The London Eye is the city’s giant Ferris wheel located in the heart of London, on the south bank of the River Thames. At 135 metres tall, this giant wheel is not only an engineering masterpiece but also offers some of the best views of one of the most exciting cities in the world.
Here is how we would plan a London Eye visit: choose a time that suits the view you want, compare current ticket types and allow time for security and boarding.
Information About the London Eye
Launched in 1999, the Millennium Wheel, as it was originally known, took over two years to complete and was designed by a group of 7 architects led by British architect Julia Barfield.
The London Eye is now one of the most recognised landmarks in the world, thanks to being the backdrop to London’s incredible New Year’s Eve fireworks, which take place every year on 31st December.
Visiting the London Eye
If it’s your first visit to London, your trip wouldn’t be complete without riding on the London Eye as it offers some of the most incredible views of the city and of course, fantastic photo opportunities.
A full rotation takes about 30 minutes, and you get to make a once-round trip. The capsules move so slowly that you don’t even feel like you’re moving, but suddenly, you’ll find yourself at the highest point enjoying amazing views of the London skyline.
The London Eye has a total of 32 capsules which offer panoramic 360º views of the city. Some of the landmarks you can see from the top are Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park, the numerous buildings along the banks of the River Thames, and the skyscrapers in the City of London and Canary Wharf.
London Eye tickets and prices
You can choose a standard entry ticket for a particular date and time, a Fast Track ticket for the shorter priority queue at a booked time, or Flexi Fast Track if you prefer to arrive at any time on your selected day. Fast Track is useful when you are fitting the Eye between fixed reservations; a standard ticket is often enough if your plans are flexible. All ticket types still involve security and some waiting. Compare the total price for your chosen day, not an old walk-up price.
The Eye’s ticket time is the time to join your designated queue, not the exact moment your capsule leaves the platform. A full rotation takes about 30 minutes, so allow more than half an hour for the visit as a whole.
Booking and arrival
Choose the date and time slot for the ticket you buy, save the confirmation on your phone and head to the appropriate entrance on the South Bank. Standard and Fast Track tickets use different queues. Ticket and collection arrangements can differ between the official website and third-party sellers; the confirmation for your ticket tells you what to present. Leave extra time if you have a theatre booking or train departure later that day.
Children, pushchairs, accessibility and luggage
- Children: Children under 2 enter free, but they still need a free ticket added to the booking. Guests aged 15 or under must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over.
- Pushchairs: You may take a buggy or pushchair into the capsule, but it must be fully folded before joining the boarding queue and remain folded until you leave the attraction. Alternatively, ticket holders can leave a pushchair in the Ticket Office buggy area free of charge, subject to space.
- Wheelchair access: The boarding ramp, gates and capsules are wheelchair accessible. Each capsule can take up to two wheelchair users, with a maximum of eight on the wheel at one time, so booking a wheelchair time slot in advance is strongly recommended. A disabled guest can add one free carer ticket when buying an eligible paid ticket.
- Bags: Small bags, backpacks and water bottles are allowed but are screened before boarding. Travel light where possible. The left-luggage facility in the main Ticket Office currently charges £5 per item until closing time.
When would we go?
For a first visit, daylight makes it easier to pick out Westminster, St Paul’s and the curve of the Thames. A sunset slot can be beautiful, but it is also popular and the exact light depends on the season. An evening visit gives a different view of the city lights. Choose the experience you want first, then check the operating calendar and reserve an available time.
London Eye combination tickets
If you also want Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE London, Shrek’s Adventure! or the London Dungeon, the Eye sells two- to five-attraction combinations. The first attraction gets a chosen time, and the remaining visits are arranged within the product’s stated window. These are especially worth comparing for a family that genuinely wants several of the included venues; one extra attraction you do not intend to visit is not a saving.
Big Bus bundle: there are tickets pairing an open-top bus ride with the London Eye, sometimes with another attraction such as the Tower of London. Check the bus duration and any included cruise as well as the Eye entry type. Our sightseeing bus guide explains the routes.
Sightseeing pass: the London Eye is currently part of both the day-based London Pass and London Pass Explorer; a timed reservation is required through the pass app. If the Eye is one of several paid sights in your plans, compare the pass with the operator’s combination ticket and the sum of individual tickets.
London Eye opening times
Opening hours vary by date and season, and the London Eye may close for maintenance or special events. Check the official opening-hours calendar before choosing a time slot. If you want daylight views in winter, check sunset time as well as the last entry time.
If you would rather see London lit up, consider an evening slot when the attraction is open after dark.
Getting to the London Eye
The London Eye is one of the easiest London landmarks to find as it dominates the skyline. You must look up and see it from many parts of the city. However, here are some pointers, just in case:
Getting to the London Eye by Tube
The closest underground stations to the London Eye are Westminster and Waterloo. Waterloo station is in London’s travel zone 1 and is served by multiple tube lines: Bakerloo (brown), Jubilee (grey), Northern (black) and Waterloo & City (light blue). Westminster tube station is also in zone 1, next to Big Ben. You just need to cross Westminster Bridge to get to the London Eye. And here’s a little tip from us, there are great photo opportunities of Big Ben and the London Eye from Westminster Bridge.
Getting to the London Eye by Bus
Several bus services stop close to the South Bank and Waterloo. Use the stop shown in your current journey planner, since routes and diversions change.
Getting to the London Eye on Foot
From Westminster, cross Westminster Bridge and follow the South Bank to the wheel. From Waterloo, follow signs towards the river. Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden are pleasant walks, but allow roughly 20–30 minutes rather than squeezing them into a ten-minute transfer. Our sightseeing itinerary 1 links Buckingham Palace, Westminster, the Eye and Covent Garden on foot.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.