The London Eye is one of the top tourist attractions in London. Many people line up and pay a hefty amount just to be on it. But the question is: Is the London Eye really worth it?
Initially, we were all raving about trying to ride it. But when we got there and saw the loooooong zigzagging queue under the scorching heat of the sun, there was a slight thought of “should we go for it?”
… which we brushed aside because we already booked and paid for the ride, so we might as well enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience, right?
What exactly is the London Eye?
The London Eye is, as the name implies, the eye to London. With a height of 135 meters, it allows tourists to see stunning panoramic views of London, including historic landmarks such as the Big Ben, the House of Parliament, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
You will be inside glass capsules where you can savor the beauty of each landmark during its ascent and descent. With the River Thames flowing gracefully beneath, plus the cityscape and towering architectures around the city, being in the London Eye is simply a wonderful experience that you should not miss.
What can you see in the London Eye?
The London Eye is literally your eye in London. And you can see all the famous landmarks in London with each rotation!
Watch out for these landmarks while you are on the London Eye:
- Big Ben
- Houses of Parliament
- Buckingham Palace
- Tower Bridge
- Westminster Abbey
- St. James Park
- Tower Bridge
- Hyde Park
Is it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world?
Well, yes and no.
Yes, because it is the tallest architectural wheel in the world that people can get on.
No, because it is not a Ferris wheel, but an observation wheel.
This observation wheel, unlike a Ferris wheel, does not stop to let people on or off. Instead, it continuously moves at a slow speed so that people can easily board the capsule as needed. There are a total of 32 capsules in the London Eye.
Each capsule can hold up to 25 people. There are benches in the middle for people to sit on. The capsule is also spacious enough for people to go from one side of the capsule to the other for photos and videos inside.
What can you expect from the London Eye?
Breathtaking Views of London
The London Eye will give you a 30- minute panoramic 360-degree view of London. It was breathtaking to see the Tower Bridge, the Big Ben, the Westminster Palace, and the Thames River all at the same time! These were landmarks that we were just imagining to see, and here they are right before our very eyes!
Photo Zones
Aside from taking your own snapshots of yourselves and your family while inside the London Eye capsules, there are photo zones inside each capsule where you can strike a pose and get photographed by automatic cameras in the area. You can purchase these photos at the London Eye reception area after your ride.
Interactive Storytelling
There is an audio guide that tells the history of London in an interactive and engaging way. If you are into learning about fun facts and trivia about the places you visit, then you would surely enjoy listening to the voice over inside the capsule.
Fully air conditioned capsules
Each capsule is fully air conditioned, making the ride comfortable and cool. There are also benches in the middle where tourists can sit down as they revel in the beauty of London.
Option for Private Capsules and Fast-Track Access
You can purchase tickets to private pods. This means that there will be no one else to obstruct your view in the capsule, and that you can capture better images and videos, too. Tourists in private capsules also do not need to line up. They are automatically given fast-track access to the London Eye. Expect these tickets to be pricier than usual.
When is the best time to visit the London Eye?
We went to the London Eye during the summer, and oh my, it was sooo hot! Walking to the London Eye from the train station drenched our shirts with sweat. And standing under the heat of the sun during the long queue was uncomfortable.
Therefore, it is safe to say that visiting the London Eye may be better during the cooler climate in London. It would be more comfortable to line up and more fun to stroll around the area if the weather is less warm like what we experienced in June.
You can also choose to book a daytime ride or an evening ride. If you prefer to capture stunning photos of London’s famous landmarks, then it is better to choose a daytime rotation. On the other hand, if you want a more romantic vibe and see how the city lights reflect on the Thames River, then you should opt for an evening ride.
In our case, we chose the daytime ride. We were so amazed with the beauty of London while inside London Eye’s glass capsules! Such a beauty to behold!
How can you purchase tickets?
Tickets to the London Eye can be purchased online. This is what my sister and my brother-in-law did. They purchased a London Eye + River Cruise package, which we both enjoyed! Read this article if you want to read our Thames River Cruise adventure.
There are other ticket packages that you can purchase online. There are standard tickets and Fast-track tickets, which are more expensive but more convenient because you can skip the lines especially during peak hours.
So, is the London Eye worth it?
A big YES! We absolutely loved our experiences on the London Eye! We highly recommend tourists, especially those with kids, to visit the London Eye and enjoy the breathtaking views of London.
From the moment we stepped foot on the London Eye, we were already blown away with the view. We actually did not know where to look first!
It was such an amazing experience. With the London Eye moving at a slow and relaxed pace, we actually could hardly tell that we were moving at all. It was just like gliding upwards and upwards until we were at the highest part of the observation wheel.
Seeing the nearby landmarks, which Tala said, were “simply drawings on her walls” was amazing! It was such an adventure that we recommend to everyone!
What’s Next?
That’s it for our London Eye adventure!
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