http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323 http://ie2.trivago.com/images/layoutimages/logos/default.png http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10876290 Fri, 03 May 2013 16:40:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o1188082 Thu, 18 Apr 2013 23:50:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10777023 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:44:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10776887 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:41:00 +0200 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10703110 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:09:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10703104 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:08:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10694232 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:55:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10694230 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:55:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10694224 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:55:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10686466 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:18:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10664930 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:57:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10662888 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10662884 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10662882 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10662880 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10662878 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/picture-i10662876 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 18:26:00 +0100 ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o1159828 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:58:00 +0100 I waited a long time to get on the Eye, but it was worth every bit of it. The London Eye is open till late in the evening in case you need to visit it after work, or have a sudden moment of romance coming to you late in the day. You can get there by the Tube, by bus, by train, and even by boat. Good luck finding a parking space if you decide to use your car. You can even get a private capuse for the special moments in life you have.
Tickets are a bit pricy, but it is worth every penny of it. I paid 18 pounds, and I got 30 minutes on the Eye. ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o1025336 Sun, 06 May 2012 15:13:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o917401 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:01:00 +0100 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o745329 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:20:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o724641 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:34:00 +0100 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o682733 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:04:00 +0100 Overall, I would say it is a nice experience if you want to see as much of London as possible for a short period of time. ]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645985 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:08:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645981 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 14:59:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645949 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:07:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645945 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:49:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645941 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:39:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645937 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:29:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645933 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:20:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645927 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:11:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645919 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:01:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645917 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:53:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645915 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:39:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645913 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:31:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645905 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:19:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645861 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:29:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645859 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:16:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645703 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:56:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645425 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:52:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645083 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:19:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e645079 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:09:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/rating-e644946 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:29:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o533581 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:50:00 +0200 http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o410903 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:14:00 +0200 Препоръчвам на всички, запътили се към Лондон, да не пропуснат да се качат на Окото на Лондон, защото преживяването наистина си заслужава-въпреки че цените са сравнително високи-над 12 евро. Това е уникална възможност човек да види като на длан всички красоти на Лондон-да усети магията на този внушителен, вдъхващ респект и вечно развиващ се град!!! А и е страхотен шанс например за вземане на довиждане с целия град и всичко вълнуващо в него!]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o147096 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:38:00 +0100
The London Eye took six years to be built and is often referred to as The Millennium Wheel because it was built to mark a new millennium. The London Eye is fairly central in the City of London and can be easily reached by public transport as both Westminster and Waterloo stations are only a 5 minute walk away. The London Eye looks just like a Ferris wheel and it has 32 capsules on in which fit about 25 people in them. This attraction is one of Londons more popular ones and you will soon see why if you take a ride on it, you can get some stunning views across the City of London.

Tickets
You can book tickets for the London Eye on-line, by an automated phone-line, or at The County Hall which is opposite the entrance for the London Eye. You are advised to arrive 30 minutes before your ‘flight time.
We bought our tickets online and collected them from the County Hall about half an hour before our flight time.
An adult ticket costs £11 and a childrens ticket is £5.50.
You can choose from a selection of ticket options which include a river cruise or a private capsule as well as other options.

The Capsules
As I already mentioned, the London Eye consists of a large wheel with 32 capsules. Each capsule has a steel frame with the whole outside being made from glass which provides visitors with unspoilt views across London. The capsules travel really slowly, so slow in fact that you cant even feel that you are moving. Once inside the capsule, you are free to walk around meaning you can get 360 degree views. There is a bench and seating area inside the capsule so you can also sit if you wish to.
Each capsule holds roughly 25 people so you will be in the capsule with other people unless you are with a group of 25 people. The capsules are often hired out for things such as birthday celebrations and even wedding ceremonies.

The Ride
Once you go through the entrance to the London Eye, you will find yourself on the boarding platform. As you move down the queue nearer to entrance of the capsule, you will be searched by security which only took 30 seconds to a minute. They just run a scanner over you and check in your bags and to be honest, it was reassuring to know that security measures were in place.
The London Eye was busy on the day we visited and we ended up with 20 odd people in our capsule which was a pleasant number as everyone has more then enough room to move around without getting in each others way.
The complete journey takes around 35 minutes which I felt was plenty of time to view all the famous landmarks.
The panoramic views across London are magnificent. One thing I really enjoyed about my journey on the London Eye was that fact that because you are always moving in the capsule, you get views that are constantly changing.
Once you reach the halfway point of your journey on the Eye you begin to see all the famous landmarks which include Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St Thomas Hospital, Westminster Abbey, The River Thames, St Pauls Cathedral, The Gherkin Office block, County Hall and the Serpentine River among others. There are some great opportunities for photos so make sure you remember your camera!
At the very end of the flight a photograph is taken of everyone in the capsule, an announcement comes on to make all passengers aware of that fact that their photo is about to be taken. As you get off the London Eye you will see there is a small photo area where you can by the photograph for the cost of £8.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I was really impressed with my experience of the London Eye. I felt that the prices were reasonable and the views across the City really were enjoyable. I can understand why this remains one of Londons most popular attractions.

]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o105336 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:58:00 +0100
Getting There
The London Eye is situated pretty much in the middle of London on the South Bank of the River Thames. The London Eye is actually about a 3 minute walk from Westminster tube station and Waterloo main station so I would say this attraction is extremely easy to get to whatever your mode of transport.

Getting Tickets
There are several ways in which to get tickets. You can buy them online, and collect them from the ticket office, or you can book them on the day at the ticket office. You can also book through the automated 24 hour booking line. The ticket office is located inside the County Hall and to the left of the entrance to the London Eye ride. I always find the queue here, although sometimes long, does move quickly. Quick tip, if you book online at least 24 hours before you go, you get a discount and can actually pre-book the time of your flight which is convenient for people on a timescale as it saves you waiting around once you get there.

The Ride
A trip on the London Eye is referred to as a flight and I assume this is something to do with is being sponsored by British Airways. The London Eye is made up from capsules, with each capsule holding about 25 so you will more than likely be in the capsule with other people not in your party. These capsules can also be hired out for special events such as weddings.

Once inside the capsule, you will notice that in the middle there is a large bench which seats around 15 people, meaning that you have the option to either sit or stand during your flight. The entire sides of the capsule are made from glass so there is plenty of room for all the passengers to take advantage of the views.
The complete flight lasts around 40 minutes which surprised me the first time I went on it as I assumed it would only be a short trip. The wheel does move slowly, but it is odd because it doesnt actually feel like you are moving. Once you are about halfway up on one side of the wheel, you can begin to take in the lovely views across London; the views from the very top are stunning. From inside the capsule, you can view many of Londons main attractions which include places like Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament including the Big Ben Tower, Westminster Abbey, St Pauls Cathedral, The River Thames, The Gherkin Office block, County Hall, St Thomas Hospital and the Serpentine River in St James Park just to name a few.

There are some great chances to take photos across the City of London and personally one of my favourite views was of the River Thames. My only grumble was that the glass surrounding the capsule was a little bit grubby and the marks show up in your photographs. Also, if you take the flight on a cloudy day, your flash will activate and you will just get glare from the glass.

At the end of the flight, just before you get out of the capsule there is a camera which takes your photo as you go past. There is an announcement just before you get to the photograph spot. These photos are then offered out to you as you exit. They charge £8 a photo which is fairly reasonable.

Would I recommend it?
I would definitely recommend this attraction to anyone visiting London. I must admit that I didnt think I would be that impressed by the views, but once we were at the top it was great fun pointing out all the other attractions you can see, and just taking the time to view the City of London from up above.
The experience is unique and one I would highly recommend.
]]> http://www.trivago.co.uk/london-38715/lookout/the-london-eye-13323/review-o2558 Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:37:00 +0200
If you're not familiar with this attraction, let me explain right now that we're not talking about a visit to the the Museum of Anatomy, or even a specialist opticians, but a giant, revolving wheel handily adorned with viewing capsules, each of which can accommodate up to 25 people.

OK, that's what it is, here's where it is......


The London Eye is sits on the South Bank of the River Thames, almost directly opposite Big Ben and between Hungerford Bridge and Westminster Bridge.

Waterloo Tube Station and Westminster Tube Station are the closest, around five minutes walking following signs for The South Bank.

Waterloo Rail Station is also around five minutes walk, and Charing Cross Station is about 15 minutes distant.

Buses to the London Eye include the 211, 24 and 11. Most London sightseeing bus tours also pass by.

Thinking of taking the car? - Don't!


It's possible to book a 'flight' in several different ways. (BA like to call a trip on the Eye a 'flight' - I expect it's because they'd like to think of themselves as some sort of airline business - but it doesn't seem like the smartest terminology to me. When I'm spinning around in a glass box high above the Thames, I like to think the said box is firmly welded onto the superstructure and under no circumstances will I be 'flying' anywhere.)
You can book on-line, by automatic phone-line, or at County Hall - the building adjacent to The Eye. They recommend that you arrive 30 minutes before your 'flight' to allow time for boarding and security searches etc.

Prices are £11.00 for adults and children pay £5.50. There are concessions for disabled, seniors etc.

There are also many different tickets, such as: a combination 'flight' and river cruise, champagne 'flight', private capsule, and many, many others. Obviously, prices vary for these options.




We didn't pre-book our tickets - although at busy, holiday periods, this is strongly advised - but we like to live on the edge. One of the reasons we didn't book was because we wanted to be flexible in our plans, and the other was because, due to the uncertainty of the British weather, we didn't want to be forced into boarding The Eye in misty or cloudy conditions. After all, if the visibility is impaired, there's not a great deal of point in risking the chance - however small - of plunging to a watery grave in the murky and insalubrious depths of the River Thames just to see a bit of fog.....is there?


On our way down to London it seemed like we had made the correct decision, as the weather was absolutely dreadful, but the next couple of days cleared up and we managed to have our 'flight' in near-perfect conditions.

Arriving at the site suitably equipped with camera and tingly anticipation, we noticed that it didn't seem to be all that busy - there were no more than 30-40 people queuing.

We quickly made our way into County Hall and, as there was no queue, we bought our tickets almost immediately.
It's in this building that you'll find the Gift Shop where you can conveniently purchase such essential items as cameras, film and batteries; snacks and soft drinks, and all manner of related souvenirs. The re's also a Costa Coffee outlet inside the building as well as one outside. This is where you can purchase The London Eye In-flight mini guide which I highly recommend buying. It has panoramic photos/maps from each direction of the capsule and it labels all the main landmarks of London that are visible....which is pretty much them all. It wasn't expensive (£3) and certainly enhanced the experience.

As soon as we had our tickets in our grubby little mitts, we nonchalantly strolled over to the ramp which leads up to the boarding platform. A quick frisk by the security people and a look inside Mrs P's bag (brave man) and we were ready for take off.
As it wasn't all that busy, they tended not to cram as many people as possible into each capsule and instead, spread the weight around more evenly. I think there were 6 others in our capsule, leaving plenty of space to move around freely.

During opening hours - which vary considerably but you can find the exact times on the website - The Eye almost never stops revolving. Because it moves so slowly, there is enough time as it passes the boarding platform for the people who have completed the trip to disembark, security to give it a quick, electronic sweep, and the next consignment of passengers to alight. However, nice, thoughtful people that they are, it IS stopped to allow disabled access.

In all, the journey takes 30 minutes - plenty of time to see all the landmarks. Because it revolves so slowly, you have no sensation of movement and it's very smooth and gentle.

The panoramic views over Central London are spectacular and it's great to be able to look down on The Houses of Parliament, Whitehall and all the conglomeration of buildings concerning the British Government and the Establishment.....talk about role reversal!
One of the good things about The Eye is that because it's constantly changing height, the perspective is continually changing, as are the views. Having said that, once you reach the highest point and begin the descent, it's all a bit downhill (no pun intended) as you've already seen everything. Thirty minutes is probably long enough.

Just before reaching the end of the 'flight', or to use the technical term, landing, a photo with the backdrop of Big Ben is taken as a souvenir (extra charge). We didn't bother as we already have a collecton of photos where I resemble a startled meercat.


In conclusion, I was reasonably impressed. The views over the city were pretty good but £11 for a 'wee birl' over London seemed a bit excessive. Of course, as it's British Airways who own it, competitive prices are hardly going to be part of the equation!


Would I 'fly' it again? - Well, some would say it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'd have to agree, once-in-a-lifetime is plenty.





proxam2005]]>