Getting ashore
Most large cruise ships dock at Port Tilbury on the north bank of the Thames, at the London Cruise Terminal in the southern part of the port near the car terminal. Smaller ships use the Greenwich Tier, a pontoon near the Cutty Sark and Greenwich railway station, where tenders take passengers to the shore pier. A third mooring at Tilbury Docks, about 30 km downriver, is used by Fred Olsen and Ambassador Cruise Line. The Greenwich Ship Tier takes vessels up to 228 m (748 ft) long. The docking quay was extended to 350 m (1,148 ft) in 2017, with a maximum draught of 10 m (33 ft).
Into town and transport
Thames Clippers river buses run from Tilbury to Greenwich in about 35 minutes and to Tower Bridge in about 50 minutes. From Greenwich, travellers can take buses, the Underground, the light railway or a river boat on to central London. Bus line 99 links the Tilbury Landing Stage with Tilbury Town station. A Tilbury to Gravesend ferry runs Monday to Saturday all year, and Gravesend station is about 10 minutes’ walk from Gravesend Town Pier. The ferry operates on a temporary contract, so check that it still runs before relying on it.
Terminal and berths
The London Cruise Terminal reopened in 1995 in the old passenger landing stage, and rail no longer reaches it. A new passenger terminal opened in May 1930 with direct rail links to London, operating until the 1960s. In 2017 the terminal spent 1.5 million pounds on its baggage hall, finished in October, and 1 million pounds on a new roof. P&O was the first user, starting in 1916, and later had its own berths built. The CruiseMapper map shows the cruise terminal in the southern part of the port.
Sights around Greenwich
Greenwich is London’s other cruise port, and its small-ship pier serves the area’s main attractions. These include the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Royal Park, the Queen’s House, the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Market and the Royal Observatory. The Cutty Sark, built in 1869, is close by. The Old Royal Naval College is a World Heritage Site. The Royal Borough draws millions of visits a year, according to the CruiseMapper wiki. The Port of London Authority operates the Ship Tier berth at Greenwich, which smaller cruise ships, superyachts and riverboats use.
Port history
Parliament approved the Tilbury docks in 1882, and the first ship docked in April 1886. The port joined the Port of London Authority in 1909 and was acquired by Forth Ports in 1992. It is the UK’s third largest container port, after Felixstowe and Southampton, and the fastest-growing UK seaport. In 2017 the port had 64 scheduled calls, 55 of them by CMV, with 71 booked for 2018. The 2017 and 2018 figures come from older entries and are dated.
Money & connectivity
The sources read do not cover card acceptance or mobile coverage in Tilbury or Greenwich. Ferry and river fares are quoted in pounds. The Tilbury to Gravesend ferry charges GBP 4 for a single adult ticket and GBP 3 for an off-peak return. Peak times are 5:40 to 9:15 am and 4:15 to 7:10 pm. Children aged 5 to 15 pay the child fare, and under-5s travel free with a paying passenger, up to four per passenger. These fares are dated, so confirm before travel.
Tilbury town
Tilbury is a port city in Thurrock, Essex, founded in the late 19th century. It is a deep-water harbour handling bulk cargo, car carriers, containerships and timber, and it is the main UK paper importer. Docking jobs declined after standardised containers arrived, and the lost jobs were never replaced, according to the wiki. The Tilbury to Gravesend ferry runs on a temporary contract backed by Thurrock and Kent County Councils. Gravesham council owns the Gravesend pier, and Kent County Council supports the pontoon. An earlier crossing, run by the Lower Thames and Medway Passenger Boat Company, dates from 2002.
Tilbury2 and changes
On 20 February 2019 Forth Ports received development consent for Tilbury2, next to the current port, covering 930 acres. The GBP 200 million project includes rail-road links, a deepwater jetty, a construction-materials terminal and car parking. The wiki says it would become the UK’s largest ferry port, with a roll-on roll-off terminal run with P&O Ferries. The sources read do not confirm whether it has been completed. Plans for a London City Cruise Terminal at Enderby Wharf were approved in July 2015, and its status is not confirmed.
Practical tips
Bicycles are allowed on the Gravesend ferry but motorcycles are not, and pets travel free if caged or on a lead. The CruiseMapper calendar shows Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience, Avalon Waterways and Viking River Cruises ships in early October 2026. Ambassador Cruise Line began operating from Tilbury in April 2022 with Ambience. Check the river bus and ferry times on the day, as services change with the season. The Tilbury Landing Stage is the pier for the Gravesend ferry, and Thames Clippers and water taxis use the Greenwich shore pier as well.
Accessibility & mobility
The sources read do not cover step-free access at the cruise terminal or on the river buses. Ask the cruise line about shore arrangements, and check the operator's accessibility details for the ferry and buses.