London Eye

Hi again!

In this post, I will be showing you one of London's most popular tourist attractions, The London Eye. Visited by over 3. 5 million people each year (on average around 10, 000 people per day) the London Eye is a must for those who wish to experience magnificent views of the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.

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In 1993, two architects, David Marks and Julia Barfield entered a competition run by the Sunday Times Newspaper and The Architecture Foundation to design a new London landmark for the millennium. However, their idea to create the world largest observation wheel was rejected: in fact, all entries were rejected and the competition was deemed a complete failure; it would seem there was to be no Millennium Landmark. Despite their initial rejection, Marks and Barfield decided to open their own company solely focused on bringing their idea of the world largest Ferris wheel to life, and a short while later, British Airways caught wind of their intriguing idea via The Evening Standard newspaper; within 16 months, they had agreed to help fund the project.

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The views from the 135 metre tall Ferris wheel are spectacular, and, providing it’s a clear day, you can see as far as Windsor Castle (that's an enormous 25-mile radius view of London). The total duration of the ride from start to finish is approximately 30 minutes, so there will be plenty of time to take in the views and of course, take lots of photos. The London Eye is comprised of 32 capsules, representing the 32 boroughs of London, each capable of holding up to 25 people. It is possible to rent an entire pod for a birthday party, hen party, or even for a wedding ceremony. In fact, over 500 wedding ceremonies have taken place on the London Eye. Also, more than 5000 people have gotten engaged on the London Eye, quite a daunting concept when you think about it, especially if she says no... that’s an awkward 15-20 minutes to spend in an enclosed capsule 135 metres above ground.

One of the most unusual and extravagant things to happen was in 2010 when the London Eye, as part of the London Restaurant Festival, turned each of its capsules into a ten-person private dining room. Numerous chefs such as Gordon Ramsey, Richard Corrigan, Giorgio Locatelli and Mark Hix each helmed a different capsule, cooking up to four-course meals for their guests, with a rotation of the wheel for each course - four courses, four rotations. Tickets for this extravagant and highly-coveted event were sold in advance of each night to the highest bidder; one night even sold for as high as £23, 000.

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From the moment that the London Eye opens in the morning, it doesn't stop moving until it is shut down at night (or for cleaning services), so take care when both embarking and disembarking the wheel. Of course, like any attraction in London, there are restrictions as to what you are allowed to take onboard. Effectively, the London Eye is to be treated the same as an aeroplane; complete with bag searches and metal detectors.

The ticket office is situated almost directly in front of the London Eye and opens at 11 am. The basic ticket prices for entry to the London Eye are as follows:

On the day:

A standard entry ticket for adults (16+) - £26. 00

A standard entry ticket for children (3-15) - £21. 00

A standard entry ticket for children under 3 - Free

Pre-book online:

A standard entry ticket for adults (16+) - £23. 45

A standard entry ticket for children (3-15) - £18. 95

A standard entry ticket for children under 3 - Free

You won't find a better vantage point in the whole London, especially for these prices. Some may argue that the viewing platform at the top of The Shard is better, but, as the London Eye is situated right in the heart of London, I find the views to be that little bit more spectacular.

It is also worth mentioning that by combining London Eye tickets with other attractions (such as Madame Tussauds, The London Dungeons or The London Sealife Aquarium), you can save between £17. 95 (for 2 attractions) and £57. 90 (for 4 attractions). I strongly recommend that you book tickets in advance; not only for the discounts, but purely to make your day easier and avoid any unnecessary queuing.

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For those who feel slightly intimidated by the large queues, especially when visiting in the summer, let me put your mind at ease by telling you that, from my own personal experience, the queues move very quickly. Having been on the London Eye multiple times, both while working as a tour guide for an English language school and visiting with family and friends, the longest I have waited has been 30 minutes. So, please don't let something as minor as queues put you off seeing some of the most spectacular views of London.

It's worth quickly noting if you are planning to visit Westminster, or even the London Eye, during the evening that the views are even more breathtaking. Ideally, visiting at this time could be great after an evening meal, as the Eye is open until 20:30.

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Finally, please check this 4 day London itinerary to know more about what to see in London in only four days.

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