Victorian London - Transport - River - Steamers / Steamboats - timetable, routes and fares

For the introduction of steam navigation, the public are indebted, among many other improvements, but particularly the Waterloo and Vauxhall bridges, to the skill, spirit, and enterprise at Mr. George Dodd, who, in the summer of 1815, purchased and fitted up a vessel at Glasgow, and brought it to London by the power of steam machinery in one hundred and twenty-one hours. At the present day, steam-packets run daily to Ramsgate, Margate, Gravesend, Southend, Herne Bay, and Sheerness, and at stated periods, to all the ports and principal places on the coast of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as to the Continent, India, and America. Steam-packets, upon a smaller scale, run several times a day from Hungerford Market and London Bridge to Greenwich and Woolwich; and in the summer season, every quarter of an hour from Hungerford Market to Dyer's Hall Wharf, near London Bridge, to Westminster and Vauxhall bridges. The days of departure of the coasting and continental vessels are regularly advertised in the leading newspapers, the columns of the Times, in particular, contains the whole of these announcements. To describe them all would far exceed the limits of this work; but to those who are desirous of acquiring the best information on the subject, as regards England, Scotland, and Ireland, we would recommend Mogg's Map of Steam Navigation, or Water Itinerary of Great Britain and Ireland, with the adjacent parts of the Continent, from Amsterdam to Paris and Brest; which, us addition to other information, exhibits the tracks pursued by the steam-packets in their passage to the several outports and the Continent, with the distances figured thereon; the whole is accompanied by printed observations, and forms altogether a steam-boat companion of peculiar interest to the pleasure tourist.

Mogg's New Picture of London and Visitor's Guide to it Sights, 1844

Steamboats. The steamboats belonging to the "Iron" and "Citizen" Companies start from the piers at London Bridge (Middlesex and Surrey sides) about every five minutes, from 9 a.m, until dusk. They stop at the following stations:

1 · From London Bridge -
        St. Paul's Wharf.  [for each passenger, 1d. Passengers for or from the Surrey side of London Bridge change boats at St. Paul's Wharf]
        Blackfriars Br. Pier. [" "]
        Essex Street Pier.  [" "]
        Waterloo Br. Pier.  [" "]
        Hungerford Br. Pier.  [" "]
        Westminster Br. Pier.  [" "]
        Lambeth Palace Pier.  [" "]
        Millbank Pier. [Fare: 2d. each passenger]
        Nine Elms. [" "]
        Pimlico Pier. [" "]
        Chelsea Bridge and Battersea Park Pr.  [Fare: 3d. each passenger]
        Cadogan Pr. Chelsea.  [" "]
        Battersea Pier. [" "]
2. From Cadogan Pier, Chelsea (during the summer), every half-hour, for- 
        Wandsworth.
        Putney.
        Hammersmith.
        Kew;
and from London Bridge and Hungerford Piers to Kew and back.
    The steamboats belonging to the "Watermens Company" start every twenty minutes in summer, and half- hour in winter, from Hungerford, Essex Street Pier, Blackfriars and London Bridge, for-
        Cherry Garden Pier.  [fare 4d. and 2d.]
        Thames Tunnel Pier  [" "]
        Commercial Docks [" "]
        Greenwich Pier. [" "]
        Blackwall Pier. [fare 6d.]
        Charlton Pier.  [" "]
        Woolwich Pier. [" "]
    During the summer season boats run to Erith and Gravesend about seven times daily, fare 1s. 6d.; and to Southend, fare 2s. 6d., about four times daily.
    Penny boats run, every ten minutes, between the Surrey side of Westminster Bridge, Hungerford, and London Bridge. 
    Half-penny boats run, every five minutes, from the Adelphi Pier (Strand) to Dyers' Hall Pier, London Bridge.

Cruchley's London in 1865 : A Handbook for Strangers, 1865

STEAM-BOATS. - The " silent highway'' is traversed by a number of regular steamers. Eastward there are boats to Rotheritithe, Greenwich, Woolwich, Blackwall, and Gravesend, from the piers at London-bridge. Westward, the Citizen Company and Iron Boat Company run steamers between London-bridge and Chelsea. These call at the intermediate piers, and make a large number of trips daily, at fares varying between a penny and sixpence.
    Other boats proceed to places farther sib the river- Hammersmith, Kew, Richmond, Twickenham, &c.
    The Penny boats go to and from London-bridge and Hungerford and Westminster, close to the Westminster Station of the Metropolitan Railway, about every five minutes. The Twopenny and Threepenny boats go from London-bridge to Chelsea (Cremorne-gardens) and Battersea every ten minutes; while the boats for Kew and Richmond generally start from Chelsea. Few, except excursion boats, and others engaged especially, at times when the tide allows, proceed as far as Richmond.
    The Greenwich, Woolwich, and Blackwall boats run every twenty minutes between Hungerford pier and Woolwich, stopping at several piers on their way. Their fares range between 2d. and 6d. They also work in conjunction with the Blackwall and North Woolwich railways, so that visitors may go to either of these places by boat and return at night by rail.
    The steamers for Gravesend, Margate, Ramsgate, and more distant places start from the eastern side of London-bridge, from Blackwall and Thames-Haven piers, as well as from the piers above bridge. The times and fares are always advertised in the daily papers.

Routledge's Popular Guide to London, [c.1873]

[ ... back to main menu for this book]

Steamboat (London) Company –PRICE LIST OF BOATS FOR PRIVATE EXCURSION PARTIES – The prices quoted below include pier dues, except at Charing-cross, London-bridge-wharf, Blackwall, Charlton, North Woolwich, all piers below Woolwich, and Teddington-lock dues.

DOWN-RIVER BOATS


WESTMINSTER TO ERITH OR GRAVESEND

WESTMINSTER TO SOUTHEND OR SHEERNESS

LONDON-BR TO CLACTON-ON-SEA


PRICE

Steamers to convey passengers as under.

PRICE

Steamers to convey passengers as under.

PRICE

On Mondays and Saturdays

Any day except Saturday, Sunday or Monday

On Mondays and Saturdays

Any day except Saturday, Sunday or Monday

Any day except Saturday, Sunday or Monday


£

£


£

£


£

*800

55

50

500

60

55

-


*700

48

40

400

50

45

370
309

60
50

*500

35

32

300

40

35

278
260

45
45

470

25

22

250

28

25

240
209

40
35

400

23

20

200

24

23

CHELSEA TO GREENWICH OR WOOLWICH

350

21

17

180

22

20

300

17

16

-

-

-

280

16

14

-

19

-

440
350

16
13

250

14

13

160

-

-

300

12


UP RIVER BOATS

Steamers to convey passengers as under.

FROM CHELSEA OR LONDON-BRIDGE TO GRAVESEND

FROM CHELSEA OR LONDON-BRIDGE TO WOOLWICH

FROM LONDON-BRIDGE TO KEW OR RICHMOND

FROM LONDON-BRIDGE TO HAMPTON COURT

On Mondays and Saturdays

Any day except Saturday, Sunday or Monday


£

£

£

£  s

£  s

350

21

17

13

13  0

16  0

300

18

16

12

TO KEW
12  0

-

280

16

14

11

TO KEW
11  10

-

250

14

13

10

-

-

230

13

12

9

-

-

200

12

11

8

-

-


The Steamers marked * cannot start from any pier above Paul’s-wharf.

SPECIAL NOTICE – N.B. Above Gravesend, children not in arms count as adults; below that station, two children under twelve count as one adult. Parties engaging boats are informed that they will be held responsible for any fine or other penalty for which the Company may be held liable for any infringement of this notice.
In August extra prices will be charged for all the steamers.
No vessels will be let for excursions on Sundays, General Holidays, or days of Sailing or Rowing
Matches, except by special agreement. No vessel will be allowed to leave Sheerness after 4.30 p.m.; Gravesend after 6.30 p.m.; Erith after 7 p.m.; Woolwich or Greenwich after 7.30 p.m.; Kew after 6.30 p.m.; Hampton after 5.30 p.m. Parties engaging a boat are also informed that tickets are not allowed to be sold on or near the piers, either before or on the day of the  Excursion, nor for Rowing Matches.
ROWING MATCHES.—To accompany Match in afternoon from Greenwich or Woolwich to Erith only, with 200 passengers, £8. If required for Excursion after Match, £10. If steamer is required to start from and return to London, £11. Putney to Mortlake from London-bridge, £9; if the boat proceeds to Kew, £12, including landing; or to Richmond, £13. The numbers to be limited to 200 on any one boat.
LIST OF PIERS AND PLACES AT WHICH  THE COMPANY’S STEAMBOATS CALL.
Hampton Court—For the Palace and Bushey-park.
Teddington Lock and Petersham.
Richmond—For hill, park, and boating.
Kew.—Gardens.
Hammersmith.-—Metropolitan & District Railway.
Putney.—For Fnlham.
Chelsea and Cadogan.
Battersea-park.
Do. Railway Pier. — For London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway.
Pimlico.—(St. George’s-square).
Nine-Elms.—South-Western Railway.
Millbank.—Penitentiary.
Lambeth.—For Kennington-road, Princess-st, the Palace, and St. Thomas’s Hospital.
Westminster.—For Parliament Houses, District Railway, Abbey, Parks, and Public Offices.
Charing-cross.—For Charing-cross, Regent-st, St. Martin’s-lane, Pall Mall, and Oxford-st.
Waterloo—For Somerset House, Strand, Gaiety, Lyceum, Drury-lane, and Covent-garden Theatres.
Temple—For Strand, Chancery-lane, Fleet-st, &c.
Blackfriars-bridge. —For London, Chatham, and Dover Railway the District Line, Aldersgate –st, Fleet-st, and Bridge-st.
St. Pauls.—For St. Paul’s, Blackfriars, Ludgate-hill, Newgate-st, General Post Office, &c. Company’s Office—Bennet’s-hill.
London-bridge.—For the City, Cheapside, Bank, Royal Exchange, King William-st, Thames-st, Coal Exchange, Billingsgate, The Tower.
London-bridge (Surrey Side).—For the Borough, Guy’s Hospital, London-bridge Railways, and Crystal Palace.
Cherry-gardens.—For Rotherhithe, Southwark-pk, the East London Railway, &c. -
The Tunnel.—For Wapping, London and St. Katherine’s.docks, the East London Railway for the Crystal Palace, &c.
G1obe-stairs.—For Rotherhithe, Surrey Commercial-docks, &c.
Limehouse. — For Limehouse and West India-docks.
West India-dock—Close to the dock entrance.
Commercial-dock.—For the Surrey and Commercial Docks, Deptford, &c.
Millwall.—For Millwall docks and upper part of the Isle of Dogs.
Greenwich—For Greenwich Naval College, the Park and Observatory, Naval Museum, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Lee, Lewisham &c.
Isle of Dogs—For the Docks and North Greenwich Railway to Fenchurch-st.
Cubitt Town—For Poplar, Mr. Samuda’s Yard, and the lower part of the Isle of Dogs.
Blackwall.—For the East and West India Docks, Victoria-docks, the Blackwall Railway, and the
North London Railway, for all stations on the North London District.
Charlton.—For the Dockyard, Barracks, Rotunda, Common, Wood-st, West Woolwich, Shooters’-hill, and Charlton. The Marine Society’s Ship Warspite.
Woolwich—For the Royal Arsenal, Barracks, East and North Woolwich, Plumstead, Artillery Barracks, and Shooter’s-hill.
North Woolwich.—The Boats call at this pier during the summer with passengers for the gardens.
Erith.—Gardens.
Greenhithe.—H. M.S. Worcester and the training ships Chichester and Arethusa
Rosherville.—Gardens, Northfleet, New Thames Yacht Club.
Gravesend.—Milton, Tilbury.
Southend.—For Shoebury
Sheerness—For Chatham Boats, Queenboro’.
Clacton-on-Sea.—(Royal Hotel), Great and Little Holland.
Walton-on-Naze.—(Dorlings and Clifton Hotels), Thorpe, Weeley.
Harwich—For Dovercourt and Felixstowe.
Ipswich.—Trains for Norwich, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, and all stations on Great Eastern Railway.
Passengers using the after or saloon deck and after cabin must pay chief cabin fare; smoking abaft the funnel or in the chief cabin is strictly prohibited; no passengers are allowed on the bridge-boards, and passengers are particularly warned not to sit or stand on the paddle-boxes; no person except the company’s servants allowed to be in the engine-rooms or to interfere with the working of the vessels; all dogs charged for at the same rate as passengers; all luggage must be paid for; refreshments are provided on board the vessels at fixed rates, and the contractors are not allowed to charge more than the authorised scale, a copy of which may be seen on board; children under three years of age are conveyed free—above three years and under twelve years, at one-half the ordinary fares, except in the 1d, 2d., 3d. fares. By the Act 25 & 26 Vict. c. 63, the company refuse to convey intoxicated passengers, and should such person attempt to go onboard after his fare (if he has taken his ticket) has been offered to be returned to him, such person renders himself liable to a penalty of  40s.
HOURS OF STARTING
Up. LONDON-BRIDGE TO CHELSEA – Every 10 minutes from 9 a.m to 7 p.m.
London-bridge .. At the even quarters of the hours.
Paul’s-wharf     3, 18, 33, & 48 min. past hours.
Blackfriars     5, 20, 35, & 50
Temple 8, 23, 38, & 53
Waterloo     11, 26, 41, & 56
Charing-cross 13, 28, 43, & 58                   
Westminster 3, 18, 33, & 48
Lambeth 8, 23, 38, & 53
Millbank      11, 26, 41, & 56
Nine Elms...... 15, 30, & 45
Pimlico 2, 27, 32, & 47
Railway-pier   .. 6, 21, 36, & 51
Battersea-park .. 8, 23, 38, & 53
Cadogan     11, 26, 41, & 56
Chelsea-bridge ..Arrive even quarters of the hours

DOWN—CHELSEA TO LONDON-BRIDGE.—Every 10 minutes, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Chelsea-bridge .. At the even quarters of the hours
Cadogan 3, 18, 33, & 48 min. past hours.
Battersea-park  5, 20, 35, & 50
Railway-pier  7, 22, 37, & 52
Pimlico 10, 25, 40, & 55
Nine Elms 12, 27, 42, & 57
Millbank  1, 16, 31, & 46
Lambeth 4, 19, 32, & 49
Westminster 9, 24, 39, & 54
Charing-cross 22, 27, 42, & 57
Waterloo 14, 29, 44, & 59
Temple 1, t6, 31, & 47
Blackfriars 4, 99[sic], 34, & 52
Paul’s-wharf  6, 21, 36, & 45
London-bridge .. Arrive even quarters of the hours.

An extra boat at 8 from Pimlico to London-bridge.
Express boat at 9.5, calling at Cadogan, Batterseaa-park, Nine Elms, Westminster, Temple, to London. bridge.
FERRY STEAMERS cross the River Thames every few minutes between London-bridge (Surrey side), St. Paul’s. and Blackfriars-piers, connecting the Brighton, Crystal Palace, South London, and South Eastern Railways with the Metropolitan District, and Chatham and Dover Railways, from 8.30 a.m. till about 7 p.m.

Up.—WOOLWICH TO WESTMINSTER.—Every half hour, from 8.30 am, to 6 p.m.
Woolwich    At the hours and half hours.
Charlton About 5 & 35 min. past hours
Blackwall About 15 to & 15
Cubitt-town About 7 to & 23
Greenwich About hours and half hours.
Millwall  About 5 & 35 min. past hours
Commercial-dock About  10 & 40
West India-dock About 14 & 44
Limehouse About 27 & 47
Globe-stairs About 20 & 50
Tunnel  About 24 & 53
Cherry-garden About  26 & 55
London-bridge About 13 & 33
Blackfriars About    8 & 41
Temple About 11 & 44
Charing-cross About  14 & 47
Westminster Arrive about 17 & 50

Down—WESTMINSTER TO WOOLWICH.—Every half hour, from 8.10 a.m. to 6.40p.m.
Westminster . 10 & 40 min. past hours.
Charing-cross .. About 15 & 45
Temple About  17 & 47
Blackfriars About 20 & 50
London-bridge  About hours and half hours.
Cherry-garden About 5 & 35 min. past hours.
Tunnel About 8 & 38
Globe-stairs About 12 & 42
Limehouse About 15 & 45
West India-dock About 18 & 47
Commercial-dock About 22 & 51
Millwall-dock About 27 & 56
Greenwich About hours and half hours.
Cubitt-town About 3 & 33 min. past hours.
Blackwall  About 10 & 40
Charlton About 17 & 47
Woolwich  Arrive about 3 & 33
For all piers above Westminster passengers must change boats at London-bridge or Westminster, and at Blackfriars for the District Railway.
Fast boats leave Woolwich at 8.15 and 8.40; Charlton, 8.20 and 8.45; Greenwich, 8.40 and 9.15; Cherry-garden, 9.3, for London-bridge; and London-bridge, 5.15, direct for Greenwich, Charlton, and Woolwich, except Sundays.
                                               
TABLE OF FARES.   Fore Deck Aft Deck
Nine Elms & all piers between, to Waterloo 1d. 2d.
Lambeth, Westminster, Charing-cross,&c. to London-bridge 1d. 2d.
Lambeth, Westminster, Charing-cross, the Temple, and Blackfriars, to or from Cherry-gardens and Tunnel .. -. 2d 3d.
Lambeth and Westminster, to or from Globe-stairs, Limehouse, W. Ind-dock 3d. 4d.
Lambeth and Westminster, to or from Commercial-dk., Millwall, and Greenw. 4d. 6d.
Lambeth and Westminster, to or from Cubitt Town, Blackwall, Charlton, and Woolwich ..5d. 6d.
Chelsea to London-bridge 2d. 4d.
Chelsea to Tunnel 3d. (no thro’ booking Sunday or holidays)
Chelsea to  West India Dock 4d. . (no thro’ booking Sunday or holidays)
Chelsea to Greenwich 5d. . (no thro’ booking Sunday or holidays)
Chelsea to Woolwich 6d. . (no thro’ booking Sunday or holidays)
London-bridge, to or from Cherry-gardens or the Tunnel  1d. 2d.
London-bridge, to or from Globe-stairs, Limehouse, or West India-dock . 2d. 3d.
London-bridge to or from Commercial-dock, Millwall, and Greenwich ,. 3d. 4d.
London-bridge to or from Cubitt Town, Blackwall, Charlton, and Woolwich ..4d. 6d.
Cherry-gardens to or from Tunnel or     Globe-stairs 1d. 2d.
Cherry-gdns or Tunnel to or from Limehouse, West India-dk, or Commercial-dk 2d. 3d.
Cherry-gardens or Tunnel to or from Millwall and Greenwich 3d. 4d
Cherry-gardens or Tunnel to or from Cubitt Town, Blackwall,andWoolwich 4d. 6d.
Limehouse, West India-dock, or Commercial-dock to or from Millwall .. 2d. 3d.
Limehouse, West India-dock, or Commercial Dock to or from Greenwich, or Cubitt Town 3d.
Limehouse, West India-dock, or Commercial-dock to or from, Blackwall, Charlton, or Woolwich 4d. 6d.
Limehouse to or from West India-dock 1d. 3d.
Globe-stairs to or from Limehouse 1d. 2d.
Globe-stairs to or from Cherry-gardens.. 1d. 2d.
West Ind-dk to or from Commercial-dk. 1d. 2d.
Millwall to or from Greenwich 2d. 3d.
Millwall to or from Blackwall, Charlton, or Woolwich 4d. 6d.
Woolwich to or from Charlton 2d. 3d.
Chelsea and all piers between, to Lambeth 1d. 2d.
Saloon fares on Sundays and holidays.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879

STEAMERS. London Bridge (City and Surrey sides) to Chelsea, calling at St. Pauls, Blackfriars Bridge, Temple, Waterloo Bridge, Charing Cross, Westminster Bridge, Lambeth, Millbank, Nine Elms, Pimlico, Battersea Park, Chelsea, and Battersea-square Piers, every ten minutes, from nine A.M. till dusk.
GREENWICH. From London Bridge every half-hour, calling at Cherry Garden, Tunnel, Globe Stairs Rotherhithe, Limehouse, West India Docks, Commercial Docks, and Millwal1 Piers.
GRAVESEND, SOUTHEND, AND SHEERNESS, from London Bridge Pier every morning during the summer.
WANDSWORTH, PUTNEY, AND KEW STEAMERS from Cadogan Pier, Chelsea, daily, at short intervals, during the summer.
RICHMOND AND HAMPTON COURT. A steamer leaves London Bridge at ten am. during summer, calling at all piers.

Reynolds' Shilling Coloured Map of London, 1895