London Eye

The London Eye appears somewhat like a fish out of water among the historical London landscape that surrounds it. It's not that London doesn't have lots of modern architecture, but that the London Eye is located in one of the oldest parts of the city right across from the Houses of Parliament. Of course, that is also one of its strengths since there is no other high vantage point this close to Westminster and the South Bank, not even The Shard.

The London Eye is actually very popular with tourists, in fact it is the single most popular non-free tourist attraction in the UK with about 3.5 million riders per year. At 520 feet tall, it is Europe's tallest Ferris wheel and the 2nd tallest in the world. It offers amazing views of the heart of London.

Passengers are carried in large enclosed air-conditioned capsules that are very stable and hold up to 25 people. Passengers can stand and walk around inside the capsules or sit during the ride which takes approximately ½ hour and completes one revolution.

Tickets for the London Eye are available online at a discount from walk-up pricing. There is a multi-tiered pricing system with higher priced tickets allowing you to avoid the long lines.

The London Eye is normally open daily, except on Christmas. Opening times are between 10 AM and 11 AM and closing times range from 6 PM to 9:30 PM depending on the time of year. Hours are subject to change due to special events and annual maintenance.

Accommodations near London Eye: