The Thames has carried Londoners downstream to Greenwich for four centuries, but regular passenger steamers only appeared in 1815, when the Duke of Argyle established the first commercial service between Westminster and Woolwich. By mid-century, paddle-wheel ferries transported 30,000 passengers weekly along the tidal river, turning the eight-mile passage into a working commuter route as much as a leisure excursion. The vessels navigated beneath seventeen bridges, passing the evolving skyline of an industrial capital where wharves and warehouses crowded both banks. Today the river cruise London to Greenwich follows that same corridor, though the cargo docks have given way to reclaimed waterfronts and converted powerhouses. Departures from Westminster Pier trace the southern bend past the Palace of Westminster and Lambeth Palace, then straighten eastward beyond Tower Bridge and the former Royal Docklands. The thirty-to-sixty-minute journey depends on operator and tide, with ebb currents shaving time off the downstream leg. Modern vessels carry audio commentary in multiple languages, detailing Wren's architectural legacy, the naval dockyards at Deptford, and the role of the Cutty Sark in the nineteenth-century tea trade. Greenwich itself holds UNESCO World Heritage status for its maritime ensemble: the Old Royal Naval College, Flamsteed House, and the Prime Meridian line marked in the Observatory courtyard. River access preserves the historic approach—monarchs and admirals once disembarked at the same pier that now receives tourist traffic. The route concentrates London's riverside narrative into a single passage, compressing centuries of trade, empire, and urban transformation between two bridges and a tidal estuary. Operators run year-round schedules, with reduced frequency in winter and extended evening sailings during summer months. All-day hop-on-hop-off passes allow multi-stop itineraries, while direct services prioritize speed over sightseeing. The Thames remains tidal this far upstream, and low-water conditions occasionally alter landing points. Vessels depart from Victoria Embankment's Westminster Pier, where ticket kiosks and boarding gates face the river beneath plane trees and Victorian lamp standards.