St. Katharine's Pier facts for kids
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| Type | River bus and tourist/leisure services |
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| Locale | River Thames, London, UK |
| Owner | Woods River Cruises Ltd (Woods’ Silver Fleet) |
| Operator | Woods River Cruises Ltd (Woods’Silver Fleet) |
| Coordinates | 51°30′22″N 0°04′25″W / 51.506071°N 0.073535°W |
  Tower Bridge Quay (prev. St. Katharine's Pier)Location in Central London
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Tower Bridge Quay, once known as St. Katharine's Pier, is a special platform built over the River Thames in London, UK. Think of it as a bus stop for boats! It's a busy place where many different river boats and tour companies pick up and drop off passengers. The pier recently changed its name from St. Katharine's Pier to Tower Bridge Quay.
You can find this pier on the north side of the Thames, right next to the famous Tower Bridge. It's also very close to the Thistle Tower Hotel. If you're coming by underground train, it's only about a ten-minute walk from Tower Hill Underground station.
It's important not to mix up Tower Bridge Quay with the nearby St Katharine Docks. The Docks are a private area for yachts and homes, not a public boat stop like the pier.
Contents
Boat Trips and Services
Tower Bridge Quay is a great spot to catch a boat and explore London from the water!
Hop-on, Hop-off Cruises
One of the most popular services here is a "hop-on, hop-off" boat tour. This means you can get on and off the boat at different stops along the river. These tours are run by Crown River Cruises. They travel west towards Westminster Millennium Pier and then come back east, passing by the South Bank arts centre. It's a fun way to see many famous London sights!
Express River Journeys
You can also find an express service that goes between Westminster and Greenwich. This boat trip, run by Thames River Services, even goes all the way around the Thames Barrier before heading back to central London.
Private Boat Charters
The company that owns the pier, Woods’ Silver Fleet, also offers private boat trips. You can rent their special boats for parties, celebrations, or private tours. Imagine having your own boat on the Thames!
Getting There
It's easy to reach Tower Bridge Quay using London's public transport.
- Underground and DLR: The pier is close to Tower Hill Underground station and Tower Gateway DLR station. These stations connect you to the London Underground (the Tube) and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) networks.
- Other Piers: The Tower Millennium Pier is just on the other side of Tower Bridge. This pier is mainly used for boats that commuters (people traveling to work) use every day.
Fun Places Nearby
There are many exciting places to visit close to Tower Bridge Quay.
- St Katharine Docks: A lovely area with yachts and places to eat.
- Tower of London: A historic castle with a fascinating past, including the Crown Jewels!
- Tower Bridge: The iconic bridge itself, which you can walk across or even go inside to see how it works.
Images for kids
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A Crown River Cruise boat leaving the pier
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A Thames Clipper catamaran passes the pier (Tower Hotel in the background)
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Picture taken at Sunrise
