United Kingdom
London (Tilbury)
London (Tilbury): A Historic Liner Terminal on the Thames
For much of the 20th century, ocean liners left London from the riverside landing stage at Tilbury, in Essex, and cruise ships use it today. Central London is a train ride away from Tilbury Town station, and the terminal has no railway of its own, so plan how you will reach the station before you go ashore.
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Good to know
Arriving at Tilbury
Ships berth at the London International Cruise Terminal, a passenger landing stage in the Thames at Tilbury, Essex, about 25 miles downstream of London Bridge. The terminal no longer has its own railway, so any trip into London starts with a road transfer or a ride to Tilbury Town station.
- The terminal's old station building now serves as the luggage hall.
- Tilbury Fort, run by English Heritage, stands on the riverbank east of the terminal.
London on Your Own
Central London is about 25 miles from the terminal, so an independent London day means a train ride each way on top of the trip to the station. If that is too much for one day, Tilbury Fort stands east of the terminal.
- The train: Tilbury Town station is on the c2c line to London Fenchurch Street, about 21 miles by rail. Ask your ship or the terminal staff how to reach the station.
- Arriving in London: Fenchurch Street is in the southeastern corner of the City of London, within about 350 yards of Tower Hill Underground station.
- Tilbury Fort: The fort's opening days and hours change with the season, so check before you go.
- Getting back on time: All-aboard is usually about 30 minutes before sailing, and your ship posts the exact time. A ship will not wait for passengers touring on their own.
Tipping in the United Kingdom
The UK does not have a strong tipping culture. In restaurants, a tip of about 10 to 15 percent is customary for good service but never expected, and many bills already include a service charge marked as optional, so check before adding more.
- Tipping is not a tradition in most pubs.
- In a taxi, people often round the fare up to a convenient amount.
- The currency is the pound.
A Brief History
The Thames bends and narrows at Tilbury, which made it a place to defend London and, later, a site for deep-water docks. For much of the 20th century, this was where London's ocean liners came and went.
- 1539: Henry VIII built a D-shaped blockhouse here, part of a network of forts guarding the Thames.
- 1588: Elizabeth I came by barge on 8 August and rode to the army camp at West Tilbury, where she gave her speech to the troops gathered against the Spanish Armada.
- After 1667: Following the Dutch raid of 1667, Charles II had the fort rebuilt as a five-sided star with bastions and two moats.
- From 1716: The fort became a gunpowder depot that could eventually hold more than 19,000 barrels.
- 1886: The docks opened on 17 April, built by the East and West India Dock Company.
- 1916 and 1930: Berths for P&O liners opened inside the docks in 1916, and the riverside passenger landing stage in May 1930.
- 1948: HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury in June 1948, carrying a large group of passengers from the West Indies.
- Until the 1960s: Tilbury remained London's liner terminal, and many emigrants left here for Australia under its assisted-passage scheme.
- 1983: After restoration work, Tilbury Fort opened to the public.
- 1995: The landing stage reopened as the London Cruise Terminal.
- To learn more ashore: At Tilbury Fort, east of the terminal, the officers' quarters hold a collection of military memorabilia.
Tilbury with Children
Tilbury Fort has moats, bastions and tunnels to explore. Check its seasonal opening days before you plan the visit.
- Younger children: Walk beside the fort's two moats and count its four angled bastions.
- School age: Tell the story of Elizabeth I arriving by barge in 1588 to speak to her army, then look at the two lines of gun platforms that face the river.
- Teenagers: The fort's early 18th-century gunpowder magazines are the only ones of their kind left in Britain, and after the Jacobite rising of 1745 the fort held 268 Highland prisoners of war.
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