A visitor’s guide to the London Eye
The British Airways London Eye is one of the two most eye-catching new additions to the London skyline in the last decade. Originally built as a temporary attraction for the millenium, it has become the most popular tourist attraction in London, visited by 3.5 million people a year. It’s perfectly placed to see Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the River Thames, and all across London; particularly on a beautiful day. (Yes, beautiful days do happen in London!)
One of the nice things about the London Eye is that you can combine it with other attractions. One time I went on a riverboat cruise that left from just in front of the Eye, touring the river from Westminster down past Tower Bridge and back. We got off the boat and got right into the queue for the Eye, on one combined ticket.
If you’re feeling romantic, you can book an entire capsule just for yourself and your partner. Unfortunately, you’ll never be totally alone… a member of staff is always there, generally as the champagne server. But the capsules are certainly large enough for your privacy. You can also book capsules for group “flights” of up to 25 people.
The wheel was the largest in the world when it was built, though it has now been surpassed. It is cantilevered so that the entire wheel is above the River Thames. A full revolution takes about thirty minutes, and it never stops moving. (It’s slow enough that people can board and walk off without problems.) Passengers ride in one of 32 enclosed, air-conditioned capsules attached to the outer rim of the wheel.
The London Eye is great for an entire family, and I highly recommend a “flight”!
Cost: £15 for standard flight, half-price for children (5-15)
Up to £390 for a full capsule
Getting There: Take the Underground to either Westminster or Waterloo stations, on the Circle, District, Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo and Waterloo and City lines.
Hours: 10am - 8pm daily (until 9pm June - September)
Map:
View Larger Map
Photos from Wikipedia and Flickr. 1 2 3 4 5
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POSTED IN: Attractions, Events, Family Fun, Just a Little Bit Weird - Fun & Quirky Places, Must-See Sights, Photos, Resources, Top Ten
6 opinions for A visitor’s guide to the London Eye
Mary Jo
Nov 21, 2007 at 11:32 pm
How fun looking! And a romantic way to see the city, too. Putting this on my to-see list!
The Toronto Traveler
Nov 22, 2007 at 12:58 am
Is a standard trip one full revolution of the wheel?
Clara
Nov 24, 2007 at 2:31 am
These are beautiful pictures!
Jed
Nov 24, 2007 at 11:29 am
Yes, a standard “flight” is one full revolution, at ~30 minutes.
There’s a reason it’s one of the most visited attractions in London!
Coqui
Nov 28, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Great post.
Never did make it onto the eye back in the days when I was in the UK. Got to see it from close up and your photos do it justice.
Maybe next time I take a trip back from here in Puerto Rico, I’ll take a spin on the eye.
Nice photos and write up
Irina
May 6, 2008 at 8:43 am
I’ve visited lots of interesting places in London and I can say that The London Eye is really worth of it. There are no wires or machinery blocking your view from the top or sides, and you can enjoy the full view of London like nowhere else))). If I have a chance, I’ll definitely visit it again!
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