The London Eye - London, England

The London Eye is located along the River Thames across from landmarks like Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. When planning our recent trip to London, The London Eye was at the top of the list of places my teenage son wanted to visit. As such, it was our very first stop. Tickets for the Eye, purchased on-site, run approximately L20 (around thirty dollars during my visit). The price is steep, almost laughable. However, the experience makes the price worthwhile. My son, being under fifteen at the time, was L12 (around eighteen dollars). If you order online before your visit, you can save ten percent. You can also bundle the tickets with other attractions and save. We bundled with the Thames River Cruise, saving us a few dollars on both tickets. All said, our ticket were nearly two hundred dollars for four tickets to the Eye and the River Cruise.

So what is the London Eye? Think Ferris Wheel on steroids. Rather than small carriages that hold two to four seated people, the London Eye has fifty over-sized glass bubbles that can hold sixteen passengers. These large carriages allow passengers to walk around to take advantage of the panoramic views. As the wheel turns, different views of London are opened up on all sides of the carriage. The glass windows allow for exceptional picture-taking opportunities. There is also a bench in the center, in the event you do not want to stand up for the entire thirty minute revolution. To aid visitors in identifying landmarks, each carriage is equipped with monitors that help identify surrounding landmarks. At the apex, on a clear day, visitors can see all the way to Windsor Castle, a whopping 25 miles away.

We arrived at the ticket office early in the day. We were able to travel to the London Eye via The Underground, which dropped us off across the street from the popular attraction. The ticketing office opens at 9:30 AM, which is close to the time we arrived. There were two queues…one for pre-purchased tickets (will call) and one for those who did not think ahead (me). The lines were not very long when we arrived and there were several cashiers working. So the process went quickly. We were able to get a time slot shortly after 10 AM, which is the official “open” time for the attraction. There were restrooms located within the ticket office, which was convenient (and they didn’t charge for the use of the restrooms). Knowing the rotation takes thirty minutes, we set our departure time for the cruise for 45 minutes later, and had plenty of time. The line for the Eye was not very long. As you progress along the ramp, your picture is taken so they can try to squeeze more money out of you after you finish your revolution. After a ten minute wait, we were on our way. The ride does not stop, unless they are loading a wheelchair or baby buggy, which only occurred once during our trip around.

As your ride comes to an end, there are footsteps inside the carriage where you can line up for another photo. Yet another opportunity for the concession to make money. The ride forces visitors through a visitor center, where you can purchase your photographs or a variety of other over-priced souvenirs. There is also a small terminal on the exit ramp where you can leave feedback for EDF Energy, who manages the ride.

The operating times for the London Eye change throughout the year.
2013 London Eye Opening Times
1st January - 28th March
10am - 8.30pm
29th March - 14th April
10am - 9.30pm
15th April - 27th June
10am - 9pm
28th June - 31st August
10am - 9.30pm
1st September - 30th December
10am - 8.30pm
24th December
10 am - 5.30pm
31st December
10am - 3pm

Later openings:
Fridays and Saturdays in May and June
10am - 9.30pm
May half term (24th May - 2nd June)
10am - 9.30pm
Exceptions to the Opening Times
24th December 2013 (Christmas Eve)
10.00am - 5.30pm
25th December 2013 (Christmas Day)
Closed
31st December 2013 (New Year's Eve)
10.00am - 3.00pm
1st - 6th January 2013
10.00am - 8.30pm
7th - 18th January 2013
Closed for annual maintenance

A few fun facts about the London Eye: The giant ferris wheel stands 442 feet tall, with a circumference of 1,392…or close to a quarter of a mile. Each rotation takes thirty minutes, with the wheel remaining constantly in motion unless it has to stop for wheelchairs. The ride can carry up to 800 passengers per revolution. The London Eye was sponsored by EDF Energy at the time, who wanted to paint the entire ride their trademark orange. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed, allowing EDF to paint just one carriage orange. It is currently sponsored by Coca-Cola. The attraction took seven years to complete.

I enjoyed our visit to the London Eye. While I still balk at the pricetag…and the numerous ways they try to separate you from your money, it was one of those attractions I am glad I didn’t miss. The spectacular views of London from the Eye were breathtaking. Even on a slightly overcast day, our visibility stretched for miles. Maybe not the 25 miles to Windsor Castle, but close. It is recommended that you purchase tickets in advance to save a few dollars. Also, the lines are shorter to pick up your tickets. The attraction is easily accessible from The Tube. The London Eye is an expensive attraction that is worth the money.

All photos are mine. They may be reproduced with prior permission.