The London Eye, one of London’s most iconic symbols, is a must-see when visiting the capital. This impressive observation wheel on the south bank of the River Thames offers panoramic views of the city and beyond.
The London Eye, also known as the Millennium Wheel, officially opened to the public in 2000. Designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, the structure stands at 135 metres tall. When it opened, it was the world’s tallest freestanding Ferris wheel, but has since been overtaken by the likes of the High Roller in Las Vegas and the Ain Dubai.
A full spin on this enormous Ferris wheel takes around 30 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the top views of London’s skyline. From one of the 32 enclosed, climate-controlled oval capsules, you’ll see many famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and even Windsor Castle on a clear day.
Practical information:
The London Eye is wheelchair friendly, with a maximum of two wheelchair users per capsule. We therefore recommend that you book your time slot in advance.
Guide dogs are allowed, but other animals are not.
There are toilets and baby changing facilities in the ticket office building.
Pushchairs and buggies are allowed, but they must be folded up in the capsule.
Photography is both permitted and encouraged to capture the beautiful views.
London Eye opening times:
January to May: Monday to Friday - 11:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 20:30.
June, July and August: Monday to Sunday - 10am to 8.30pm
September to December: Monday to Sunday - 11am to 6pm
Closed on Christmas Day (25th December)
Please note that opening hours may vary during school holidays and bank holidays – please check this yourself.
How to get to the London Eye:
The London Eye is centrally located and easily accessible by many transport options.
By Tube: The nearest station is Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo and Waterloo & City lines). Other nearby stations include Westminster (Jubilee, District & Circle lines), Embankment (Bakerloo, Northern, District & Circle lines) and Charing Cross (Bakerloo & Northern lines).
By Bus: Buses 1, 12, 59, 211, 77 and 381 all stop near the London Eye. The RV1 bus and the red route hop-on hop-off bus also stop nearby.
By car: There are no parking facilities at the London Eye, but there are several pay and display car parks nearby, including the Q-Park Westminster multi-storey car park.
On foot: The London Eye is close to many central London locations. It’s a 15-minute walk from Waterloo Station and Trafalgar Square, around 20 minutes from Covent Garden and around 30 minutes from Buckingham Palace.
