London

London is reached from the Channel by way of the North East Spit, or from the north by the Sunk, then up the estuary past Gravesend and through the Thames Barrier to the Pool. The range at London Bridge is about 7m at springs and the ebb runs longer and harder than the flood, so movements are planned to the tide. Yachts lie to the tiers at Tower Bridge Upper, George Stairs and Greenwich and land by tender or licensed launch, or lock into St Katharine Docks, the only central berth with walk-ashore access.

London VTS monitors VHF 69 seaward of Sea Reach 4 and VHF 68 from Sea Reach 4 to Crayfordness, with broadcasts at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour on 69 and on the hour and half hour on 68. The Thames Barrier Navigation Centre monitors VHF 14.

Tower Bridge lifts for a yacht of 9m air draught or more bound for the Upper Pool. The lift is requested in writing 24 hours ahead by the agent, the owner or the master, and there is no charge.

The St Katharine Docks lock operates from two hours before high water to an hour and a half after, 06:00 to 20:30 from April to October and 08:00 to 18:00 from November to March. A yacht should arrive at least 30 minutes before locking ends.

Pilotage is compulsory above 40m throughout the Port of London. The pilot boards at the North East Spit from the south or the Sunk from the north, and at Gravesend outward; pilots monitor VHF 09.

The booking is confirmed with the Port Control Centre six hours before the movement, or four hours for a river pilot to Gravesend or Sea Reach 1. A 55m yacht from the Channel to the Upper Pool pays two acts, about GBP 1,925 inbound.

There is no fuel berth on the tiers. Thames Marine Services' fuel barge Heiko lies below the St Katharine Docks lock, and for large quantities a smaller vessel attends by prior arrangement.

On the tiers, water, refuse, black and grey water are booked with the tier; shore power is not published and is confirmed with the operator on booking. St Katharine Docks has pump-out at the berths. Tier berths are tender to the shore, and commercial launches are licensed for piers the yacht's tenders may not use.

London Heliport at Battersea is open 07:00 to 23:00, seven days, with customs by General Aviation Report on 12 hours' notice. London City Private Jet Centre is three miles from Canary Wharf; Farnborough is under an hour by road, and Biggin Hill has a helicopter shuttle. Heathrow, Luton and Stansted serve scheduled flights.

There is no lift for a 30 to 60m yacht on the Thames. The nearest is Trafalgar Shipyard in Portsmouth Harbour, with a syncrolift to 60m and 877 tonnes.