The Woolwich Ferry has operated across the River Thames since 1889, and there are references to a ferry service at Woolwich dating back to the 14th century.
Today, the ferry carries around 20,000 vehicles and 50,000 passengers per week, which adds up to just over one million vehicles and 2.6 million passengers a year.
Where is the Woolwich Ferry located?
The Woolwich Ferry is a river crossing in East London across the Thames. It links Woolwich, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with North Woolwich / Silvertown, in the London Borough of Newham.
The ferry and pier on the south (Woolwich) side of the river is at New Ferry Approach, Woolwich SE18 6DX, while on the north (Newham) side of the river it is at Pier Road, London E16 2JJ.
For drivers, it also links two ends of London’s internal orbital routes: the North Loop and the South Loop. It is the final river crossing in London.
For pedestrians, there are DLR (Docklands Light Railway) stations near each ferry dock. On the south side, Woolwich Arsenal Station is a 10-minute walk (or there are buses), and on the north side, King George V Station is also a 10-minute walk or bus ride. The north side is also close to the London City Airport.
Pedestrians can use the DLR to cross the river as Woolwich Arsenal and King George V are on the same branch of the Docklands Light Railway.
For another free alternative, there is a Woolwich foot tunnel (like the Greenwich foot tunnel). The Woolwich Foot Tunnel opened in 1912 as fog often disrupted ferry service.
If you take a short bus ride from the North Terminal of the Woolwich Ferry you can visit Thames Barrier Park.
Taking the journey through
The two sides of the ferry crossing do not lead to tourist areas, so it is not a London tourist guide. These are normal residential areas of London, so the ferry service is mainly used by workers and larger vehicles.
The ride is only 5 to 10 minutes, as the river crossing here is about 1500 feet wide. For drivers, there can be long lines to board, so allow yourself a lot more time.
While the trip is short, be sure to look towards London as you will be able to see Canary Wharf, The O2, and the Thames barrier. Looking away from London, you can see the Thames estuary starting to open up.
Woolwich Ferry Facts
There are three ferries, but usually only one or two in service with one waiting in the event of a breakdown, and that happens. (One for rush hours and two ferries during rush hours). The ships are owned by TfL (Transport for London) and are named after three local politicians: James Newman, John Burns and Ernest Bevin. James Newman was Mayor of Woolwich from 1923 to 1925, John Burns studied the history of London and its river, and Ernest Bevin formed the General and Transport Workers’ Union in 1921.
While this is an official part of the TfL network, Briggs Marine has the contract to run the ferry service for seven years starting in 2013.
Who can use the ferry service?
Everyone can use the Woolwich Ferry, be it a pedestrian, cyclist, driving a car, van or truck (truck). The ferry can accommodate large vehicles that cannot go through the Blackwall Tunnel to reach London.
There is no need to reserve tickets in advance – it is simply a ‘hop on and hop off’ service which thankfully is completely free for both pedestrians and road users.
During your ferry trip
There are no services on board, as it is such a short crossing. Most drivers stay in their vehicles, but it’s not frowned upon to go out and stretch your legs for a few minutes.
Pedestrians board and go to a lower deck with lots of seats, but it is more pleasant to look out over the river. There is a small area on the main deck for pedestrians to stand.
Please note that everyone must disembark at the ferry dock, even if you want to return (as a foot passenger) and return.
Ferry operating hours
The Woolwich Ferry does not run 24 hours a day, it runs every 5-10 minutes all day Monday through Friday, and every 15 minutes on Saturday and Sunday.
For more travel information, see the official Woolwich Ferry website.
Tides and weather
The Woolwich Ferry is rarely affected by tidal conditions, but is occasionally suspended if there is extremely high tide. Fog is a bigger problem, especially during the morning rush hour, as service must be suspended until visibility disappears.
