• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Archive
    • London Blogs
  • Blog
  • Travel
    • London Theater Tickets
    • Shopping
    • Tips
    • Tours
    • Transport
    • Maps
    • Parks
    • Resources
    • Restaurants
    • Top 10 London
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Buildings
    • Food
    • London Books
    • Movies
    • Museums
    • Music
    • Pubs
  • Londonism
    • Reviews
    • Fun London
    • Iconic London
    • Life in London
    • London Realities
    • Moving to London
    • Politics
  • The Tube
  • London History
    • Great London Buildings
    • Great Londoners
  • Contact
  • Guidebooks
    • 101 London Travel Tips – Guidebook
    • 101 Free Things to do in London

Londontopia

The Website for People Who Love London

You are here: Home / Columns / London Fiver / The Fiver – Five Unusual Transportation Methods in London

The Fiver – Five Unusual Transportation Methods in London

Nov 7, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Getting around London can be a hassle for many, especially if you traverse the city by car.  This is why many turn to public transport, including busses, cabs, ride share, Boris Bikes, and the London Underground to move about.  However, these are not the only ways to get around, and there are means of transportation available that you may never have considered.  We’re going to outline five such unusual ways to get from here to there when you visit London.  If you think there’s anything that we’ve left out, you can share that with us in the comments.

Speedboat

Our first entry is likely also the fastest.  London has several companies that offer speedboat tours down the River Thames, meaning you can get some thrills while seeing iconic buildings that line the river.  Thames Tigers and the Thames RIB Experience are two of the most well-known and can easily be booked in advance through their websites.  For James Bond fans, both also offer a “James Bond Experience” package that takes you to important locations from the movies, such as MI-6 headquarters and the O2 Arena. 

London Rickshaw

Rickshaws have become a popular mode of transport in many countries across the world and Britain’s capital is no different.  A Rickshaw invites travelers to sit in comfort while your driver pedals his way through the city streets.  Some rickshaw companies have set fees while others operate on a pay-what-you-can model.  Whichever your pedi-cab driver adheres to, there are dozens upon dozens of them all over the city acting as transport or tour guides.  Many pedi-cab drivers decorate their rickshaws with stickers, comfortable seating, neon lights, and sound systems, so no two are alike. 

Duck Tours

It’s a bus!  It’s a boat!  It’s both!  London Duck Tours is a journey over land and water through the city.  There are several packages to choose from based on what you want to see, from iconic London landmarks to challenging games you play as you ride along.  They even offer a similar James Bond experience to their speedboat counterparts as well as a Christmas tour around the holidays.  London Duck Tours is temporarily closed, but from the website it looks like they expect to be up and running again in 2022, so keep an eye out to schedule your amphibious road/river trip. 

IFS Cloud Cable Car (aka the Dangleway)

Formerly the Emirates Air Line, this “airline” is actually a cable car system that transports passengers over the River Thames from the Greenwich Peninsula to the London Docks.  Managed by Transport for London, the IFS Cloud Cable Car offers one-way and round-trip “flights” that take passengers 90 meters above the river, offering one of the best views of London that you’ll find anywhere in the city.  After 7 PM, you can take an extended night flight that offers gorgeous views of the lit-up city at night.  Even if you’re just going to use it for a single trip across the river, it’s definitely an experience you’ll remember. 

Canal Boats

The last of our water transports on this list, most often you’ll see canal boats along the London Canal in Camden.  Normally these are actually people’s homes or businesses, but there are some that actually provide a way up and down the canal waters.  A handful of companies provide for hire canal boat transportation, including the London Waterbus Company and Jason’s Canal Boat trip.  Other boats are available for private hire, but you’ll need to do a little more research to find them.  Canal boats are an excellent way to experience the splendor of the London Canal and understand its important history to the city. 

John Rabon
Author: John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

close

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Share this:

  • Print
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Pocket

Filed Under: London Fiver, Transport

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

About John Rabon

John is a regular writer for Anglotopia and its sister websites. He is currently engaged in finding a way to move books slightly to the left without the embarrassment of being walked in on by Eddie Izzard. For any comments, questions, or complaints, please contact the Lord Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's haircut.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free London Updates

Free London News

Get the latest news on London history, culture, travel, exhibitions, and more right in your inbox!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Get the Anglotopia/Londontopia App

Our Advertisers

If you are a mobile gamer, you may want to take a look at UK’s new mobile casinos and slots reviewed by NewCasinoUK.

Join the London Forum

  • Mudlarking
  • MY FAVOURITE PLACE IN LONDON
  • What's Your Favorite Place in London?
  • Paddington Station

London Guide

  • Ten Cheap Things You Can Do in London on a Budget
  • Ten London Exhibitions to Look Forward to in 2023
  • London’s Non-Free Museums: Your Guide to London’s Museums That Charge Admission
  • Trip Planning: Top 10 Exhibitions To Plan Your 2018 Trips to London Around
  • London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Support Londontopia

Search our Extensive Archive

Top 10 London

  • Ten Unusual Exhibits to See in London
  • London Pubs: Ten Thameside Pubs for a Pint and a View
  • Top 10 London: Ten More Things to Do Along the River Thames
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Shopping Centers in London
  • Museums of London: Ten Overlooked London Museums
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haggerston
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Haringey
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Redbridge
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to See and Do in Hillingdon
  • Top 10 London: Top Ten Things to Do in Canonbury

Recent Posts

  • Preparations to prevent collision at Queen’s 1953 coronation part of new display at Lambeth Palace
  • New fashion exhibition brings the Met Gala to Kensington Palace
  • After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art – National Gallery
  • Paddington Bear immersive experience to open in London
  • More than 200 looks to feature in V&A exhibition on Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel
  • Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South at The Royal Academy
  • National Portrait Gallery to reopen with exhibition on pioneering color photographer
  • London Eye gets spring clean to mark start of the season
  • Natural History Museum named most visited indoor UK attraction again
  • The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance at the National Gallery

Best Posts on Londontopia

  • 101 London Travel Tips
  • Top 100 London Attractions
  • How to Find the Cheapest Airfares to London
  • 10 Things NOT to do in London
  • Best London Guidebooks
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • London Lingo – A London Word Dictionary
  • Top 7 Tips for Doing London on the Cheap
  • Top 11 Myths American Believe about London
  • Guide to Eating in London
  • Best Times of Year to Travel to London
  • London Packing Tips
  • Top 11 Movies Set in London
  • Top Attractions off the Tourist Track
  • Top 5 Most Amazing London Hotels
  • Top 10 Hostels in London
  • Best Views in London Restuarants
  • London Taxi Ettiquette
  • Top 12 London Views
  • Great Fire of London
  • A Guide to Five of London’s Bridges
  • 10 Random Facts and Figures about Trafalgar Square
  • Top 100 British Slang Words

London Places to Explore

Bloomsbury Buckingham Palace Canary Wharf City of London Covent Garden Cutty Sark Greenwich Hampstead Hampton Court Palace Heathrow Houses of Parliament Hyde Park Imperial War Museum Islington Kensington Kensington Palace Leicester Square London London Eye London Transport Museum Museum of London National Gallery Notting Hill Piccadilly Circus Putney Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Regent's Street Royal Academy Selfridges Somerset House Southbank Southwark St Pancras St Paul's Cathedral Tate Britain Tate Modern The City Tower Bridge Tower of London Trafalgar Square V&A Wandsworth West End Westminster Westminster Abbey

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Recent Videos

Walk Around London Virtually Right Now – Watched Walker is the YouTube Channel We All Need Right Now

Jason Hawkes Shares a Beautiful Video of London From Above That We All Need Right now

London Tube: You’ve Got to Watch This Amazing Mesmerizing Animation That Shows the Real Geography of the London Underground

Video: The Basics of Crossrail – London’s New Underground Line

London History: The Place Where Old London Double Decker Buses Went to Die

London Video: A Look at the Great Smog of London

10 Interesting Facts about the Hammersmith and City Line

Nearly half of Londoners have used Elizabeth line so far – survey

Tube and London bus fares to rise by nearly 6% from March

What is Crossrail 2 and What is Its Current Status?

London Alert: Strike by London Underground workers to go ahead after last-minute talks fail

London Mayor hails Elizabeth line as direct routes and Sunday services begin

Footer

About Londontopia

Londontopia is simply the website for people who love London. It was founded by Jonathan & Jackie Thomas from Anglotopia.net as a place to post articles solely focused on London and its environs. Keep up with all the latest London news at Londontopia! This site is geared towards people who love to visit London and our primary audience is North American but everyone is welcome!

When We’re in London Next

We don’t currently have any travel plans to London but hope to visit at some point in 2021.

  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

SIGN-UP FOR FREE LONDON WEEKLY UPDATES!

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in