You’ve seen it in just about every skyline image of London, the huge ferris wheel towering 443 ft in the sky over Big Ben, the London Eye. Before we left for London I read up on tings to see and do in London and this was definitely on the list. There were many different ticket options, including the option to pay a premium and reserve a fast pass. I had read that the lines could be very long…like hours long, including the line just to buy tickets, but because we weren’t 100% sure what day we would want to visit due to the possibilities of inclement weather, jet lag, etc., we opted to press our luck and buy tickets the day of. Fortunately because we were there in the spring before the real travel high season started we didn’t have a problem. After about a 30 minute wait we were loaded into a capsule with about 8-10 other people and starting our journey on the 33 minute revolution on The London Eye with some of the most fantastic views of the city. Here’s a peek at what you’ll see while on board…
The ticket prices to ride the London Eye are pricey, especially once you consider the exchange rate, so just be prepared. I know there are several ferris wheels like this all over the world now, but I would still say that if you are going to pick one to ride, I would ride this one. There is a pavilion with a movie and some other activities you can participate in when you pay to ride that make the experience a bit longer than just the 33 minute ride. Like I mentioned before, we didn’t spring for the fast pass tickets, but it may be something you want to consider if you know you are going to be there during the height of the tourist season. If you are looking for an extra special experience you can spring for your own capsule, a guided tour or the champagne experience. And here’s tip that I wish I had known…they offer a day and night experience with two 30 minute rides so you can see the views at two different times. That ticket is only $4 more than the original ticket.
Another tip: we were only on a capsule with about 10-12 people. They can hold up to 20 I believe and are quite large, but because it wasn’t a very busy day they were loading fewer people on each one. The temperature was about 60 degrees outside so quite chilly and we were dressed accordingly…but by the time the ride was nearing it’s end we were HOT inside. It started feeling very claustrophobic and warm. I would suggest wearing layers to be prepared for temperature differences.
You can find out more about The London Eye like hours, ticket prices etc. here. I hope you enjoyed your spin on the London Eye.
Looking for more help planning a trip to London? Check out these posts:
Things to do in London: Visit Borough Market
Afternoon Tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace
Visiting Notting Hill Afternoon Tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace Take a Spin on the London Eye Tips for Using Public Transportation in London Primrose Hill: Home of Paddington Bear What it’s like to rent a vacation flat in London How to Stay Connected While Traveling in Europe A Walking Tour of London“>Visit the Tower of London
Tips for Using Public Transportation in London
Primrose Hill: Home of Paddington Bear
What it’s like to rent a vacation flat in London
How to Stay Connected While Traveling in Europe
Happy Travels!
Tammy