Basic HTML Version
The Thames Cable Car crosses the river from The O
2
Arena, Europe’s biggest entertainment venue (formerly
the Millennium Dome) to the ExCel Centre in the Royal
Docks, which is Europe’s biggest exhibition centre. Both
were Olympic venues and the cable car carried 2012 Games
visitors between the two. Now the cable car is on the tube
map as a permanent fixture.
The cable car is officially called the Emirates Air Line after
the sponsors who paid half the cost of £60m. Everything
is airline themed; “boarding passes” rather than tickets,
crossings described as “flights” and staff dressed as
stewards. Thirty steps or a lift take you to the boarding
platform where glass gondolas seating up to ten people
arrive slowly at a turning circle allowing plenty of time to
step inside. Boarding is supervised so the cable car can be
paused to allow more time for a wheelchair user or very
immobile person to board.
At peak times the crossing (a smidge over half a mile) takes
about five minutes, this is slowed to ten minutes off peak to
enjoy 360-degree views of the City, Canary Wharf, historic
Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Stadium
and Orbit Tower from a height of 300 feet which would
just about skim the top of Big Ben. After dark you can see
the Dartford Bridge and altogether now
“Wiv a ladder and
some glasses you could see to ‘ackney marshes…”.
The gondolas glide silently and smoothly out over the river
which is very wide here and it is rather marvellous. We love
the novelty of the cable car and we think your group will
have great fun.
If you have any group members who don’t want to go up
it’s not a problem - for all tour options just deduct £7.50
from the ticket price.
10
Available daily 1 October to March 31. Brunch not
available Mondays. Carvery lunch not available
weekends. All options include a cup of tea or coffee.
Adults & Seniors: £27.50
Coach Mileage: 20
Summer Cable Car Trip
From 1 April through to the end of September when
we can’t do a dark flight on the cable car you can book
the same itinerary as above but there will be one 360°
daylight return flight on the cable car and the tour
timings will run from midday to 6.00pm.
Thames Cable Car Days
The Light & Dark
Cable Car Tour
Including brunch or lunch and two flights on
the cable car - one in daylight and one in the
dark. The dark flight is only possible in January,
February, March, October, November &
December. See blue box for Summer option.
The Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics showcased our
wonderful capital and now the hope is that the tourists will
flock here. This entertaining day is an insider’s guide to
“Tourist London” for British people bringing you right up to
date with everything that’s new and giving you great ideas for
planning sightseeing trips for your own family and visitors.
The day starts with a buffet brunch on a boat moored in the
London docks, a roast beef lunch served to your table in an
East End pub or a self service carvery lunch. The day runs
from midday to 6.00pm January, February, November &
December or 1.00pm to 7.00pm in March and October to allow
for the dark flight. You’ll be met by a top-notch guide to take
you for brunch or lunch after which we begin with the daylight
cable car flight before travelling full circle on a guided coach
tour of London.
You’ll see historic Greenwich where the Olympic Equestrian
events were held and see for yourself the incredible number
of new apartment blocks springing up all the way into
central London where The Shard, the European Union’s
tallest building, comes to ground in the narrow streets of
Bermondsey. It’s not what you expect at all! We’ll drive you
along The Mall to Buckingham Palace because why should the
tourists have all the fun!
Turning back East we’ll drive across London Bridge and
Tower Bridge to make the most of the beautiful river views
before slipping through the East End to come full circle back
to the cable car in the Royal Docks, this time for a crossing in
the dark to see London illuminated. There will be a stop for
hot drinks and loos before the dark flight. You will be heading
home at 6.00pm or 7.00pm depending on the month you come.
City & Village Tours: 0845 812 5000