The Lastminute.com London Eye. Image © The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.

Ultimate Guide to Lastminute.com London Eye

The London Eye requires little introduction. Born as the Millennium Wheel at the tail-end of the last century and opened to the public as the London Eye in March 2000, it has become as recognizable a part of the skyline as city stalwarts like the medieval Tower of London, 18th-century St Paul’s Cathedral and Victorian Big Ben clock tower. Read on for our ultimate guide to the London Eye including what to expect, when to visit, and how to get hold of tickets…

London Eye: The Lowdown

The Lastminute.com London Eye
© The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.

Towering some 135 meters (443 feet) over the Thames’ South Bank, the London Eye more than lives up to its name, with epic views of major landmarks including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, The Shard, Tower Bridge and even, on a clear day, the regal turrets of Windsor Castle on the far horizon.

As well as millions of annual visitors, the Eye has attracted some big-name sponsors in its time, most recently, lastminute.com. It was, for several years, the tallest Ferris wheel on the planet, before being superseded by China’s Star of Nanchang (160 meters) in 2006, and several times since, by the likes of the Singapore Flyer (165 meters), Las Vegas High Roller (167 meters) and – daddy of them all – the Ain Dubai, at a nerve-jangling 250 meters tall.

None of which is to detract from the OG London Eye’s unique appeal. Here’s where, aboard one of 32 capsules (that’s one for each London borough, fact fans), you can experience an awe-inspiring 30-minute rotation that reveals increasingly spectacular city views as you rise and fall. Each capsule holds up to 25 people but you can, of course, go private – book direct for a romantic pod ride for two (including champagne and truffles) which will set you back a cool £775.

The London Eye: When to Visit

Friends aboard the Lastminute.com London Eye
© The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.

Opening times for the London Eye vary throughout the year. For most of the time, it’s 10AM–6PM on weekdays, with late openings until 8.30PM Friday to Sunday. But from late May to early September, it stays open until 8.30PM all week long. There are also special late openings at seasonal holidays including Halloween. Hit up the official website to get the most up-to-date opening info.

Let’s not beat about the proverbial bush here: the London Eye is one of London’s most popular attractions, so you should expect to queue at peak times. It tends to be at its least busy immediately after opening and just before closing, and you can lock in a time slot to reduce your waiting time by booking in advance. Also not to be sniffed at is the opportunity to ride the wheel towards closing time in winter, when the city below is all a-twinkle with lights and – in November and December – glittering festive decorations.

London Eye Tickets

The Lastminute.com London Eye
© The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.

One of the best ways to experience the London Eye is with an attraction pass from Go City. Choose from an Explorer pass, which gives you 60 days to experience up to seven London tours, activities and attractions. Or opt for the All-Inclusive, where you can take up to 10 (consecutive) days to fill your boots with as many London sightseeing must-dos as you physically can. Both passes offer savings opportunities of up to 50%, and give you access to bucket-listers including the London Eye (of course), plus Madame Tussauds, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, St Paul’s Cathedral and, well, the list goes on. Be sure to check the official site for info on the most up-to-date attractions on each pass.

You can also, of course, book direct, with various options available, from standard tickets right up to private pods for proposing to your better half. You’ll need deep pockets for this one though – at £1600 it won’t leave you much for an engagement ring. Better be sure he/she is going to say ‘yes’ too. Otherwise that 15-minute descent is going to be… awkward.

The London Eye: Fun Facts

The Lastminute.com London Eye
© The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.
  • The London Eye doesn’t actually stop rotating as you board and disembark (unless you have reduced mobility). On the plus side, it’s moving slowly enough that most people can step on and off with ease. There have been no reports of associated injuries in a quarter-century of operation.
  • Triskaidekaphobics have nothing to fear from the London Eye: there’s no number 13 capsule and the 32 pods are instead numbered from 1-12 then 14-33.
  • It may not be the highest Ferris wheel in the world any more, but it does retain the title of tallest cantilevered observation wheel. In other words, its frame only supports it on one side, rather than both, which makes it something of an architectural anomaly in its own right. 

Closest Transport Links to The London Eye

You’ll find the nearest Tube and rail connections at Waterloo and Charing Cross stations, both a short walk from the London Eye, with access to multiple lines on the London Underground between them. There are also many bus routes servicing the area.

More About London and The London Eye

The best observation decks in London, including the London Eye!

London walks that take in the London Eye.

More things to do on London’s South Bank.

How to visit London on a budget.

All images © The London Eye 2024 all rights reserved. Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects.

Save on London Tours, Activities and Attractions

Save on admission to 100+ London attractions with an Explorer or All-Inclusive pass from Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Things to do in Camden London

Linked with London’s various counter culture movements, Camden is much loved by those who believe they don’t fit in elsewhere, which, let’s face it, is all of us. It generally draws a younger crowd to its markets, live music venues, museums and green spaces. But if you’re wondering if it’s worth you visiting Camden, you’ll first want to know about the things to do in Camden London and what the area is all about. Camden, usually used to mean the Camden Town neighborhood, is an area of north London adjacent to Regent’s Park. Its quirky character – seeing young professionals rubbing shoulders with hipsters and dreadlocked wannabe revolutionaries – has attracted everyone from American poet Sylvia Plath to Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. Why? That’s exactly what we’re here to demonstrate! Go wild Camden contains over 160 blue plaques – denoting places where significant personalities have lived. However, it’s the neighborhood's non-human residents that capture the hearts of many visitors to north London. ZSL London Zoo is one of the world’s oldest and continues to be one of its most important conservation centers too. Visitors are able to get closer than ever before to Asiatic lions – of which only 400 exist in the wild, alongside gorillas and the creatures of London’s only rainforest. The zoo occupies the northernmost parts of Regent’s Park, one of London’s eight royal parks. Here visitors can take in the 12,000 individual roses that color Queen Mary’s Gardens each spring and summer, take a turn on the boating lake or wander across to Primrose Hill for views of the London skyline. Another spot to take in the quieter side of life in Camden is along the towpath of Regent’s Canal. Almost 14 km in length, the canal encircles much of north London, with some of its most picturesque areas being that within Regent’s Park and leading towards the market stalls of Camden Lock. Go shopping Forget the flagship stores of Oxford Street, Camden is all about its market stalls. Now primarily geared towards the tourist industry, you’re not going to be able to stock up on fruit and veg as easily as you once might have. However, you will have plenty of choice when it comes to books, clothing and street food. That’s because Camden actually has five markets within walking distance of one another. The most famous is Camden Lock Market, whose stalls are located around Regent’s Canal. For fashion, head to Buck Street Market, whilst antiques aficionados might prefer Stables Market. If you start to miss the big store names, you’ll find them – and a good number of independent boutiques – on Camden High Street. Go cultural Founded in 1932, Camden’s Jewish Museum recounts details of the life of London’s Jewish populations over the years. Its treasures include the Lindo Lamp – the first Hanukkah menorah known to have been made in Britain. Covering three stories of a row of buildings in Albert Street, it also has an important collection of artefacts from Auschwitz concentration camp and several significant works of art. A taste for modern and contemporary art is catered for at Cob Gallery, whose white walls are used to primarily represent emerging female artists based in the London area. The paintings and drawings hanging in the gallery offer perhaps the first chance to examine the work of artists sure to hit the mainstream sometime soon. An even greater range of artists can be discovered at the annual Frieze Art Fair, taking place each October in Regent’s Park. One of the highlights of London’s cultural calendar, the fair hosts over 150 galleries from around the world, dotting the park with large scale sculpture as paintings find a home in the temporary structure built purposely each year. Go for a bite to eat The constant stream of visitors to Camden means you only have to walk a few meters before catching the scent of food and drink from around the world. From traditional British fish and chips to Neapolitan pizza, Jamaican jerk chicken and Middle Eastern wraps, there’s something to tempt everyone’s taste buds. On the drinks front, Camden has its very own brewery, the Camden Town Brewery, whose core range includes the award-winning German style Hells Lager and Gentleman's Wit, a Belgian white beer with a hint of Earl Grey tea. What could be more Camden than that? For a trustworthy authentic pub to sample the brewery’s latest batches try the Hawley Arms, a pub Amy Winehouse liked so much she would serve behind the bar. A statue of her stands not too far away in Stables Market. Go for a night out like no other Based in a converted railroad shed where engines were turned and stored, the Roundhouse is a theater and auditorium hosting everything from performances of Shakespeare to the Britten Sinfonia and Bob Dylan. Meanwhile the Electric Ballroom is a stalwart of the indie music scene – with occasional performances by the likes of Ed Sheeran too. The Jazz Café provides a space for blues fans, and anyone with an interest in traditional English folk need only head to Cecil Sharp House to get their fill of the vibes. For nightlife in Camden combining cocktails and live DJs, check out Belushis, who has a laid-back afterwork ambience during the week, turning to a full-on dance-till-dawn ethos come the weekend. For ease of access alone – right opposite Camden Town Underground station – The Underworld is also worth mentioning. It welcomes an eclectic crowd ready to fill the dance floor when the top indie and rock tunes hit the speakers. Uncover the myriad things to do in Camden London By day and by night, there are a huge number of things to do in Camden London. But if you’re still looking for more to fill your days in the UK capital, the British Museum is just a short distance away, alongside the Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema and Freud Museum. Visit these attractions with Go City and you’ll make incredible savings on admission costs, meaning there’s even more reason to take in the sites of this small part of north London!
Ian Packham
London Eye
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Things to do in South Bank London

Born out of the 1951 Festival of Britain and home to the London Eye, London’s South Bank occupies a prime area of riverside between Blackfriars and Lambeth Bridges. With views across the Thames to the Houses of Parliament, and galleries, theaters and other major attractions to keep you entertained, the South Bank is an unmissable part of the London cultural scene. Check out the top things to do in South Bank London right here! Enjoy the riverside location With so many familiar landmarks and photographic opportunities it would be difficult to list them all, London’s South Bank is a part of the capital you’ll want to tackle on foot. Running uninterrupted from Lambeth Bridge to the west through to Tower Bridge in the east, the Queen’s Walk follows the banks of the Thames past many of the neighborhood’s big ticket attractions. However, don’t miss the temptation to detour down its warren of side streets, which amongst other points of interest include the graffiti of Leake Street tunnel and the Old Vic Theatre – established in 1818 and still one of London’s most important performances spaces. Initially constructed as a temporary attraction to celebrate the new millennium in the year 2000, the London Eye has become a firm fixture on London itineraries. With a diameter of 120 meters, it’s one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels, although what sets it apart from the competition is its unrivalled views of the Houses of Parliament and St Paul’s Cathedral. On clear days, the views stretch 65 kilometers. Sticking firmly in the area, Gabriel’s Wharf is a little bit of authentic London within the glitz and glamor of the riverside. A pedestrianized thoroughfare lined with independent stores, cafés and restaurants, it has something for everyone, including access to the urban beach which appears on the Queen’s Walk each summer. Take your pick of South Bank’s museums When it comes to things to do in South Bank London, its museums should be high on your must-do list. Edging its southern boundary, the Imperial War Museum blends spectacular displays – the main atrium is hung with a Spitfire and V2 rockets – and the voices of ordinary citizens during times of conflict. Recognizable by the giant naval guns that dominate its front façade, also keep an eye out for the slither of Berlin Wall that sits in the gardens. Green spaces remain the theme of London’s Garden Museum. Using the former Church of St Mary-at-Lambeth as its exhibition space, it displays objects from 400 years of gardening, including the recreation of a 17th Century knot garden. Because of its previous life, the gardens also contain several tombs, such as that to Vice-Admiral William Bligh, the man who survived the Mutiny on the Bounty. Next door to the Garden Museum is the London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the country’s most senior Church of England cleric. Lambeth Palace opens its gardens to the public just a few times each year, most commonly on the first Friday of the month during the spring, with admission fees going to local charities. Spend an afternoon at the Southbank Centre The bare concrete form of the Southbank Centre is an unavoidable presence filling 11 acres of prime real estate with auditoria, galleries, libraries and their adjoining meeting points. Providing performance space for no less than eight orchestras, traveling art exhibitions and a busy calendar of live events, the center is a hub of action right through the day. The Hayward Gallery hosts three or four exhibitions on modern and contemporary art each year, with past smash hit shows dedicated to Roy Lichtenstein and Bridget Riley. Meanwhile, the National Theatre, the brainchild of Sir Lawrence Olivier, has brought Hollywood royalty to its stage – Helen Mirren, Glen Close and Julie Walters are just a few of its well-known names. Things to do at the Southbank Centre also include looking for books at the secondhand market, admiring the tricks of the skateboarders in the Undercroft and soaking in the river views from the rooftop garden bar – and that’s when there’s no official event taking place! For epic cinema experiences, turn your attention to the Odeon BFI IMAX a three minute walk away. Containing the largest screen in the UK, screenings vary between specially created movies and some of the top blockbusters of the moment. Things to do in South Bank with the kids Surely one of the most unusual locations for a day out with the kids, South Bank’s County Hall is a listed building, putting it on a par with Westminster Bridge and the BBC’s Broadcasting House for national significance. But enter its interior and you’ll be faced with a very different scene from when it was home to the Greater London Council in the 1980s. Situated on the riverfront beside the London Eye, its central portion has been taken over by Shrek’s Adventure!, comprising a live immersive walk-through of a brand new story involving the world’s favorite ogre. Monsters – human and otherwise – are also in abundance amid the rides and live actors of The London Dungeon next door. Featuring 19 shows and two rides, it takes visitors on a tour of a thousand years of history, stopping by events such as the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and the streets of Whitechapel as they were terrorized by Jack the Ripper. Altogether more wholesome is the SEA LIFE Center London Aquarium. In the same County Hall building, highlights include the Shark Walk tunnel, a small colony of penguins and the country’s largest living coral reef in a tank 12 meters long. Discover the wonder of London’s South Bank Welcome to London’s South Bank, a small area of the British capital big on attractions. Easily accessible by train and Tube, this once humble south London neighborhood now contains some of the most loved attractions in the city. Things to do in South Bank London include floating above the Thames in one of the pods of the London Eye and sinking to the depths of the ocean in the London Aquarium. In between, there’s narrow streets dating back centuries, important museum collections and a fine array of restaurants too. Explore with Go City and you’ll be able to make great savings as you discover the South Bank for yourself!
Ian Packham

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