Getting The London Eye tickets is hardly a hassle. This post will explain the best options available.
The London Eye is one of my favorite attractions in London. I first discovered it in 2010, when a friend was visiting me in town. I was reluctant to go at first – it sounded so touristy! But I ended up enjoying it so much, to the point that it became my favorite attraction in town.
One thing we didn’t quite enjoy though was the long line to get tickets. Back then, we waited for around one hour – getting tickets online was not a thing then!
Though the lines to get on the London Eye haven’t quite changed, the good news is that nowadays you can get London Eye tickets online. So, even if you have limited time in the city, you won’t have to wait too long to get in.
In this post, I highlight the best ways of getting London Eye tickets, so you can decide which one is the most suitable to your needs. I will also share useful tips to help you plan your visit and make the most of it. But – first thing first! Let me tell you why you really should visit.
Why You Must Visit The London Eye
London is a great city. I have lived there for years, studying and working, and I visit whenever I can to meet my friends, to enjoy the atmosphere and to explore it in depth. This is one of the most eclectic capitals in Europe, and one of the most visited cities in the world.
To get the most impressive and unobstructed views in the city I sometimes ride the London Eye. Interestingly, its history is similar to that of the Parisian Eiffel Tower. Designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield to celebrate the millennium, it took seven years to build and a week to lift if up. Initially meant to be a temporary structure, once it was clear that it was a popular attraction, it was decided it’d become part of the landscape of London.
Measuring 135 meters (about 443 feet) in height, the London Eye is one of the world’s tallest ferris wheel, after the Star of Nanchang in China and the Ain Dubai.
The London Eye has 32 pods and moves so slowly you literally can jump on them as the wheel is still running. Each of the pods can hold up to 25 passengers. There are benches for seating and tablets where you can check information about the many places you see from the top.
The ride is nice and slow, which means it is not scary even if you are afraid of heights. It lasts 30 minutes, and as you approach the top the views become better and better. On a clear day you can see nice and far – but even on a rainy day (like when I visited for the first time) the views are stunning – you can see the Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben, the O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium and Battersea Power Station.
Check out my post Where To Get The Most Impressive Views Of London.
The London Eye is also available for special occasions – you can rent an entire pod for things such as proposals, birthday celebrations, dinners and even weddings. Tickets will also give you access to the 4D Cinema Experience.
Finally, continue reading to discover how to get London Eye tickets and skip the line.
How To Get London Eye Tickets
There are 7 main ways to get tickets to the London Eye in advance. I usually prefer using third party sites, as this is the most hassle free way – with easy cancellation policies and easy to use websites.
Finally, here are the best ways of getting your London Eye ticket.
Way N. 1: Buy your tickets on the official website
This is the official website of the London Eye. Standard tickets bought via the official website cost £32.50 GBP for adults (around $40 USD), and £29.50 (around $36 USD) for children between 3 and 15. This is the most budget friendly option.
Once you select the number of tickets needed, you will be taken to another page where you will be prompted to select a time slot for your visit. You will then be prompted to add other items such as a photobook. Finally, you will be asked to pay – either via Paypal or credit or debit card.
You will have several options of receiving your tickets. You can get them via email and print them at home or download the PDF version on your smartphone, which can be scanned at the entrance. You can also pick up your ticket at the counter on the day of your visit, but for that you will be required to show your booking reference and the credit or debit card used to purchase the ticket. This is not a good option if you are in a rush.
As per the terms and conditions, once purchased tickets can’t be refunded or transferred – though you can reschedule your visit.
Other options available on the official site are the Fast Track ticket, which costs £46 (around $47 USD) for adults and £33 (around $41 USD) for children between 3 and 15. Even in this case, you will need to select a time slot for your visit. Pick this option to skip all lines.
Whether you buy standard or fast track tickets, there is a small surcharge for tickets bought on the same day.
The official site also sells combo tickets for the London Eye with other attractions – Madame Tussauds, London Dungeon, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure.
To get your tickets for the London Eye via the official website, click here.
Way N. 2: Buy your London Eye tickets on third party reseller sites
There are many third party reseller sites you can use, but my favorite is GetYourGuide. Third party reseller sites is aren’t necessarily more expensive than official attraction sites – but those times they are, it’s for a good reason.
Third party reseller sites make getting tickets incredibly easy. You won’t get annoying popups, you won’t be send to a million other pages prompting you to purchase additional items. You just go to the one page you need and select your option, the time you want to visit, and get the vouchers sent via email. GetYourGuide even has a very easy-to-use app so you don’t even have to print your ticket. And you get a reminder a day before your visit, so that you know exactly where to go, and when.
Tickets bought via third party booking sites are fully refunded for cancellations up to 24 hours before the visit.
You can get your London Eye tickets here or here.
Make sure to also read my post A Completely Honest GetYourGuide Review.
Way N. 3: Buy a combined ticket for the London Eye and The London Dungeon
Close to the London Eye, the London Dungeon is one of the most fun places to visit in town, and it will give you lots of insights about the city’s past. You can get London Dungeon and London Eye tickets together, and save about 10% off the final price. You will be asked to visit the London Dungeon first.
You can get your London Eye and London Dungeon tickets here.
Make sure to also read my post 5 Easy Ways Of Getting London Dungeon Tickets.
Way N. 4: Buy the London City Pass
If you want to buy all your attraction tickets at once and are looking for a chance to save some (well, not much really) money, you may want to opt for a city pass. Once you get the pass, you will have to book each attraction separately. These are the passes that include London Eye tickets.
London explorer pass – You can pick up to 7 attractions and end up saving up to 35%. The list of included attractions is wider than the other options.
London 5 attractions pass – You get access to 5 of the most popular attractions in town.
London pass – Perhaps the most comprehensive option, you get access to up to 85 attractions in the course of 10 days.
Way N. 5: Take a guided walking tour of London
Taking a guided tour of London is a good way of visiting the city if you have limited time in town, and – depending on which tour you get – it will include tickets to the London Eye as an added bonus. There are several tours that include this option. These are the best ones:
Full day total London and flight on the London Eye – This is the most expensive option, but it’s the best one if you actually want to visit the places rather than just see them from the outside. Included in the tour are the Tower of London, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral. You will also see the Changing of the Guard and go on a cruise along the river.
Top 30 sights walking tour and London Eye ride – This tour lasts around 6 hours and has excellent reviews.
Way N. 6: Take a London Eye river cruise
Another good option is to hop on a Thames river cruise. It’s a cool way to get a different perspective of the city – first from the river, then from the ferris wheel. So, photographically speaking, it’s absolutely perfect. Some options are also very budget friendly.
These are the best options:
The London Eye river cruise and admission options.
Hop on hop off cruise and London Eye ticket – The London Eye is the only attraction you actually get to visit.
Way N. 7: Take a Vintage Bus tour of London
Sticking with the idea of combining sightseeing transportation with getting on the London Eye, you may want to consider a vintage bus tour of the city. You will be going around town on a traditional double decker red bus and during the tour, which lasts 4 hours, you will be able to experience the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace; admire the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey; take a short cruise along the River Thames and finally go up the London Eye.
You can get your ticket and bus pass here – please take care to notice that there are two daily departures, and that you will only get a voucher that you’ll have to change for a ticket once you get to the London Eye. Transportation to the London Eye may not be included.
Other Useful Information For Visiting The London Eye
Book in advance
The London Eye is one of the most popular attractions in London and it is not uncommon to find a line at the ticket counter, and one to get in. Booking in advance is pretty much required – the official website strongly encourages visitors to get tickets in advance. If you still want to get them at the venue, you will be encouraged to pay via contactless card.
What to do if the London Eye tickets are sold out
Third party reseller sites will be the best place to look for last minute London Eye tickets. These sites buy tickets in bulks so you can always hope they have a spare one or count on some last minute cancellation.
Check out this site for last minute tickets.
How to get to The London Eye
The London Eye is located on Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd. The easiest way to get there is by metro. The closest station is Westminster (a 5 minute walk), which you can reach via the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. Alternatively, hop on the Northern or the Bakerloo line trains to Charing Cross or to Embankment and the Northern, Bakerloo and Jubilee lines to Waterloo.
If you are traveling by train, get off at London Waterloo East and walk from there – it will take you around 9 minutes.
Buses 77, 211 and 381 all have stops close to The London Eye.
Opening times
The opening hours of the London Eye tend to vary depending on the season. During the winter and on weekdays until June, it is open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. In July and August, it opens from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm throughout the week. The attraction is closed on Christmas day and during the 2nd and 3rd week in January when it is scheduled for maintenance.
The 3D experience closes 15 minutes before the London Eye does.
Modification to the reservation and refunds
The official website says that changes to the reservation or cancellations are not allowed, so you may want to get your ticket via a third party reseller site – but please read the fine print!
You can get your ticket here.
Is the London Eye crowded?
Pretty much! There will always be some sort of line to walk in – but it’s easier to get in if you have fast track tickets. Pods can hold up to 25 passengers so you will never really feel overwhelmed.
London Eye ticket price and free visits
Standard tickets bought via the official website cost £32.50 GBP for adults (around $40 USD), and £29.50 (around $36 USD) for children between 3 and 15.
Fast Track tickets costs £46 (around $47 USD) for adults and £33 (around $41 USD) for children between 3 and 15.
Children up to 3 years old can get in for free.
Security checks
You will have to go through security checks when visiting the London Eye. Items you can carry inside are small bags, backpacks and laptops; baby bags and strollers; water. You can’t bring in large backpacks or bags; helmets, skateboards, tripods and strollers that you can’t fold down. Sharp items and weapons aren’t allowed.
Toilets and other facilities at The London Eye
Toilets are found in the ticket hall.
Accessibility
The London Eye is fully accessible.
Luggage storage
There is no luggage storage at the London Eye. The closest luggage storage can be found at Waterloo Train station.
Other nearby attractions
Nearby attractions include The London Eye and SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
Further Readings
Make sure to read my other posts about London:
- 24 Stunning London Hidden Gems
- How To See London In 2 Days
- A Perfect Itinerary To See London In 3 Days
- An Easy To Follow Itinerary For 4 Days London
- The Best 5 Days London Itinerary
- How To Make The Most Of London In A Day
- How To Get Madame Tussauds London Tickets And Skip The Lines
- 15 Great Day Trips From London
- How To Get Tower Of London Tickets
- The 20 Best Museums In London
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