no alt text

Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Sarah Barrell

One of the world’s highest observation wheels, the Eye gives you a gentle, rotating ride 450ft above the London skyline. On a clear day, the glass capsules have views stretching 25 miles across the capital, with iconic London architecture – from Big Ben to the Tower of London – laid out directly underneath.

This iconic bit of engineering and its dazzling views has charmed even hard-to-please Londoners. There’s no better way to get acquainted with the lie of the land.

Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience

Price from: £31
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: +
When: All year around
Duration: 30 minutes

Getting there & doing it

The Eye is open all year round, seven days a week, with later opening hours in July and August. Dusk is a magical time to board, for sunsets and sparkling city lights. School holidays, particularly July to August, bring big queues (peaking around 11am-3pm).

When to do it

The nearest Underground stop is Waterloo (Northern, Jubilee, and Bakerloo lines).

It’s possible to buy tickets on the day, but booking online is strongly recommended. Several ticket types allow you to jump the queues, which can be formidable. Book a ‘guided tour’ to get commentary on the landmarks and priority boarding. ‘Flexi’ tickets are pricier but mean a shorter wait time, and they don’t tie you to timed boarding.

Private capsule hire comes with Champagne and canapés, wine tastings and other optional goodies, including a full three-course meal. Each ‘flight’ time lasts about 30 minutes.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

London Eye River Cruise

London Eye River Cruise

London

Cruise down the River Thames and learn about London's top landmarks with the London Eye River Cruise expert guides. Discover London’s main...

£14 | Rating 4.74 / 5 [645 ratings]

Website >

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo
 London Eye Standard Ticket

London Eye Standard Ticket

London

Be part of London’s skyline! The London Eye offers spectacular views of the capital of England from high above the River Thames. The famous...

£32 | Rating 4.08 / 5 [1966 ratings]

Website >

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo
London Eye Fast-Track Ticket

London Eye Fast-Track Ticket

London

Fast Track for a perfect London Eye experience! With fast track entry for your flight in a shared capsule, you get to skip the majority of t...

£46 | Rating 4.37 / 5 [2566 ratings]

Website >

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo
Best of London Including Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, with a Cream Tea or London Eye Upgrade

Best of London Including Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, with a Cream Tea or London Eye Upgrade

London

See the best that England’s capital has to offer on a full-day city tour of London! Explore St Paul’s Cathedral with a guide, then make a ph...

£113 | Rating 4.16 / 5 [1707 ratings]

Website >

Tour supplied by:

Viator Logo

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Marriott County Hall

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Get a front-row seat for the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and a sparkling stretch of the River Thames, at this Grade-II listed Westminster waterfront address. Right in the city center, it’s walking distance to the major sites.

Official star rating:

The Savoy Hotel

London, United Kingdom (UK)

This opulent Art Deco hotel, right in the buzzing West End, is discreet, elegant, and full of A-list stories.

Official star rating:

The Resident Covent Garden

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Low prices without sacrificing style or comfort are the order of the day at The Resident’s smart Covent Garden address.

Official star rating:

Henrietta Hotel London

London, United Kingdom (UK)

A stylish boutique hotel with a standout bar, superb London Eye views and Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House right outside the door.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

London

Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)

World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination. 

Website >
Overview >

Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

The London Dungeon

London, United Kingdom (UK)

A gallows humour romp through London’s most gruesome periods of history, encountering its shadiest characters, via live action, rides and special effects.

Best for ages: 12+ | £27

National Theatre

London, United Kingdom (UK)

From classic drama to musical comedy, the National’s three stages (the Olivier, Lyttleton and Dorfman) epitomise the best of British theatre. Boundary-pushing, and world-class quality.

Best for ages: 13+ | £45

Trooping the Colour

London, United Kingdom (UK)

World-famous, incomparable military parade dating back to the 17th century, involving thousands of soldiers, horses and musicians in full regalia, occurs each June to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 2.5 hours

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

Exterior view of front facade with people walking in front
Experience

SEA LIFE London Aquarium

London, United Kingdom (UK)

London’s impressive aquarium, set on the South Bank, home to hundreds of species of fish and a selection of sharks.

Best for ages: Any | £27

Website >
Overview >
Exterior view of the grand building surrounding a large square
Experience

Somerset House

London, United Kingdom (UK)

Famous for its picturesque alfresco ice rink in winter and the Edmund J Safra fountains in the summer, this elegant neoclassical building is also home to an art gallery and upscale restaurant.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

Website >
Overview >

Royal Academy of Arts

London, United Kingdom (UK)

An 18th-century mansion of masterpieces sitting pretty on Piccadilly, home to one of Britain’s oldest collections of fine art and regular blockbuster exhibitions.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free