Visiting the London Eye

Before I visited London, I’ve got mixed reviews from friends about going up the London Eye. The seasoned travellers warned me it’s a pricey tourist trap, but those who’ve gone up fondly recalled sweeping views of the city.

A British friend urged me to visit, that was all the encouragement I needed. If the London Eye was good enough for locals to recommend, it’s reason for me to go. I was there during summertime, which typically means crowds. I went on a weekday afternoon, and was pleasantly surprised at the lack of queue. It took me half an hour from buying tickets to getting into the capsule, in an orderly fashion. An adult ticket costs £20.95, that is if you buy at the counter.

Tip: If you grab your tickets online in advance, you can get them at 10% off.

There are 32 capsules in all, and each can hold up to 28 people, even then it’s still pretty spacious. People move around in small groups to snap away at the 360-degree views. You don’t have to worry about being blocked by anyone. Most are gracious enough to move on after they’re done at one spot. The only thing you have to conquer is the darn reflection from the glass that might taint your pictures. Try different angles to escape reflections. It takes about 30 minutes to finish one cycle, so there’s plenty of time grab great shots.

Here are the sights you can see when you get into the capsule. I find myself extremely lucky to not encounter a completely misty day.

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Tip: London weather is pretty dreary, if it’s a cloudy day, save your money. You wouldn’t be able to see anything. Mornings are usually misty, so I wouldn’t recommend that, unless you wake up to a bright and sunny London, which is extremely rare.

It’s easy to get to the London Eye. On the South Bank of the River Thames, it’s directly opposite the Parliament House and next to the County Hall. You can get there from a few London Underground stations: Embankment, Charing Cross, Waterloo and Westminster. Waterloo is the closest, with only a five-minute walk. Next is the Westminster Underground station, located directly opposite the London Eye, on the other side of the Westminster Bridge. It all depends on which underground line you’re on, but there are many ways to get to the Eye.

You can plan your visit to the London Eye with other nearby attractions, the nearer ones being Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. You can venture further to Trafalgar Square, and along the way, soaking in the sights of Downing Street, Horseguards or the Churchill Museum.

Tip: please don’t bring food and drinks into the capsule, they’re not allowed.

Have you been to the London Eye before? Did you think it was worth your while?

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