London Cable Car: The best and cheapest viewpoint over the Thames
Our last holiday day in England treated us to yet another dose of absolute dream weather. Bright blue skies, plenty of sun, and pleasantly warm for an October day - the perfect conditions for a highlight that had been on our London to-do list for ages: a ride on the London cable car, the London Cable Car.
To be honest, we didn’t even realise we were already right near the station that day. Once we noticed, of course it fit perfectly - and we grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Contactless and hassle-free: paying is this easy
The ticketing system in London is simply brilliant. You don’t need to sort anything out in advance, and you don’t have to queue at endless ticket machines. All you do is scan your credit card at the gate as normal - or tap your phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay.
A small tip if you’re doing this for the first time: don’t be surprised if the amount isn’t deducted from your account straight away. The London transport network collects your journeys throughout the day and only settles up at night - that way you automatically get the cheapest fare. We used the cable car for a single ride across the Thames.
Our October luck: a gondola all to ourselves
Since we were travelling in October, we were really lucky - it wasn’t busy at all. No queuing at the entrance, no sharing the cabin with strangers: we had an entire gondola to ourselves. Super relaxed, and we could enjoy the ride at our own pace.
Experience London by river and from the air! Enjoy a single trip on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and a round trip on the London Cable Car for breathtaking views and a convenient way to explore the city.
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The route across the Thames stretches out nicely, so you genuinely have plenty of time to take in the view.
From almost 90 metres up you get a fantastic all-round panorama: the London skyline, the Docklands, the modern Canary Wharf, and the huge O2 Arena right on the opposite bank.
Insider tip: London Cable Car vs. London Eye
A few years ago we already tried the famous Ferris wheel, the London Eye. In a direct comparison we have to say quite clearly: the London Eye is an experience - but it also costs roughly ten times as much as the cable car. If you still want a lovely view, you should seriously consider the Cable Car.
The ride is genuinely affordable, offers a great panorama, and is simply huge fun. For us, this spontaneous trip across the Thames was the highlight of a beautiful day in London.
Visitor information
The London Cable Car is a lovely experience and a comparatively cheap viewpoint over London.
- Time
- Daytime into the evening.
In good weather, a ride in the late afternoon is worth it, when golden light sits over Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena. - Season
- Year-round. In October we had the gondola to ourselves - in high summer it will likely be considerably busier.
- Tickets
- Simply pay “tap and go” (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay) at the gate; the system automatically picks the cheapest fare.
- @londoncablecar
- Website
- London Cable Car (IFS Cloud)
- Address
- 27 Western Gateway, London E16 1FA (UK)
What we brought along:
Vivid is the modern bank we use in everyday life and when travelling. We have several free accounts for budgeting, which helps us immensely to keep track of things at home and on the road.
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