Visiting the London Eye (Best Tips, Tickets & Tours)

If you’re thinking about visiting the London Eye then this is the post for you! The London Eye is a tourist attraction that completely lives up to expectations and both your time and cost of the London Eye ride are very much worth the investment.

Let’s get started with a few London Eye facts. It’s the biggest cantilevered observation wheel in the world and is 135 metres high. Introduced at the turn of the millennium, it has since received more than 85 awards recognising its architecture, tourism and engineering achievements.

It is currently the number one paid attraction in the whole of the UK and celebrated two decades at the top in 2020. Located on the vibrant, arty South Bank of the River Thames, it has sparked the construction of many similar attractions in cities across the globe.

To ride the London Eye is to see the world’s most famous Ferris wheel for yourself – and to witness the outstanding views over one of the most exciting and important cities on the planet.

Lesser known, perhaps, is the sheer sense of scale and context your ‘flight’ will give you, of how this collection of ‘villages’ known as London all fits together, as well as how vast the British capital really is.

If you want to join the huge numbers of London Eye visitors (around 3 million per year) by booking your ticket, stay right here.

This guide will take you through all the information on the London Eye you’ll need. Including options when you want to buy tickets for the London Eye and all the other tips and tricks you could wish to know about!

London Eye Tickets – Quick Guide

Ticket Option	Combined with?	Cost for adult ticket
London Eye	London Eye ticket with fast-track	From £27
Combo ticket	London Sea Life & London Eye ticket	From £45
Combo ticket	London Eye River Cruise	From £13
Combo ticket	Madame Tussauds, London Sea Life & London Eye ticket	From £60
Combo ticket	Shrek’s Adventure & London Eye ticket	From £45
Combo ticket	Big Bus, River Cruise & London Eye ticket	From £60
Combo ticket	London Dungeon & London Eye ticket	From £45
Combo ticket	Top 30 sights walking tour & London Eye ticket	From £78
London Pass Options	London pass with travelcard & guidebook ‘More London for less’ 5 attraction pass Go City London Explorer pass

Visiting the London Eye – FAQs & Tips

Let’s get started by answering some London Eye frequently asked questions. We cover how to get there, booking for the London Eye, how long the trip takes, what other London attractions are near the London Eye, the best time to go, the cost of the London Eye and more.

Why is the London Eye a good place to visit?

The best way to answer this is to think about the name. This big wheel will give you a bird’s eye view over the fabulous city of London, including the River Thames it looms over and landmarks like The Gherkin, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, The OXO Tower and the Houses of Parliament. 

You’ll also be able to see the people of London scurrying about beneath you like tiny ants, as they rush towards the West End to catch a show, head into the Underground station or pop into their favourite Oxford Street store – or perhaps the pub – before closing time. 

With London spread out beneath you like a rich and ever-changing tapestry, you’ll get a real sense of both the scale and the importance of the place too. As well as plenty of great selfie opportunities! 

How can I travel to the London Eye?

The London Eye is positioned right by the river on the South Bank, and its size makes it easy to spot even from some distance away. To get to it, head for Waterloo, Westminster, Embankment or Charing Cross station. 

Waterloo is the closest, with the Eye being just a five-minute walk away. Charing Cross and Embankment are very close to one another on the northern side of the river, and you can get to the London eye by crossing Hungerford Bridge. If you travel to Westminster, follow the signs for Westminster Pier and you’ll soon spot the big wheel. 

How long does it take to go round the London Eye?

You may be wondering about the London Eye time to go around – how long does it take? Your total London Eye visit time includes half an hour on the wheel, but you’ll need to allow extra for queuing, checking in, embarking and disembarking.

It may also be worth considering the next question when working out how much time to allow…

What attractions are near the London Eye?

What other tourist attractions are near the London Eye that you can visit at the same time? Key things to see near the London Eye include the South Bank itself, which is packed with attractive shops, places to eat and drink and outdoor entertainment.

You can also stroll across the river to Westminster, home to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The reflection in the water as you cross the bridge is worth looking out for – and capturing on camera if you can. 

Simple wandering along the riverbank on either side is a pleasant thing to do, and you can always dip into any cafes, shops or pubs that appeal as you pass. If you fancy stretching your legs, you could carry on towards Covent Garden, Soho, Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus – or head to Green Park for a picnic. 

How much does it cost to go on the London Eye?

The price to go on the London Eye varies according to how and when you book. The London Eye admission fee is cheaper if you book ahead. For example, at the time of writing (March 2023) the on-the-day standard adult price is from £33.50, but if you book online this starts at £30.50.

It can be more convenient or cost-effective to buy combined or fast track tickets or even a London Pass. The best options are outlined in detail below.   

What’s the best time to go on the London Eye?

The best time to visit the London Eye can depend on whether you want to see London by daylight, or illuminated by night. 

What time to go depends on your plans – and whether or not you’ve pre-booked. If not, expect to pay more as well as experiencing long queues! We recommend going for skip the line tickets if you can.

Is it safe to go on the London Eye?

The London Eye has been awarded the ‘We’re Good to Go‘ charter mark by VisitEngland, so all the desirable safety measures are in place, including enhanced security checks. 

How to buy London Eye tickets

London Eye ticket only options

London Eye official website

Pros

• Buy from the official London Eye website, where you can find out about everything in one place. 

Cons

•  No refund is offered if you need to cancel – only the ability to change the dates. 

• Cost 

Standard adult fares cost from £30.50 on the official site. 

• How to buy

You can buy non-refundable tickets via this link.

London Eye ticket with fast-track

• Pros

You can benefit from the lower online ticket price and add the fast-track option if you wish. Full refunds are available for cancellations more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

A little forward planning is required, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if needed for a full refund.   

• Cost 

Currently standard adult ticket prices cost from £34 via Get Your Guide. 

How to buy

You can buy this advance purchase ticket here.

Combined tickets for London tourist attractions including the London Eye

London Sea Life & London Eye ticket

• Pros

A discount of 10% plus is applied to this combination ticket. Full refunds are also available when you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £45 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy this Sea Life and London Eye combination ticket here.

London Eye River Cruise + London Eye ticket option

• Pros

The London Eye River Cruise is a very affordable way to see the city from the water. A full refund is available if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £13 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy this river cruise and London Eye combination ticket here.

Madame Tussauds, London Sea Life & London Eye ticket

• Pros

A discount of around 40% applies to this great value combination ticket. Full refunds are also available when you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £60 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy these Madame Tussaud’s, Sea Life and London Eye combination tickets here.

Shrek’s Adventure & London Eye ticket

• Pros

This combo ticket is valid for 90 days and saves you about 10% on the prices. A full refund is available if cancelling more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £45 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy this Shrek’s Adventure and London Eye combination ticket here.

Big Bus, River Cruise & London Eye ticket

• Pros

See London from water, land and sky with a cruise, Eye and hop-on, hop-off bus ticket. Full refunds are also available when you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £60 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy this Big Bus, river cruise and London Eye combination ticket here.

London Dungeon & London Eye ticket

• Pros

This combo ticket is valid for 3 months and saves you about 10% on the prices. A full refund is available if cancelling more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £45 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy this London Dungeon and London Eye combination ticket here.

Top 30 sights walking tour & London Eye ticket

• Pros

Be guided around London on foot to see world-famous landmarks as well as taking a flight on the Eye. Full refunds are available when you cancel more than 24 hours in advance. 

• Cons

You need to book ahead, though you can cancel up to 24 hours before if required to receive a full refund.   

• Cost 

Standard adult tickets cost from £78 per person. 

• How to buy

You can buy this London landmarks walking tour and London Eye combination ticket here.

London Passes

London passes can be a great way to see this expensive city as they offer entrance to multiple attractions for a set period of time. As they’re from Get Your Guide, you can still cancel up to 24 hours before activation for a full refund. 

A ride on the London Eye is included with some London passes, and they can be bought for various time periods ranging from one to ten days. 

These are among our favourites: to find out more about each, click the link below!

• London pass with travelcard & guidebook
• ‘More London for less’ 5 attraction pass
• Go City London Explorer pass

Read – Ultimate Guide to London tourist passes

How will you visit the London Eye?

We hope this guide has helped you plan your trip on the London Eye. Whether you want to visit the London Eye and Madame Tussauds or another popular place, planning in advance often allows you to visit London attractions for less, and can save you time as well as money.

Enjoy your ‘flight’!