World's most overpriced Ferris wheel
The London Eye
London’s latest major attraction towers 450 feet above the River Thames, gliding in a stately circle every half hour and since January 2000 has added a dramatic modern element the London skyline.
The British Airways–funded London Eye is the largest observation wheel in the world—technically, it’s not a Ferris wheel, because the capsules are enclosed and bristle from the outer ring of the wheel, and the whole thing is supported on one side only.
Basically, it’s a giant bicycle wheel—only 200 times as big as the one on your Schwinn, with 80 spokes held together by more than 3.6 miles of cables. You’re in “the tire,” one of 32 capsules that hold 25 people each.
The wheel whips around at the glacial speed of 0.6 miles per hour, and you board every half-hour. On a clear day, from the dizzying top of the circle, you can see 25 miles in every direction —though most people are looking down at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster, and other icons of London spread below.
That a ticket costs £15 ($30) is scandalous enough, but you have to cough up £25 ($50) for the “fast track” line that only takes 15 minutes (rather than the usual half-hour wait). There are also tickets that include a glass of champagne or a Thames river cruise.
Jubilee Gardens (on the banks of the Thames, right across the river from Big Ben, between Hungerford Bridge and Westminster Bridge).
Tube: Waterloo.
tel. +44-(0)870-500-0600
www.londoneye.com
Daily Oct–May 10am–8pm (to 9pm June and Sept, to 9:30pm July–Aug)
Tips
- Planning your time: The ride (they call it a "flight") takes 30 minutes. The waiting in line adds another 15–30 minutes. ( on London Itineraries.)
- Take a tour of that includes a ride on the London Eye with our partners at Viator.com:
- London Eye: Skip the Line Tickets
- London Eye and Thames River Sightseeing Cruise
- London Eye Skip-The-Line and River Cruise Experience
- Skip the Line: London Eye Evening Flight and Vintage Tour by Red Double-Decker Routemaster
- London Eye: Champagne Experience
- London Eye: Romantic Private Capsule for Two with Champagne
- London Eye: Private Capsule (pricey)
- London Full-Day Sightseeing Tour (optional ending for the tour)
- The Original London Sightseeing Tour: Hop-on Hop-off (no site entry)
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This article was last updated in May 2007. All information was accurate at the time.
Copyright © 1998–2010 by Reid Bramblett. Author: Reid Bramblett.