Tilbury Cruise Port
London, England · Northern Europe
Cruise ships dock at London International Cruise Terminal - Cruise Landing Stage, London.
Plan my port daysLondon's ocean cruise terminal, on the Thames in Essex. You walk off the ship, but central London is about a 40-minute train ride from nearby Tilbury Town station.
At a glance
Port summary
Tilbury is a gateway to London rather than a destination in its own right. Ships dock at the historic London International Cruise Terminal at Tilbury Riverside and passengers walk off; it is not a tender port. The terminal sits inside a commercial port, so you cannot simply wander into a town centre. Tilbury Town railway station is about a mile away - roughly a 20-minute walk through an industrial area, or a short taxi or cruise shuttle - and c2c trains reach London Fenchurch Street in about 39 minutes, from where the whole city opens up by Tube. Tilbury Fort (English Heritage) is a 10-minute walk from the terminal and makes an easy local visit if you would rather not commit to a full London day. The old Tilbury-Gravesend passenger ferry stopped running in 2024, so do not plan around it. Leave a generous return buffer: the train plus the transfers at each end can take around 90 minutes each way.
Cruise dock
🚢 London International Cruise Terminal - Cruise Landing Stage
The single cruise berth at Tilbury Riverside on the north bank of the Thames. Ships berth alongside and passengers walk off into the historic terminal building; it sits inside a working commercial port about a mile from Tilbury Town station.
📍 Latitude: 51.451335, Longitude: 0.364955
See dock on port map →Getting to London
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
You can get through the whole day on a contactless card or phone. Keep a card charged for the Tube and buses, and remember the c2c train ticket is bought separately at Tilbury Town.
Build your perfect day in London
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the British Isles collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your London cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedPanoramic London: Westminster, the City and the West End
≈ 8 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€110$125
Do it yourself
€53$60
Save ≈ €57Save ≈ $65 (52% off)
From the terminal, take a taxi or the cruise shuttle to Tilbury Town station (about a mile, ~£6-8), then a c2c train to London Fenchurch Street (~39 min, ~£6.70). From Fenchurch Street the Tube and your own feet cover the same sights: Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and St Paul's are all on the District/Circle and Jubilee lines. Tap a contactless card on all Tube travel; buy the c2c train ticket separately in the c2c app.
See the DIY plan →
Tower of London and the Crown Jewels
≈ 8 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€200$228
Do it yourself
€88$100
Save ≈ €112Save ≈ $128 (56% off)
Take a taxi or shuttle to Tilbury Town station (~£6-8), then the c2c train to London Fenchurch Street (~39 min, ~£6.70). The Tower of London is a 5-8 minute walk from Fenchurch Street at Tower Hill, so no onward transport is needed. Adult admission is £37 (cheaper and quicker booked online, timed entry). Tower Bridge is a two-minute walk on for photos.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
12 plansLondon Icons: Westminster to the Tower
The capital's greatest hits in one well-ordered day - Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London, all by train and Tube.
Tower of London Express
Straight to the Crown Jewels and back - the single best half-day if your ship is only in for a short call.
Free London: World Museums & the Riverside
A rich London day that costs almost nothing but the train - the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern and a Thames-side walk, all free to enter.
Maritime Greenwich by River
Swap the crowds of the centre for the Cutty Sark, the Prime Meridian and a river-bus ride past Canary Wharf.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in London?
- Your ship docks directly at the London cruise terminal in England.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into London?
- Yes. London is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to London centre?
- Typical options include Train, Taxi, Shuttle bus, On foot. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in London?
- Plan for at least 6 hours ashore to see London independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in London and are cards accepted?
- London uses the Pound sterling. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Wi-Fi isn't reliably available at the London cruise terminal. Consider a local SIM or your cruise line's data package.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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