underground station: This station is on the Piccadilly line.
Places to Explore Nearby
- Covent Garden: A lively area known for its shops, street performers, and restaurants.
- South Bank Centre: A large area with arts venues, including theaters, concert halls, and art galleries.
