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Uber Boat by Thames Clippers 1-day River Roamer

What you'll do.

Take to the water to see the best of London in comfort and style.

Experience  Uber Boat by Thames Clippers  with The London Pass®

• With us, there are no entry fees on the day - all you've got to do is show your pass.
• Take to the water on a spacious and comfortable river bus.
• Onboard café for refreshments.

How better to see the best of London’s landmarks than from the water!

The Uber Boat London

If you are planning to visit London and looking for a unique way to explore the city, why not take a ride on an Uber Boat? Uber Boat, formerly known as Thames Clippers, is a river bus service that operates on the River Thames in London. With 23 piers across London, the service is a convenient and scenic way to travel around the city.

The boats are equipped with comfortable seating, onboard refreshments, and free Wi-Fi, making for a pleasant and enjoyable journey. Plus, with frequent departures and the ability to purchase tickets online via The London Pass® , it's easy to plan your trip and avoid the hassle of traffic and crowded public transport. So why not take in the stunning views of London's iconic landmarks from the river and experience the city in a whole new way? Check out the Uber Boat stops and schedules on their website. 

What to Expect on The Thames Clipper

A journey aboard an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers makes travel time part of your London adventures. The River Bus service stops at world-famous London landmarks every 20 minutes making sightseeing super easy.

You can jump off to explore the Tower of London and the historic City of London from Tower Pier, then sail beneath London’s most iconic bridge on your way to visit Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the way, you’ll pass the glittering skyscrapers of Canary wharf and even see the distinctive dome of the O2 Arena.

Or, why not hop off at Westminster Pier to see the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. You could also take a stroll through St James’s Park to see Buckingham Palace.

Take a look at the route map of the 23 stops where you are free to embark and disembark at your leisure. 

There are so many possibilities to enjoy the best of central London, you’ll be truly spoilt for choice!

Make the most of your London Pass

For more things to do in London, visit   The London Pass® blog .

Know before you go

Please show your pass to a member of the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pier staff - either in the ticket booth or at the top of the ramp to the pier - at one of the  following four locations  during ticket office opening hours (10AM-6PM). 

• Westminster
• London Bridge
• Tower Bridge

You will then be able to hop on and hop off at any of the 23 piers at your leisure throughout the day.

Please note:  seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information visit the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers website.

Where you'll be

Westminster Pier, Victoria Embankment, London, GB

Operating hours

Departs from major piers every 20 minutes and connects 23 piers along the River Thames.

Please check the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers timetable for exact timings.

Closings & holidays

Christmas and Boxing Day (25 & 26 December) only.

Buy with confidence

Free cancellation.

Plans can change, we get it. All non-activated credits packages are eligible for a refund within 90 days of your purchase date.

Got a question?

Check out our FAQs or live chat with our customer service agents now

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How To Do London By Boat

The tourist-laden river boats that roam up and down the Thames are a well-known sight in London, but they're far from the only way to see the city by river. From pootling about on canals to crossing the Thames by ferry, here's a guide to faffing about on boats in London.

River Thames river boat services

Confused about all the different boat services which whizz up and down the Thames in central London? Here's a guide:

Uber Boats by Thames Clippers, also known as TfL's River Bus

Previously known simply as Thames Clippers, Uber Boats by Thames Clippers is the TfL River Bus service , albeit contracted out to someone else. It serves 24 piers and stops all along the river between Putney and Barking, under the route names RB1, RB2, RB4, and RB6. It's generally intended as a commuter service rather than a pleasure boat, though there's nothing stopping you riding up and down the Thames to your heart's content.

Oyster or contactless is the cheapest option to pay . You can buy paper tickets at the pier, but that's more expensive. It works on a similar zone system to the rest of the transport network, though the river has its own zones .

Thames River Tours

Beyond the official TfL/Uber Boats by Thames Clippers river bus services, other boat routes on the Thames are known as River Tours . These are your more touristy options, including hop-on/hop-off services, sightseeing tours and dinner cruises. Various companies are given permission by TfL to run these services, but the best known and most visible are City Cruises , London Eye River Cruise , and Bateaux London , all of which use some of the same piers as the River Bus services.

For a whistle-stop tour of London's landmarks, take a ride on a speed boat down the river. Thames Rockets operate from piers at Tower Bridge and the London Eye, and is one for speed demons — pass Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, The 02, and Greenwich, before looping round at the Thames Flood Barrier and making a return journey, all within 50 minutes.

River Bus and River Tour services run all year. Check with individual operators for up to date timetable and ticket info.

London Waterbus, Regent's Canal

Just round the corner from the Paddington Water Taxi is Little Venice, a gathering point for London's boaty folk, and their vessels. Sit here for long enough and you might notice a queue forming on one of the perimeter paths surrounding the triangle of water; they'll be waiting for the London Waterbus , a canal boat service which runs between Little Venice and Camden Lock on Regent's Canal a few times a day.

The fleet consists of three traditional working canal boats, which have been converted to contain front-facing, bus-style seating. It's disconcerting at first, sitting so low in the water, the water level outside the boat up to your knees, but it quickly becomes very relaxing — one of the most calming transport experiences you can have in London.

A one-way trip takes about 45 minutes, passing through Little Venice, Maida Vale and the Maida Hill Tunnel, skirting around Regent's Park and through the middle of London Zoo (look out for warthogs, African hunting dogs, and monkeys in the Snowdon Aviary), before wending up to Camden Lock. Or vice versa, depending where you boarded.

London Waterbus . See website for details, timetable and booking information.

Woolwich Ferry

Another TfL owned and operated service, the Woolwich Ferry links the two sides of the Thames close to Woolwich and London City Airport, using two boats. The good news? It's free to use. The not-so-good news? It's not what we'd class as a 'pleasure cruise', more a journey of necessity than of choice.

Pedestrians, cyclists, cars, vans and lorries are all permitted on board for the trip, which only lasts 5-10 minutes.

Woolwich Ferry, operating times and status updates available via TfL .

Hammertons Ferry, Twickenham

That's right, the Woolwich Ferry isn't the only ferry operating on the Thames in London — though the Hammertons Ferry is an entirely different, and far more bucolic, experience.

First of all, it's family owned and operated, crossing the Thames between Twickenham and Ham, serving locals, day trippers and dog walkers. The original Hammerton was Phil Collins' grandfather, though the business is in the hands of a different family, the Spencers, now. Sadly, the father, Francis Spencer, has passed away since our trip in 2017 .

Secondly, 'ferry' conjures up images of a whomping great seafaring vessel with chimneys and the works. The Hammerton Ferry is a smaller, lower and more sedate vessel , carrying just a handful of passengers at once. Boarding is via a metal, pedestrian footbridge down onto the small wooden pier.

The schedule varies throughout the year — daily in high season, just weekends in winter, and no service at all during the annual 'draw-off' of the Thames in November, which leaves no river to cross.

Keep an eye on the Hammertons Ferry Facebook page for updates. Tickets are £1 adult, 50p for kids, though this may of course rise with inflation.

Turks River Cruises, Richmond to Hampton Court

Turks boat company owns three vessels which operate between Hampton Court, Kingston and Richmond in the summer months, aimed more at pleasure cruisers than people with places to be. Wheelchairs, bikes and dogs are all welcome, and the family-run company has been going for 310 years, so we like to think they know what they're doing by now.

As for the boats themselves , the New Southern Belle (pictured above) is a Mississipi-style stern wheeler, the Yarmouth Belle is a smaller, English traditional side wheeler dating back to 1862, and the petite Richmond Royale is a more modern party boat. All have indoor and outdoor seating, so pick your spot according to the weather.

It takes 35 minutes to travel between Hampton Court and Kingston, one hour between Kingston and Richmond, and one hour 45 minutes to do the whole route from Hampton Court to Richmond in one go — if you're heading for a day at Hampton Court Palace, why not get the train tor tube to Richmond, then complete the journey by boat?

Turks River Cruises . Prices, timetables and route available on the website. Summer season only.  

Thames River Boats: Westminster to Hampton Court

You can get a long way in 3.5 hours. You could get all the way to Newcastle from London on a train, or from London to Croatia on a plane. Or you could spend those same 210 (ish) minutes floating up the Thames from Westminster to Hampton Court.

Thames River Boats run trips from central London out to Kew, Richmond and Hampton Court, allowing you to eye up south west London's riverside landmarks from your floating vantage point as you go. If you go all the way to Hampton Court, you'll pass the likes of Kew Gardens, Syon House and Ham House on board one of the company's three historic two-level boats (the Cockney Sparrow was built at Eel Pie Island so passes her original home on sailings out to Hampton Court). They all have toilets, a bar, indoor and outdoor seating.

Thames River Boats also offer 45-minute circular tours starting and finishing in Richmond, passing Marble Hill House, Eel Pie Island and Teddington Lock, if 3.5 hours is just too much boating for you.

Thames River Boats . Timetable and fair information available on the website. The boats are wheelchair accessible (though do call ahead so the team are ready to assist you), and bicycles and dogs are welcome on board.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park boat tours

Take a three-hour tour of east London's waterways, and the rivers and canals which criss-cross the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on board a canalboat.

Lee & Stort Boat Co's tours begin at a pontoon outside the London Aquatics Centre inside the Olympic Park, venturing through the Carpenters Road Lock, down the River Lea, the Lee Navigation and St Thomas Creek, and on to City Mill River before heading to the north of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The route offers views of sights including the ArcelorMittal Orbit and other London 2012 Olympic venues.

The boats used are wheelchair accessible, and have toilets and a bar on board.

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park boat tours. Summer only, see website for schedule, route and ticket information, and book here .

The above are all vessels where somebody else does the hard bit for you, so you can sit back and enjoy the important job of waving at the other boats. If you're looking for something a bit more self-propelled, check out our guide to boating in London . London's also got a floating bar or two up its sleeve — you won't move (too far) but after a couple of drinks, it won't even matter.

Last Updated 29 June 2023

Continued below.

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Hop on Hop off Thames River Cruise

Discover London’s famous attractions with a hop on hop off Thames River Cruise. You’ll get to hop on and off as many times as you wish during a 24-hour period. Sail past many famous attractions like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Shakespeare’s Globe and HMS Belfast. Hop off the boat to explore sights like Tower of London, the London Eye and Borough Market.

Our Hop on Hop off Thames River Cruises is an easy way to explore the best of London. Purchase your tickets today!

Highlights:

• Hop on hop off Thames river cruise with unlimited access for 24 hours
• Get on and off at any one of 4 piers
• See amazing views of London from all-weather boats
• Guided commentary of many sights along the Thames
• On-board refreshments at the bar, serving hold and cold drinks

Hop onboard your Thames River Cruise and set sail! The River Thames runs through the heart of Central London and you’ll notice lots of iconic buildings on both the left and right-hand banks of the river. Once upon a time, the river was the major economic lifeblood of the city. Many famous places were built overlooking it such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London . Today, it’s really easy to reach these places with your hop on hop off Thames River Cruise ticket!

The Four Piers

Your Thames River Cruise stops at four piers. You can hop on and off at each pier to visit some of London’s most popular attractions.

Westminster Pier is the best place to hop on and off to reach many famous London landmarks. This includes the Houses of Parliament, Churchill Museum, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Cabinet War Rooms and Big Ben. It’s also ideal for walking to many famous locations in London such as Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.

The London Eye Pier is located in the riverside Southbank neighbourhood. Popular nearby attractions include The London Eye , Shrek’s Adventure and Sealife Aquarium. As you stroll along the south bank of the River Thames you’ll notice lots of street performers, shops, cafes and pubs.

Tower Pier is the perfect point to hop on and off for visiting the Tower of London. You’ll also get incredible views of Tower Bridge as you hop on and off the river cruise. The City of London is located nearby, the financial district and a very historic part of the city.

Greenwich Pier is the ideal place to get on and off for visiting the World Heritage Centre of Greenwich. See the famous ship called Cutty Sark as well as the National Maritime Museum and Painted Hall. It’s a steep climb to get to the Royal Observatory, the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the historic Prime Meridian of the World.

More information:

• The ticket is valid for unlimited travel within a 24-hour period
• Vouchers must be redeemed at Westminster Pier, Tower Pier or Greenwich Pier, and not at London Eye Pier

BOOK TICKETS

Did you know.

Up until the 20th Century, the River Thames was an important part of the economic lifeblood of the city. Barges would travel up the river daily, carrying important supplies such as timber, wool, foodstuffs and livestock. This includes the stone used to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral after the 1666 Great Fire of London, which was transported by boat along the River Thames from the Cotswolds to London. Following the growth of road transport in the 20th Century, the River Thames became less economically important.

Nowaday’s if you look out at the river, you’ll spot our hop on hop off cruises showing-off this wonderful city to tourists from all over the world!

terms and conditions

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Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

A partnership that brings together the simplicity and innovation of Uber with Thames Clippers’ long-standing tradition of safe, reliable travel on the River Thames.*

Check out the Uber app to browse the many available routes from 24 piers across the capital.

Plain sailing

How Uber Boat by Thames Clippers works

Use the Uber app to book and pay for your trip, with 24 piers to choose from.

Make your way to your chosen pier and wait for the scheduled service to arrive.

Sit back and relax with a guaranteed seat on board and make your way to work.

Explore your new commute

Journeys start from £5.60 for an adult ticket.

Sail with Uber for Business

Helping your employees commute

If your company is already signed up for Uber for Business, your employees will automatically have access to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. If not, it’s quick and easy to register your business.

Ready to sail?

Why wait? Start sailing to work with a guaranteed seat on board.

*Please note that all Uber Boat by Thames Clippers tickets are purchased from Collins River Enterprises Limited (trading as Thames Clippers), which is an independent third party. Thames Clippers provides the transportation service to which these ticket(s) relate. Tickets are subject to Thames Clippers Terms & Conditions . These terms tell you who Thames Clippers is, how they will provide the service to you, how they may change or end the contract, what to do if there is a problem and other important information. Please take the time to carefully read and understand the Thames Clippers Terms & Conditions, before purchasing the ticket(s).

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At least 3 dead in Logan County northwest of Columbus after tornadoes ravage Ohio

Update 8 a.m., Friday, March 15: This story will no longer be updated. Click on this link for the latest information about road closures, power outages and the response to Thursday night's devastating storms that struck Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

At least three people are dead as a result of a series of severe storms ravaged Ohio on Thursday night, spawning a series of 20 tornado warnings across the state and knocking out power to thousands.

Authorities in Logan County are dealing with a mass casualty incident where at least residents three people died in suspected tornado that struck a trailer park near Indian Lake, located about 70 miles northwest of Columbus.

Logan County Sheriff Randy Dodds said the number of deaths could increase as rescue efforts continue.

"It's one hell of a mess up there," Dodds said. "It looks like a war zone." 

Dodds said there were areas where first responders could not search overnight because of debris and downed power lines that made it unsafe for first responders. He said there is anticipation that there may be more people found dead during searches that will continue Friday morning.

Dodds said there are areas where a single home may have remained untouched while everything around it has been leveled.

"The power of this thing is just amazing. It hopped around but when you look at it, it's just amazing." 

He said officials are hoping to hold a news conference later Friday after more information can be gathered. State officials, including Gov. Mike DeWine's office have also been in contact.

The Logan County Emergency Management Agency confirmed that a trailer park — Lakeview RV Park — in the Indian Lake area just north of Lakeview has reportedly been struck by a tornado or at least very high winds that have caused extensive damage. A shortage of ambulances was reported at one point.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington reported "multiple buildings destroyed in the Lakeview area."

Columbus Dispatch Photographer Doral Chenoweth arrived in the area before midnight and reported finding extensive damage, including a destroyed trailer park with tractor trailers and RVs overturned and large trees uprooted. In Lakeview, the library and a government building were damaged.

"Every building in Lakeview and every building here has some form of damage," he said, from Midway near Lakeview "People's homes are destroyed."

An X user who was driving from Lima and passing through Logan took pictures of the extensive damage. In the post on X, he said authorities told him that he had missed a tornado "by about 2 minutes." He could not confirm if there were any casualties, but said that a large section of U.S. Route 33 northwest of Marysville would remain closed as authorities assessed the damage.

Tornado touchdowns were also reported near Jenera in Hancock County south of Findlay in northwest Ohio and near Plymouth along the Huron-Richland counties line. A half-mile-wide tornado was reported on the ground in Huron County by that county's emergency management agency with damage to homes and structures reported, according to the NWS Cleveland.

Auglaize County Emergency Management Agency reported "a tornado producing damage" just after 7 p.m., believed to be near Fryburg south of Wapak.

A tornado watch was issued late Thursday night for portions of far southern and southeast Ohio, southeast Inddiana and northern and north-central Kentucky until 4 a.m. Friday along the Ohio River, where earlier in the day Thursday a tornado was seen crossing the river from Indiana into Kentucky.

In central Ohio, tornado warnings were issued at various points Thursday night as the severe storm front that struck Logan County moved east-southeast into Union, Delaware and Licking counties.

Numerous downed trees and power lines were reported in Delaware County, where Genoa Township police had closed a section of Route 3 due to downed trees.

Are there road closures in Delaware County due to storm damage?

Several major traffic routes in Delaware County remained closed as of 7 a.m. Friday because of debris in the roadway. Ohio 315 closed between Hyatts Road and U.S. 23 is expected to remain close at least through morning rush hour.

In a post on Facebook Friday morning, the Delaware County Sheriff's office said crews have been working throughout the night to try and clear roadways but there are areas where debris continues to block roads. 

The sheriff's office asked for additional travel time and patience from drivers, as well as willingness to take alternate routes. 

The sheriff's office said that as of 5 a.m. Friday, a number of roads remained impassable. Those roads included: 

• Portions of Berlin Station Road near Glenn Parkway, between Kingsbury and Braumiller, between Piatt and Dale Ford
• Portions of Bunty Station east of Liberty Road
• Africa Road north of Cheshire
• Portions of Rome Corners
• Portions of Walnut Road and Piatt Road
• Portions of Ohio 3

Power outages due to Thursday's storms

AEP Ohio reported 11,545 customers were without power as of 7:15 a.m. Friday, with 8,444 out in Delaware County north of Columbus where a tornado warning was issued about 9 p.m. The Olentangy school district has canceled classes Friday.

Licking County was the last of the tornado warnings in central Ohio, issued around 9:45 p.m. However, tornado sirens in Pataskala in western Licking County did not go off until about 10 p.m. and could be heard in eastern Franklin County. The county's tornado warning expred at 10:15 p.m., though another round of thunderstorms moved in behind it.

Severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect until 11:30 p.m. for Licking, Fairfield and other counties along and south of Interstate 70. Hail was still possible with that front.

A tornado watch for all eastern Ohio counties except Monroe and Noble had been canceled by NWS Pittsburgh at 11:14 p.m.

Some thunderstorms and then pockets of heavy rainstorms were expected to continue in central Ohio into the first hours of Friday morning based on future radar projections from The Weather Channel and the National Weather Service, but no further tornado watches or warnings were anticipated.

At least three people were killed by a tornado Thursday afternoon at a mobile home park in Winchester, Indiana.

At least three other confirmed tornadoes touched down Thursday afternoon in southern Indiana and north-central Kentucky Thursday, leaving dozens of structures damaged or destroyed, The Louisville Courier-Journal reported . Tornadoes were confirmed near Hanover and Marion in Indiana and near Milton in Kentucky.

Marc Weinberg, chief meteorologist at the WDRB news station in Louisville, posted photos of heavy damage from a one of two confirmed tornadoes in the area of Hanover, a town in southeastern Indiana. That front moved on into northern Kentucky,

Tornado warnings here come on heels of tornadoes just over 2 weeks ago

The tornado warnings Thursday night came just over two weeks after Ohio was hit by nine tornadoes in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 28, seven of which struck central Ohio. Removal of downed trees, demolished buildings and barns, and other restoration work is still continuing in Madison, Franklin and Licking counties.

Three of the nine Ohio tornadoes were EF0 tornadoes (65-85 mph), one each reported in Groveport and Darbydale in Pleasant Township, Franklin County, and one in Harrisburg village in Franklin and Pickaway counties; three were EF1 tornadoes (86-110 mph), one each hitting between east of London and West Jefferson, in Hilliard and in Riverside, Montgomery County between Dayton and Springfield; and three EF2 tornadoes (111 to 135 mph), including one that traveled from Clark County into Madison County that severely damaged the Ohio State University Agricultural Center and Madison County Airport in Madison County, one that struck in the Blacklick area of Jefferson Township in eastern Franklin County before traveling into Pataskala and Jersey Township in Licking County and weakening to an EF1 before dissipating southwest of Granville, and a third one in Malaga Township in Monroe County, eastern Ohio.

What's the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?

A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible in areas that often include large parts of several counties or states.

If a tornado watch is issued, it's a good time to review emergency plans, check supplies and decide the safest place for you to go in the event that the storm gets worse. Ensure your phones are charged and have a plan to act quickly should the watch become a warning.

A tornado warning means a tornado has been sighted or is indicated by weather radar. A warning means there’s imminent danger to life and property in the warning area, and you should immediately move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.

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St. Patrick's Day 2024 parades livestream: Watch celebrations around the US

Thousands of people, both Irish and non-Irish alike, will celebrate Irish heritage by attending one of the many parades around the U.S. this weekend in honor of St. Patrick's Day .

USA TODAY is providing live coverage Saturday morning of celebrations in multiple cities for St. Patrick's Day, including in New York City, Chicago and Savannah, Georgia. You can watch parade coverage at the embedded video at the top of the page or on USA TODAY's YouTube channel .

For many Americans, St. Patrick's Day is more than just a day of religious observance for the patron saint of Ireland , although that's the reason why celebrations began. In the U.S., the holiday (which is not recognized federally) is also a chance for everyone to celebrate Irish culture and heritage.

Even if you can't make it in person, there's still an option to watch some of the most popular parades happening around the country. Here's how to watch.

What is corned beef? How this recipe became a favorite for St. Patrick's Day

When is St. Patrick's Day?

St. Patrick's Day is held on March 17 every year in remembrance of St. Patrick, who died March 17, 461.

Although he was born in Britain, he is believed to be responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Watch the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City

Since March 17 falls on a Sunday, the New York City parade will be on Saturday, March 16, starting at 11 a.m. ET.

New York City St. Patrick's Day parade: Route, how to watch live

Watch the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago, Illinois

In one of the more unique ways of celebrating St. Patrick's Day, the Chicago River will be dyed green on Saturday, March 16, at 10 a.m. CT.

The parade will be held the same day and start a few hours after the river dyeing, around 12:15 p.m. ET.

Dyeing the Chicago River green 2024: Date, time, how to watch St. Patrick's Day tradition

Watch the St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston

The 119th-annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day parade will be on Sunday, March 17, beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The parade is held by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council and always falls on the Sunday closest to St. Patrick's Day.

The parade also celebrates Evacuation Day , a local Massachusetts holiday commemorating when British forces left Boston during the Revolutionary War on March 17, 1776.

Boston St. Patrick's Day pararde: 2024 route, time, how to watch and stream

Watch the St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, which hosts one of the largest St. Patrick's Day parades in the country , will host its parade on Saturday , scheduled to start at 10:15 a.m. ET.

St. Patrick's Day in Savannah: Everything you need to know for the 2024 parade, celebration

The 2024 parade also marks the 200th anniversary of the celebration in Savannah.

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Hospital staff could be prosecuted if Kate’s medical notes accessed, says minister

Maria Caulfield says police have been ‘asked to look at’ whether staff at London Clinic tried to access Princess of Wales’s records

Staff at the London Clinic could face enforcement action, including fines and prosecutions, if they are found to have accessed the Princess of Wales’s medical records, a government minister has said.

The health minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News it was “pretty severe and serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don’t have permission to”.

She also said police had “been asked to look at” whether staff at the clinic attempted to access the princess’s private medical records.

Caulfield was speaking after the private hospital launched an investigation over claims first reported in the Mirror that at least one member of staff tried to access Catherine’s private medical records while she was being treated there in January.

The Mirror quoted a source who said senior hospital managers had “contacted Kensington Palace immediately after the incident was brought to their attention and assured the palace there would be a full investigation”.

Caulfield said: “The [privacy and data watchdog] information commissioner would take enforcement action against trusts or primary care practices, but also, as individual practitioners, your regulatory body … would take action as well.

She said it would be “very disappointing” if the notes had been accessed, but added that the public should be reassured that “there are very strict rules about which patient notes you can access”, restricting health workers to the patient notes that they are caring for, and with their permission.

She added: “From a health perspective, it’s not acceptable to be looking at people’s notes, but it has been spotted and action has been taken so people can be reassured that if it does happen – particularly with electronic notes these days, it’s spotted pretty quickly if someone’s accessing notes that they shouldn’t be.”

Speaking later to LBC, Caulfield added: “The information commissioner can also take prosecutions, can also issue fines, the NMC [Nursing and Midwifery Council], other health regulators can strike you off the register if the breach is serious enough.

“So there are particularly hefty implications if you are looking at notes for medical records that you should not be looking at.”

Asked if the police should look into the matter, she said: “My understanding is that police have been asked to look at it. Whether they take action is a matter for them.”

A Met police spokesperson said: “We are not aware of any referral to the Metropolitan police at this time.”

A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office said on Tuesday: “We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.”

Kensington Palace said: “This is a matter for the London Clinic.”

On Wednesday, the chief executive of the London Clinic Al Russell said “all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken” when looking at alleged data breaches.

“Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality. We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day,” he added.

“We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken. There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.”

Details of the princess’s condition and surgery have not been disclosed. Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that she wished for her personal medical information to remain private.

The investigation comes after a difficult time for the Princess of Wales, following the fallout from her first official photograph released to the media since she underwent surgery.

The image, released on Mother’s Day, was later withdrawn from circulation by photographic agencies after concerns were raised over image manipulation.

The princess later issued a public apology and said she was responsible for digitally editing the photograph.

• Catherine, Princess of Wales

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Holiday misery as cost of UK passports shoots up right before summer

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Bad news for holidaymakers – the cost of getting a new passport is set to rise as the government is introducing new fees.

Under the proposed changes, a standard online application made from within the UK will rise to £88.50 for adults and £57.50 for children.

Before the price hike, an online application cost £82.50 for adults and £53.50 for children.

Meanwhile, the cost of a postal application for a standard passport has risen by £7 for adults to £100. For children, a postal application will now cost £69, up from £64.

Costs are even higher if applying from overseas, where an online application will rise to £101.00 for adults and £65.50 for children.

If you want to do a postal application from abroad, it will cost £112.50 for adults and £77.00 for children.

The new fees will come into force on April 11.

The prices are the same for all applications, regardless of whether the applicant is getting their first passport or renewing an existing one.

But if you’re over 95, you’re in luck – anyone born before September 2, 1929, gets their passport for free.

Why is the government increasing the cost of passports?

The government said the new fees will help to cover the cost of processing applications.

They added that the fees will also contribute overseas support to people who have lost their passports or had them stolen, as well as the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders.

The government does not make a profit from passport applications.

How to renew a UK passport

You can renew your passport online. You’ll need a new digital photo, your old passport, and a credit or debit card.

Alternatively, you can renew your passport by a paper application at a Post Office with a Check and Send service.

If you’re applying for a passport for the first time, you’ll need more documents, including your full birth or adoption certificate.

An adult passport is valid for ten years, but certain countries don’t allow you to enter if there is less than six months left before your passport’s expiration date.

What are the passport photo requirements?

If you’re applying for a passport online, you’ll need to use a digital photo, which you can get from a photo booth or shop.

Alternatively, you can take one yourself on your own device.

If taking a digital photo, it must be at least 600 pixels wide and 750 pixels tall.

You should be looking straight at the camera with a plain expression.

In the image, you need to have your eyes open and mouth closed, and your hair needs to be away from your face.

Head coverings are not allowed unless they are for religious or medical reasons.

You should not wear glasses in your passport photo unless you have been told to do so.

The background should be plain and light-coloured with no other people or objects.

If you’re applying via the post, you’ll need a printed photo. This must be printed to a professional standard, and you can get them taken in a photo booth or a shop.

How long does it take to get a UK passport?

Most passport applications are processed within three weeks, although it can take longer if the Passport Office decides that they need more information about you.

The three-week processing time starts from when the Passport Office receives your documents.

In the last two years, delays at the Passport Office have led to longer waiting times.

In 2022, a surge in passport applications following the end of coronavirus pandemic travel restrictions caused delays of more than ten weeks for applicants.

Last April, more than 4000 Passport Office employees went on strike for five weeks in a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, which further added to the delays.

In the last year, though, the Passport Office has cut down passport waiting times.

Once you’ve made an application, you can track your application online using your application reference code that begins with ‘PEX’.

Can you get a same-day passport in the UK?

If you need a passport more urgently, you can use a Fast Track service – although you’ll have to pay a premium.

The one-week Fast Track costs £155 for adults and £126 for children, and you need to attend an appointment at a passport office.

There is also a Premium one-day service, which costs £193.50 for adults.

This service can’t be used to renew children’s passports and it can’t be used to get a passport for the first time.

What to do with an old passport

It’s best not to throw old passports away.

If you want to keep an old passport, make sure to store it in a safe place.

Expired passports can be sent to the UK Passport Office, where they are incinerated.

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Comment: The rural housing crisis could be solved by fixing land prices & public ownership of land

21 March 2024

A way needs to be found of fixing the cost of land at a price that supports the delivery of affordable homes in rural locations argues Professor Nick Gallent (UCL Bartlett School of Planning) in The Conversation.

Young people are  reportedly  being priced out of rural communities by soaring housing costs. Official statistics for England show that affordability in rural parts of the country is worse than in towns and cities, excluding London. In 2021, even the  cheapest houses  in rural areas cost around 9.2 times more than the earnings of the lowest paid workers. In urban areas, it was eight times more.

Since Brexit, there has been a rise in the number of landlords transferring long-term rental housing into short-term lettings on platforms like Airbnb, in a bid to cash in on the growing staycation market. COVID has increased the appeal of rural living, with more people buying second homes. Affordability has worsened since 2020.

These recent pressures have accentuated the decades-old trends of general counter-urbanisation and demand for rural homes that my colleagues and I discuss in our 2022 book,  Village Housing .

A combination of planning constraint and external demand pressures, focused on the smallest villages and hamlets, is driving land price expectation and making it  difficult to build affordable homes . Land values  belong  to the communities that create them. A way needs to be found of fixing the cost of land at a price that supports the delivery of affordable homes in rural locations.

Upward pressure on land price

Rural planning authorities largely operate according to the rationale that housing and service needs can more effectively be met in towns than in the countryside. They generally respond to increased housing demand in rural areas by allocating sites in service centres and larger towns for new development. They also fix policies in local plans that require the inclusion of affordable homes in market-led schemes.

Far less gets built in villages. There, the existing stock is gradually sold as investment opportunities to wealthier incomers or to seasonal and weekend residents. This dynamic places upward pressure on land prices.

In those few instances where sites for market development are allocated in smaller villages, land price soars. The resulting housing is high end and unaffordable to local people.

It is within this challenging market that  registered providers of social housing  and  community land trusts , formed by groups of concerned residents, try to secure affordable land for affordable housing through the so-called  “rural exception site”  approach.

Since 1991, communities have been able to work with partners on securing exceptional planning permission for affordable homes on small parcels of unallocated land (sufficient for up to a dozen homes, depending on the scale of proven local need) on which permission for housing would not normally be granted.

Getting a landowner to accept that this is an “exception” to normal planning – and not a regular allocation – is a key hurdle. The landowner needs to agree to sell plots at a price that supports affordability.

Affordable land supports affordable housing

Since 2012, exception sites have been able to include market housing, whose role is to support project viability in a context of falling grant rates. Those grants are channelled to registered providers by  Homes England , a government agency sponsored by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Government has been targeting grant-free development, with the help of the market, although exception sites usually need some grants to achieve viability.

But the inclusion of market homes on rural exception sites comes at a cost. Landowners’ price expectations are raised, driving up the price paid for land, and meaning that an ever larger component of market housing is needed to cross-subsidise the affordable element. Bigger developments comprising more homes for sale, and relatively fewer affordable homes for local need, will not gain the same level of community support.

Threats to the viability of rural exception sites, largely because of rising land costs, means that communities stand to lose a critical source of affordable homes in otherwise unaffordable villages. The question is what can be done about this.

Raising grant rates would allow social housing providers (or taxpayers) to bear higher land costs. But our  research  notes that this is unlikely to happen given public funding constraints and governments’ preference for market support. And in any case, the justice of such an approach (taxpayers effectively subsidising landowners’ rent extractions) is questionable.

A fairer approach would be to fix the cost of land at a price that supports a range of affordable housing types. That fix can be achieved by setting an advisory price for rural exception sites in  national planning policy  or, where an advisory price does not encourage sale, by using simplified and remodelled compulsory purchase powers to bring land into public ownership. Experience elsewhere in the UK shows that the prospect of compulsory purchase is often enough to encourage landowners to  sell .

Our research has shown that the land price that typically supports affordability on rural exception sites is  £10,000 per plot . Assuming a valuation density of 35 dwellings per hectare, this figure is far higher than agricultural value (£600 for a similarly-sized plot), but far lower than full residential value (£150,000, say,  in South Cambridgeshire ).

Some landowners will accept a price that supports affordability, motivated by a desire to help their communities. Others will resist sale at any price short of full residential value. Right now, however, too much is being left to the market.

Local authorities need the power to bring small plots of land into public ownership, quickly and at an affordable price. This would enable registered providers and community land trusts, and also local councils, to match their building programmes to the scale of need for rural housing.

This article was originally published in   The Conversation  on 20 March 2024.

• Original article in  The Conversation
• Professor Nick Gallent's academic profile
• UCL Bartlett School of Planning
• UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment

Don't miss the boat! Check the River Bus timetable before travelling

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Weekday timetable

Weekday – westbound services.

Services stopping at piers from Barking Riverside to Putney via central London

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Services stopping at piers from Putney to Barking Riverside via central London

Weekday - RB4

Ferry service between Doubletree Docklands in Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf

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Travel along the Thames by boat, we stop at 24 piers across London.

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