Londoners head for the river as heatwave drives Uber Boat by Thames Clippers journeys up by over 80%

As another heatwave is forecast to hit London next week, new data from Uber Boat by Thames Clippers reveals that Londoners are increasingly choosing to travel by river when temperatures rise, as passenger numbers during June’s recent heatwave peaked up to 83% higher than the equivalent day two weeks earlier.

Across the warm spell, passenger numbers consistently exceeded 15,000 travellers a day, peaking at more than 25,000 on weekends. The figures also closely mirror those recorded during the June 2025 heatwave, suggesting that travelling by river during hot weather has become an established pattern for Londoners rather than a one-off spike.

This spike is part of a remarkable trend, with last week’s daily passenger volumes running significantly higher than the previous fortnight* across every day of the working week:

Monday: + 81%

Tuesday: + 44%

Wednesday: + 61%

Thursday: + 83%

Friday: + 13%*In comparison to w/c 8th June

Sean Collins, CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said: “During this record-breaking heatwave, we have seen a significant surge in passengers choosing to travel by river. With a guaranteed seat and cold drinks available from our onboard café bars, our boats offer a comfortable alternative when the temperature climbs. We’re proud to keep Londoners and visitors moving across our great city.”

With air-conditioned cabins, guaranteed seating, the choice of indoor seating or an open-air deck, free Wi-Fi, onboard refreshments and panoramic Thames views, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers Londoners a cooler, more comfortable way to travel during periods of warm weather.