Originally built as a temporary landmark to mark the turn of the millennium, the London Eye has long outlived its planned five-year lifespan and gone on to become the most popular paid attraction in the UK.
Rising 443 feet above the River Thames, each 30-minute rotation delivers ever-changing 360-degree panoramic views that stretch right across London (and even further, if the weather plays along).
First things first: this isn't a Ferris wheel. It's actually a "cantilevered observation wheel" with 32 fully enclosed capsules that glide along at a gentle 0.6 miles per hour. If you're superstitious, don't panic. It seems the designers were too, which is why there's no capsule number 13.
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Each capsule holds up to 25 people, but there's plenty of room to move around and count how many landmarks you can spot. If you're after a bit of privacy (or fancy joining the more than 5,000 people who have proposed on the wheel), you can book a "Cupid's Capsule" for two, complete with champagne.
Avoid Peak Hours
Bear in mind that crowds (and queues) are pretty much unavoidable. There are two ways to make life easier: dodge the peak hours or pay a little extra.
The London Eye is busiest between 11:00 and 15:00 during UK school holidays, and quieter at the start and end of opening hours, which change throughout the year.
As a rough guide, summer hours run from 10:00 to 20:30 and winter hours from 11:00 to 18:00, but be sure to check the opening times on their website in advance for the day you plan to visit. It's also worth remembering that it closes for around two weeks every January for annual maintenance.
Buy Your Tickets Online
On arrival there are three queues: one to buy a ticket, one for fast-track boarding, and one for standard boarding.
Buying tickets online lets you skip that first queue at the ticket office and also saves you 10% if you book more than 24 hours before your visit. That said, you'll be tied to a set time slot unless you go for the Any Time Flexi ticket. All of which would be great if it weren't for the unpredictability of London's climate. If your visit happens to coincide with fog or rain, you may not enjoy it quite as much.
If you want to keep the waiting to an absolute minimum, your best bet is the Fast Track ticket, which you can buy on the day of your visit or online (again, with a 10% discount and the bonus of skipping the ticket-office queue). It costs extra, but it gets you speedy entry through a dedicated doorway.
Travel by Train
Waterloo station (served by both the Underground and overground trains) is the closest to the London Eye, just a five-minute walk away. Embankment and Charing Cross are also fairly close, around 10 minutes on foot. Westminster station is a short and scenic walk across the river.
Westminster station is a short and scenic walk across the river, where you'll also find the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
Heading the other way, you can stroll along the river on the South Bank, with its skateboarders, secondhand book stalls and food trucks. The Bleecker burger is one of the best in the city.
If you need a break, drop into Canteen right beside the Royal Festival Hall for classic British cooking in a modern setting (their Eton Mess is a real treat).
The London Eye, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
Bleecker Southbank, Royal Festival Hall, The Queen's Walk, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX, UK, +44 7495 821283
Canteen Royal Festival Hall, 337-338 Belvedere Rd, Lambeth, London SE1 8XX, UK, +44 845 686 1122
