The Thames is as frenetic as the city around it with scores of ferries, river cruise ships, ocean going cruise ships and other craft jostling for space in this congested waterway, but like a well oiled machine it seems to work just fine.

Thames Clippers provide ferry service for Transport for London from Putney in the west to Woolwich in the east with different frequencies and route in between.

City Cruises operate from Westminster in the west to Greenwich in the East and a plethora of other operates jostle for trade up and down the Thames too.

In addition there are a number on interesting nautical treasures up and down the river too including The Golden Hind at Brixham, a full sized replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Tudor Galleon.

The famous Tea Clipper Cutty Sark, lovingly restored after a major fire is a delight to behold permanently as safely moored in Greenwich. Our sister blog heritagetransport.uk has an account of our visit to this vessel.

The historic ship HQS Wellington is the last surviving member of the Grimsby Class of sloops which served the nation with much distinction in World War Two. She has been moored on the Thames since 1948 during which time she has been the home of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, a City of London Livery Company.

HMS Belfast is also another attraction on the river at Tower Bridge.

Several passenger ferries are also present on the river in static roles including Tattershall Castle, the former Humber paddle steamer.

The MV Maid of Ashton which started life as a ferry on the Clyde in 1953. She was removed from service in 1973 and after a refit and modification arrived in the River Thames in 1980. She was renamed to RS Hispaniola and is at the Victoria Embankment.

Thames Clippers modern fleet of high speed vessels now number 19 catamarans, carry over 4 million passengers a year. The latest vessel delivered just 3 months ago Venus Clipper was built by Wight Shipyard and was completed in 10 months. She has a capacity for 220 passengers.

Wight Shipyard completed its first two vessels for MBNA Thames Clippers back in August 2017, the 35-m low wash catamarans Mercury Clipper and Jupiter Clipper.

City Cruises operate numerous larger excursion vessels, the biggest and newest being the 600 passenger Millennium Diamond which was delivered in 2012.

We took a cruise on the company’s Millennium of Peace from Greenwich all the way up to Westminster. This vessel was built in 1999 along with 3 sisters at a total cost of £6 million and these vessels provide the backbone of City Cruise service. A separate article on the Millennium of Peace appears elsewhere on this blog.

Cruise Ships also call on the river at various terminals, on our trip the Azamara Journey was berthed at Greenwich on a three day visit.

Assorted images of various other craft appear below……….