London Cable Car Tickets: Prices, Discounts & Booking

The IFS Cloud Cable Car isn’t a tourist trap—it’s a TfL-operated service with genuine value tricks that most visitors miss. Prices range from £7 to £13 for a one-way or round-trip journey, but booking online in advance can unlock savings of up to 30%.

Operator: Transport for London ·
Max Discount: Up to 30% online ·
Payment Options: Online, contactless, Oyster, cash ·
Key Route: Royal Docks to Greenwich Peninsula ·
Booking Incentive: Save on selected tickets and dates

The table below consolidates the key service specifications for the IFS Cloud Cable Car.

How much does a London Cable Car cost?

Fares vary depending on how and where you buy. The most expensive option is paying cash at the ticket office: £7 for an adult one-way, £13 for a round trip. Children pay £3.50 one-way or £6.50 round trip. These are standard rates listed by Visit London (the capital’s official visitor guide).

If you have an Oyster card or contactless payment method, you can use pay as you go—but beware: cable car journeys do not count towards any daily or weekly caps on your card. There’s no fare integration with the wider TfL network, so this isn’t a money-saving trick for regular commuters.

Peak and off-peak fares

TfL publishes peak and off-peak pricing that varies by time of day and whether you’re booking in advance online. The maximum 30% discount applies only to off-peak round trips booked at least 7 days ahead on selected dates. Event tickets are excluded from this discount entirely.

Discount options

Beyond the online advance discount, several other fare reductions exist:

• The O2 event discount: Holders of The O2 event tickets receive 50% off one-way or round-trip tickets, redeemable on the day of the event only. Simply present your event ticket at the Cable Car ticket office to claim this. The O2 confirms this applies to concert and show attendees.
• Shopping discount: If you’ve spent £35 or more at The O2’s outlet shopping, show your receipts at the ticket office on the same day for 50% off your cable car fare.
• Concession fares: Freedom Pass holders and anyone with a 60+ London Oyster photocard can access reduced fares, but only at the ticket office—these discounts aren’t available online.
• Multi-journey ticket: At £19, this ticket grants 10 one-way journeys valid for 12 months from purchase. It’s non-transferable and doesn’t include priority boarding, but for groups or families making multiple crossings, this represents the best flat-rate value. Transport for London sets this fare.
• Family ticket: Packages for up to two adults and three children start from £30, according to Visit London.

Where does the London Cable Car start and end?

The IFS Cloud Cable Car crosses the Thames between two terminals: North Greenwich on the Greenwich Peninsula side (near The O2 arena) and Royal Victoria Dock on the east side. Visit London confirms both locations.

Station locations

The North Greenwich terminal sits directly adjacent to The O2, making it a natural addition to any itinerary involving concerts, events, or outlet shopping. The Royal Victoria Dock terminal serves the eastern waterfront area and connects with TfL bus services and the DLR.

Connections to The O2

Because the North Greenwich terminal is essentially at The O2’s doorstep, attending an event gives you two advantages: the 50% cable car discount mentioned above, and the ability to combine the aerial crossing with your evening plans. On nights with major concerts, The O2 sometimes negotiates extended cable car hours beyond the standard schedule, with the service staying open until 11pm on select event dates.

Is the cable car in London worth it?

The IFS Cloud Cable Car offers something no other Thames crossing provides: a ten-minute aerial journey with panoramic views of the river, the City skyline, and the Olympic Park. At its best, it’s a memorable experience. At its worst, visitors report feeling the fare isn’t justified by the duration.

Pros and cons

Traveller feedback

Mixed reviews appear across platforms, with common complaints centering on value for money rather than safety or cleanliness. Visit London notes that some travellers feel the experience doesn’t justify the cost, while others rank it among their favourite London activities. The gap between these perspectives largely comes down to whether you accessed the 30% online discount or paid full price.

The implication: if you’re paying cash at the gate, expectations for an exceptional experience need to be calibrated accordingly. If you’ve secured an advance booking or an O2 event discount, the value proposition shifts meaningfully in the service’s favour.

Are London Cable Car tickets cheaper in advance?

Yes—and the savings are substantial enough that walking up to the ticket office without pre-booking is financially counterproductive. Transport for London confirms that advance online booking on selected dates offers up to 30% off standard fares. The maximum discount requires booking an off-peak round trip at least 7 days ahead.

Online vs on-site

TfL’s official online store at tfl.gov.uk sells not just standard tickets but also Event tickets, Fast Track options, Experience tickets, and joint Cable Car combined with Thames River tickets. Third-party platforms like Tripadvisor also list Fast Track round trip options that promise queue-skipping priority, though Tripadvisor flags these as third-party offerings outside TfL’s direct control.

Booking savings

The math is straightforward: an adult round trip at £13 full price drops to around £9.10 with the 30% online discount. For a family of five using the family ticket route, even a modest online reduction compounds meaningfully. The caveat is that the maximum discount applies only to off-peak round trips—single journeys and peak-time tickets see smaller reductions.

How long does it take to ride the London Cable Car?

The cable car crossing itself takes approximately 10 minutes, according to Visit London. Cabins arrive at 30-second intervals, so queueing time is minimal even during busy periods. Combined with walking time to and from the terminals, plan for roughly 20–25 minutes total if you’re boarding and disembarking without additional waiting.

Ride duration

At roughly 1.5 kilometres covered in 10 minutes, the average speed is modest—but this is intentional. The slow pace allows passengers to take in views of the Thames, the City financial district to the west, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to the north.

Full experience time

Standard opening hours are Monday–Thursday 08:00–21:00, Friday 09:00–22:00, Saturday 09:00–23:00, and Sunday/Bank Holidays 09:00–21:00. GetYourGuide publishes these hours, though TfL may adjust them for maintenance or special events. For queries or group bookings, TfL’s contact centre operates Monday–Friday 08:00–20:00, closed weekends and bank holidays.

The pattern: the cable car works best as a 20-minute add-on to a broader day out at The O2 or along the Thames, not as a destination in itself. Most visitors combine it with shopping, dining, or an event, treating the crossing as a scenic connector rather than the main attraction.

“The maximum 30% discount is only available for off-peak round trips when you book 7 days in advance.”

— Transport for London, Official Operator

“Simply visit the Cable Car ticket office and present your event ticket or shopping receipts totalling £35 or more to receive your discount.”

— The O2, Venue Operator

Related reading: Man with a Van – London Costs and Hire Guide

Riders crossing from Royal Docks to O2 can slash costs using Oyster, as the 2025 prices and Oyster guide explains alongside TfL’s 30% online discounts and fare tips.

Frequently asked questions