The London Eye was conceived and designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield to celebrate the millennium, using a design that represents the turning of the century. It was initially erected as a temporary structure but has been so popular it remains today, and likely will for many more years to come. Sir Richard Rogers sums up the London Eye like this
❝ The Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris, which is to give it a symbol and to let people climb above the city and look back down on it. Not just specialists or rich people, but everybody. That’s the beauty of it: it is public and accessible, and it is in a great position in the heart of London. ❞– Sir Richard Rogers
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It took seven years and a team of hundreds of people from five European countries to complete the vision of the designers. Once it was built it then took over a week to lift the Eye upright from a horizontal position across the Thames using a procedure previously only attempted in oil-rigging operations.
The 30-minute revolution takes passengers on a slow, gentle ride up and around with great views of the whole city that even those who hate heights might not find so hard to handle. Each of the 32 pod-like capsules can hold 25 people, is air-conditioned, and has benches for seating.
Because the capsules are secured on the outside of the wheel (rather than hanging from it, as they would be on Ferris Wheel) the views through the large glass windows are completely unobstructed. The capsules are kept level by a motorized motion stability system so even with many people walking around in them they are safe, stable, and don’t really feel like they are moving – except you can see that you are.
The wheel is in constant motion, revolving at a quarter of the average walking speed which enables you to walk straight on and off the moving capsules. This feature helps keep the lines (which can get quite long, especially in the summer) moving at a reasonable pace. For additional safety, each of the capsules is in touch with the crew on the ground via cameras and radio links.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LONDON EYE
Once you’ve boarded your pod, the doors slide shut as you start to ascend and you begin to see more and more of London revealed to you. Once at the top you can see out 25 miles (40 km) on a clear day!
THE VIEWS
One of the best things about the London Eye is that you don’t just pop out at the top and take in the view. The view is slowly revealed to you as you climb higher and higher. So, for the first ten minutes, you are having more and more of London revealed beneath you. The highlight of the ride is the ten-minutes at the top where the views are the most expansive.
Inside the pods are tablets to give you interactive information about the buildings and landmarks you can see. There are so many things to do, it can be difficult to decide which way to look as London unfolds beneath your feet. This makes the London Eye is an excellent option to give you a bird’s-eye view introduction to the city. Definitely, make sure your camera is charged and ready to go!
LANDMARK SPOTTING
Some landmarks are easy to spot and close to the Eye, such as the Houses of Parliament. But can you spot those a bit further out? Battersea Power Station, Wembley Stadium and the O2 arena (millennium dome) are all easy to spot on a clear day.
With good visibility, you can spy some even further out landmarks. To the south you can see North Down Hills, the east brings views of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and to the west is Windsor Castle.
4D EXPERIENCE
Included in your entrance ticket is access to the London Eye 4D Cinema Experience. Using 3D aerial footage of London combined with other effects to tell the story of a little girl visiting London.
The girl wants to see London as the birds can and you experience her imagining what that would be like. The film is in 3D with excellent effects, but the wow factor comes from the tangible effects used in the cinema. So when it snows in the film, it snows in the cinema, when it’s windy, you feel the wind and so on.
The film is only four-minutes long, but as a free add-on to your London Eye ticket is well worth your time to experience.
THE HIGH LIFE
A ride on the London Eye is a fantastic experience, but you can make it even more special. The Eye has several options for upgrading your ride for a special occasion or just as a treat.
These include access to the Eye Lounge where you can relax with a drink and watch the Eye glide past. Maybe enjoying your ride on the Eye with a glass of champagne in hand. Perhaps enjoy your ride whilst have a wine, champagne or chocolate tasting experience.
For the ultimate indulgence, you can even have an entire pod reserved just for you and your party.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO THE LONDON EYE
Information last updated November 2019
HOW TO GET THERE
The London Eye can be found at Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB.
The nearest tube stations are Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee Lines) and Waterloo (Waterloo and City, Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee lines). Waterloo is also served by South Western Railway. Both stations are a five to ten-minute walk from the London Eye.
There is a riverboat stop right at the Eye (RB1 and RB1X services). The pier is also served by tourist riverboat services such as City Cruises and Thames Clippers.
Parking is available five-minutes walk away at Waterloo Car Park. Parking is £7 for 2 hours which should be enough for visiting the London Eye. Parking for 12 hours is £15 if you want to explore more of the local area.
HELPFUL LINK:
- If you need an app that will navigate you around whether walking, driving or using public transport and even works offline then click for a guide about how to use Here WeGo.
OPENING HOURS
Opening hours are 1100-1800 weekdays and 1000-2030 at weekends. The Eye is closed on the 25th December and for the 2nd and 3rd weeks in January for its annual maintenance. Opening hours can vary, so please check the London Eye Opening Times for the latest information.
The 3D experience closes 15 minutes prior to the London Eyes closing time.
As all of the attraction is indoors, any time of year is a good time to visit and it could be a good place to visit on a rainy or cold day. The only bad times are if visibility is reduced as you won’t see so far into the distance. However, there are plenty of sights in the vicinity to view. We would recommend you allow at least two hours to fully enjoy the Eye as well as the 4D experience.
HOW TO BUY TICKETS & SAVE MONEY ON ADMISSION
Basic admission prices are £30 for 16 years old and over, £24 for children 3-15 years, £16 for students and free for under 3s. You can save up to 13% by booking online in advance.
TOP TIP: Book family tickets if visiting with children to save more than purchasing standard tickets.
Fast Track entry costs £40 for 16 years old and over, £34 for children 3-15 years and free for under 3s. You can save £3 for adults and £2 for children by booking online in advance.
For the ultimate experience, you can add luxuries like a glass of champagne, wine or chocolate tasting or even your own private capsule by booking a London Eye VIP Experience.
You can save more by combining entry to the London Eye with up to four other attractions with the London Eye Combination Tickets. The other attractions are Madame Tussauds, London Eye River Cruise, Sea Life London, Shrek’s Adventure, Big Bus Tour and The London Dungeon.
The London Eye is also on the London Explorer Pass which allows you to choose specific attractions in bundles of 3, 5 or 7 and save up to 40%. Passes are valid for 30 days from first use, so there is no need to rush to use your credits.
ACCESSIBILITY
The London Eye is fully accessible. Health and Safety requirements limit 2 wheelchairs to each capsule and 8 on the whole attraction at any one time. Booking tickets in advance is strongly recommended.
For full accessibility details please visit the London Eye Accessibility page.
IS THE LONDON EYE WORTH THE VISIT?
As the only observation wheel of its type and with its incredible views across London, the London Eye is a “hard to miss” attraction if visiting the UK capital. It’s hard to beat for what it offers and is enjoyed by most visitors.
However, its popularity has lead to very expensive prices for what is a 30-minute ride. And the last ten-minutes you see less and less as you descend back to earth.
If money is no object, it’s a great attraction with wonderful views, but there are cheaper ways to see views across London, including The Monument and Tower Bridge, or further east, the Emirates Air Line.
To see London from even higher up, The Shard has an equally expensive viewing platform.
Finally, the Tate Modern and Sky Garden offer impressive views and are free to visit.
See what others think of this attraction on Trip Advisor.
ADD TO YOUR LONDON ITINERARY
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life” said Samuel Johnson, so it’s no surprise that there are a plethora of things to do in the UK’s capital city. Here are a few choice selections to whet your appetite.
IN THE AREA
- More than 3,000 forms of marine life (including sharks!) are housed over three floors in the former County Hall which makes Sea Life London Aquarium one of Europe’s largest aquariums. It’s divided into 14 zones such as Reefs and Corals, and the Indian Ocean exhibits. Kids no doubt will love a visit here.
- Hidden away in the vaults beneath London Bridge railway station, the London Dungeon features grisly stories and scenes of some of the most horrific events in British history. From the Great Fire of London, tales of Jack the Ripper, to the Great Plague – it’s all there in great gory detail.
- Visit the final resting place of kings, queens, writers, and scientists at Westminster Abbey, and then enjoy the neo-Gothic architecture of the Palace of Westminster while learning all about the parliamentary system of government.
- Explore the Churchill War Rooms, the actual rooms where Churchill and his chiefs of staff formulated strategy for the defence of the UK during World War II.
- Continue learning about World War II history, as well as other conflicts through history, at the Imperial War Museum.
RELATED ATTRACTIONS IN LONDON
- Nearby Tower Bridge offers wonderful views of the city, including straight down to the road and river below through the glass floor!
- Purchase the combination ticket for Tower Bridge and the Monument to the Great Fire and enjoy more great views of London from the top of the Monument (after you’ve climbed the 311 stairs!) and learn about the Great Fire of 1666.
- The Shard is the tallest building in the UK, get a birds-eye view of London from its 243m (800 ft) high viewing platform.
- Stand in two hemispheres at once on the Prime Meridian in the Meridian Courtyard, do a little star gazing in the Royal Observatory, learn about tales of exploration and endeavour at the National Maritime Museum, and take in a unique view of London from the hillside park. All this, and even more, is waiting to be discovered at Maritime Greenwich.
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RESOURCES | PLAN YOUR TRIP TO LONDON
To book flights, rental cars, accommodations, and activities for your trip, please check out our recommended travel providers, favourite apps and websites.
These are a few tours we would recommend for your trip to London.
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