Using Oyster Card On Uber Boat: Is It Possible?

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers a river bus service between Putney and Woolwich, with stops at popular London destinations such as Westminster Pier, London Eye Pier, and Greenwich Pier. The service offers a unique way to commute or visit London, with fantastic views of the city's landmarks. You can pay for the service using an Oyster card, a Visitor Oyster card, or a contactless payment card. You can also buy tickets on the Uber app or the Thames Clippers app.

Oyster card readers are located next to the boarding point on the pier

Each passenger needs a separate Oyster card. If you have a Transport for London (TfL) Travelcard, you will automatically receive a third off when you touch in on the yellow card reader. If you have a paper Travelcard, you can still receive the discount by getting your tickets online, or via the Thames Clippers Tickets or Uber apps.

If you're using a contactless or Oyster card to pay as you go, you will pay a lower rate fare. This also applies to those who purchase tickets via a smartphone app.

You can also use your Oyster card to buy a paper ticket from pier ticket offices for River Tours.

You must have enough credit on your Oyster card to complete your journey

Oyster cards are accepted on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers services. You can use your Oyster card to pay as you go, but you must have enough credit to complete your journey as you cannot top up your Oyster card at River Bus piers.

To pay, touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on the yellow card readers, and when changing boats, to ensure you pay the correct fare. You will need to touch in when instructed to do so by a member of staff, who must see you do this.

If your Oyster card is linked to a Transport for London (TfL) Travelcard, you will automatically receive 1/3 off. If you have a paper Travelcard, you can still receive the discount by getting your tickets online, or via the Thames Clippers Tickets or Uber apps.

Please note that daily or weekly price capping does not apply for river bus travel.

You can't top up your Oyster card at River Bus piers

You can use your Oyster card to pay for your journey on the River Bus service operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. However, you cannot top up your Oyster card at River Bus piers. This means that you must ensure that your Oyster card has enough credit for your journey before you travel.

To pay for your journey, you must touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on the yellow card readers, as well as when changing boats, to pay the correct fare. You must have enough credit on your Oyster card to complete your journey as the TfL daily cap does not apply to River services.

If you have a Travelcard loaded on your Oyster card, you will automatically receive a 1/3 discount when you touch in on the yellow card reader. If you have a paper Travelcard, you can still receive the discount by getting your tickets online, or via the Thames Clippers Tickets or Uber apps.

If you are travelling with a Freedom Pass, you must buy a ticket before travelling, which is offered at a discounted rate. Freedom Pass, 60+ Oyster, and War Veteran Oyster cardholders receive a 50% discount, which will always be off the lower rate fare, whether you purchase via the phone app or at a pier ticket office.

You can use Oyster cards to get a discount on most single journeys

When using an Oyster card, you must touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end, including at interchanges, to ensure you pay the correct fare. You will need to touch in and out with the same Oyster card. You must have enough credit on your Oyster card to complete your journey, as you won't be able to top up at River Bus piers.

If your Oyster card is linked to a Transport for London (TfL) Travelcard, you will automatically receive a third off. If you have a paper Travelcard, you can still receive the discount by getting your tickets online, or via the Thames Clippers Tickets or Uber apps.

You can also use a contactless card to pay for your journey.

You can use Oyster cards to buy a paper ticket for River Tours

If you're planning to use the River Bus service operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, you can use your Oyster card to pay for your journey. This is a convenient and quick way to pay for your travel. You can also use a contactless payment card or the Uber app to pay for your ticket.

When using your Oyster card, make sure you have enough credit on your pay-as-you-go card before you travel, as you can't top up your Oyster card at River Bus piers. You'll need to touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end, as well as when changing boats, to ensure you pay the correct fare. It's important to wait until instructed by a member of staff to touch in, and they must see you do it. Remember to touch out when you disembark, as failing to do so may result in you being charged a maximum fare for an incomplete journey.

While you can use your Oyster card for pay-as-you-go travel on the River Bus, it's important to note that this doesn't apply to River Tours. For River Tours, you can't use pay-as-you-go with Oyster or contactless cards. However, you can use the credit on your Oyster card to buy a paper ticket from the pier ticket offices for Thames River Services. So, if you're planning to take a River Tour, make sure to purchase your ticket at the pier before boarding.

The River Bus service by Uber Boat covers 23 piers between Putney and Woolwich, providing a fast and efficient way to travel across London. The boats are all wheelchair accessible, and most have a small outside deck area. You can enjoy the sights of London from the river while avoiding the traffic. So, if you're looking to explore London by boat, the River Bus is a great option, and you can easily pay for your journey with your Oyster card.

Frequently asked questions