Emirates Air Line Cable Cars |
Bridges, ferry boats, railways, the Tube and even a pedestrian tunnel have been used to get across the River Thames in London, but the latest public transport link is the Emirates Air Line Cable Car.
This newly constructed cable car ride doubles up as a popular visitor attraction, offering great views of London during the 0.6 mile (one-kilometre) journey.
Passengers ride across the River Thames in glass-windowed pods.
The cable car pods soar high above the River Thames at a height of 40 metres (160 feet) and take about five minutes to make the crossing.
It can carry an estimated 2,500 passengers per hour in a a far more efficient and eco-friendly way than an equivalent 50 buses.
The cable car offers a unique view of the London Docklands, Canary Wharf, the Olympic Park and the centre of London as it carries seated passengers in comfortable gondolas.
The Emirates Air Line connects two important visitor facilities: the O2 Arena, Europe's largest entertainment centre on the Greenwich Peninsula and the ExCel Centre, Europe's largest conference centre, at the Royal Docks.
Construction of the Thames Cable Car
The Emirates Air Line opened in June 2012 just in time to provide an essential mode of transport for visitors heading for the Olympic Park during the London 2012 Olympics.
The estimated cost of £35 million mushroomed to £60 million and was sponsored by the Dubai-based Emirates Airline who then renamed the project the Emirates Air Line.
Further references to the airline, which may linger long after the initial 10-year sponsorship deal, include the rides being called "flights", tickets are "boarding passes" and the staff uniform closely resembles that of an airline flight attendant.
Commuters, locals and visitors can pay for the ride using a prepaid Oyster card, if they have one, which is also a convenient cost-efficient way to pay for bus, tram, riverboat, rail and underground Tube journeys in London.
Taking a Ride on the Emirates Air Line
The Air Line terminal on the South side of the river is at Greenwich, near the underground station at North Greenwich, close to the O2 Arena.
The terminal on the North bank of the Thames, the Royal Docks Terminal, is close to the Docklands Light Railway station at Royal Victoria, near the ExCel Centre.
Visitors simply wanting a cable car experience and views of the Thames can do a return journey, or it can be used to get from one side of the river to the other.
As with the London Eye, passengers must board the slow moving pods which carry 10 people.
Standing is not permitted and retractable seats allow passengers to travel with pushchairs and bicycles.
The ride is silent and smooth apart from slight bumps as it passes the mechanism approaching the terminal.
Passengers will find fares are much cheaper than the London Eye, but the ride is considerably shorter.
A free inflight map is provided to help visitors identify landmarks including Canary Wharf, O2, London City Airport, Olympic Park and the Gherkin building. In the distance, St Paul's Cathedral, the Shard and Wembley Stadium may be seen.
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Directions |
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The Southern Terminal is next to the O2 arena on the Greenwich Peninsula: Emirates Greenwich Peninsula Nearest Underground Station: North Greenwich The Northern Terminal in Docklands is next to the Royal Victoria Docklands Light Railway station: Emirates Royal Docks Nearest Station: Royal Victoria DLR |
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Emirates Air Line Cable Cars Postcode for SatNav: SE10 0FR
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Days Out near Emirates Air Line Cable Cars
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The O2 (<1 Mile)*
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Old Royal Naval College (1 Mile)*
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National Maritime Museum (1 Mile)*
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Cutty Sark Clipper Ship (1 Mile)*
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City of London Billingsgate Market (1 Mile)*
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Newham City Farm & Visitor Centre (1 Mile)*
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Pumphouse Educational Museum (2 Miles)*
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Firepower! Royal Artillery Museum (2 Miles)*
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Stepping Stones Farm (2 Miles)*
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V&A Museum of Childhood London (3 Miles)*
Places to Visit near Emirates Air Line Cable Cars
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London Borough of Greenwich (1 Mile)*
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City of London (4 Miles)*
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (4 Miles)*
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London Borough of Southwark (5 Miles)*
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London Borough of Islington (5 Miles)*
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Bloomsbury (5 Miles)*
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London (6 Miles)*
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London Borough of Lambeth (7 Miles)*
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London Borough of Haringey (7 Miles)*
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London Borough of Camden (8 Miles)*
Also near Emirates Air Line Cable Cars |
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