The London Eye, initially named the Millennium Wheel, is a massive Ferris wheel in London’s South Bank, overlooking the River Thames. The London Eye first opened in 2000 as a celebration of the new millennium and year, and it has since then become famous for being one of the best panoramic viewpoints of the city and a major tourist attraction.

The revolving wheel is 443 feet (135 m) tall, with a diameter of 394 feet (120 m), making it the largest in Europe. It has 32 observation glass capsules connected to the hub by 64 cables. Until 2006, it was the largest in the world too, but since then it has been surpassed by a few others, including the Star of Nanchang (in Nanchang, China) and the Ain Dubai (in Dubai, United Arab Emirates).

The 32 pods, each representing one of the boroughs of London, can take up to 25 passengers each. However, you’ll notice there is one red capsule that sticks out from the others. This is the Royal Capsule, meant to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

When you get there, you’ll also notice that the wheel is also constantly turning at a very slow pace. This is to allow passengers to get on and off without ever stopping. The ride on the wheel is quite expensive, but it does offer some amazing views stretching over 24 miles over the city, making the London Eye absolutely worth it for those who enjoy panoramic viewpoints.

The ride on The London Eye itself is also quite long (30 minutes), giving you plenty of time to enjoy the 360° view. However, you should also consider that there usually are long lines to get in. This could mean the whole visit might take up to one hour or more. If you want to avoid the queues, it’s best to go early in the morning as soon as the wheel opens. This is generally around 10:00 am in the warmer months and 11:00 am in the colder ones.

Location

London SE1 7PB, Waterloo district.

The London Eye is located in one of the busiest areas of London, the Waterloo district, where many other landmarks are. Among the most recognisable, you’ll find Westminster Palace and the Big Ben, just on the other side of the River Thames. Behind them visible from atop the London Eye is Westminser Abbey. This part of London is a tourist hub, so transport connections are excellent.

London Eye Tickets

London Eye tickets can be bought online on the London Eye’s website . Prices vary depending on how early in advance you book your entry. A standard adult ticket can cost anywhere between £30.50 and £40.00. There are discounts available for children and families, and children under the age of 3 enter for free.

The London Eye is also often included in the 2FOR1 offers, which give you two tickets at the price of one.

Fast Track tickets guarantee priority entry at your chosen timeslot.

London Eye Opening Times

The London Eye is open every day of the year except the 25th of December. It has two main schedules that are alternated throughout the year. The first one is from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm (more common in the winter), and the second one is a bit longer, going from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm (more common in the summer months, when days are longer).

To make sure of which opening times are scheduled for the day of your visit, you should check the London Eye’s website .

Transport

The London Eye is extremely well-connect and central. If you are taking the Tube, there are quite a few lines you can take. If you’re using the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern, or Waterloo and City lines, you can get off at Waterloo, which is the closest stop. If instead the Circle or the District lines work better for you, you can get off at Westminster, on the other side of the river.

If taking the bus, routes 12, 148, 159, 211, 381, and 453 all drop you off very close by.

You can find a summary of the public transport options in the table below.

Of course, you can also decide to go by taxi, but we would advise against it, considering central London traffic and the efficiency of public transport.

Nearby sights

Big Ben - 600 m (0.4 miles) southwest, 8-min walk.

Westminster Palace - 900 m (0.5 miles) southwest, 11-min walk just across the river.

Westminster Abbey - 1 km (0.6 miles) southwest, 13-minute walk.

St James’s Park - 1 km (0.6 miles) west, 13-minute walk.

Trafalgar Square - 1 km (0.6 miles) northwest, 13-minute walk.

National Gallery - 1.1 km (0.7 miles) northwest, 15-minute walk.

Chinatown - 1.4 km (0.9 miles) northwest, 19-minute walk.