Is the London Eye Worth It? What You Really Need To Know Before You Go

The London Eye is one of London’s most iconic attractions. It’s instantly recognisable, and its location just across from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament means that it’s a real London Classic. But with ticket prices climbing every year, many families understandably wonder whether it’s actually worth the cost. So is the London Eye worth it? And why?

After visiting as a family, here’s our honest take on whether the London Eye deserves a place on your London itinerary, who we think it’s best for, and the things we wish we’d known before booking.

Heads up! We were gifted tickets to these attractions for the purpose of writing this review. This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the blog going. Thanks for the support

Quick Answer: Is the London Eye Worth It?

✔ For most first-time visitors to London, we do think the London Eye is worth it.

• The views across the city are genuinely impressive. And you see so much further than you might expect!
• The experience feels surprisingly relaxing despite the crowds, because the numbers per pod are well-controlled
• It’s one of the few London attractions that works well for almost every age group.

That said, there are a few things you should know before booking because timing, ticket type and queue management make a huge difference to the experience.

👉 Advance booking is important for this attraction, especially during peak period
👉 Check availability and book your London Eye tickets here

What Is The London Eye?

The London Eye was a Millenium gift to the city, and I’m going to show my age here when I say that I was a student in the city when it opened. Located on London’s South Bank, the London Eye is a giant observation wheel overlooking some of the city’s most famous landmarks, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The wheel has passenger ‘pods’ around its ourside, and each of these glass capsules slowly rotate over approximately 30 minutes, giving visitors panoramic views across London.

For families, the London Eye is one of the easier “big attractions” you can visit in London because:

• It offers a calmer experience than many busy London attractions
• There’s no complicated route to follow. In fact, if you want to, you can sit comfortably for the whole ride
• Younger children can enjoy it without any worry or hassle for parents
• There’s plenty of space inside the pods so if ‘little legs’ want to wander, they can do so safely

Our Honest Experience Visiting The London Eye

We honestly expected the London Eye to feel a little overrated (my oldest son actually said it just looks like a big ferris wheel) but we all ended up enjoying it far more than expected.

The slow rotation gives you plenty of time to take in the views without feeling rushed, and seeing London from above really helps you appreciate the scale of the city. We could see as far as The Shard, which we genuinely weren’t expecting. And looking at the river like a ribbon below us was truly impressive.

For children, spotting famous landmarks becomes part of the fun (We had the kids yelling out all the ones they could see) while adults will probably appreciate the skyline and photo opportunities more.

The main downside is the cost, especially for larger families. Standard tickets can feel expensive (and I love saving money) so I definitely recommend looking for a deal.

BOOKING TIP: We Highly Recommend Booking In Advance

Same-day London Eye tickets are often more expensive and queues can become extremely long during weekends, school holidays and summer. That’s why we ALWAYS recommend booking online and in advance to benefit from:

• cheaper ticket prices
• better timeslot availability
• shorter queues
• access to combination attraction tickets

👉 Check availability and book your London Eye tickets here
👉 If you’re thinking of visiting more than one Merlin London attraction, you’ll save even more by booking a multi-ticket. Read about our multi-ticket London experience here.

Best Time To Visit The London Eye

If possible, I’d recommend visiting the London Eye during:

• early morning, so that you’re one of the first to ride as soon as it opens
• or late afternoon, so that you can enjoy that ‘golden hour’ sunlight (that’s what we did)

Morning visits are usually the quietest, so something to consider if that’s important to you, while sunset offers some of the best views across London.

If you don’t like crowds or standing in queues then avoid:

• Lunchtime and mid-afternoon on weekends
• School holiday peak times

Also something to think about, but the weather genuinely affects how worthwhile the experience feels. I’ve visited the London Eye twice now, and on my first visit it was very gloomy and raining, which made it difficult to see the amazing things we saw on our second visit.

Is London Eye Fast Track Worth It?

This honestly depends on your tolerance for queuing and for your budget. We visited on a weekend in May without fast pass, and it was fine. We queued for around 5 minutes, while people with fast pass were walking straight on. The fast pass wouldn’t have been worth the expense for me in this situation.

But if you’re visiting in peak periods when queue-times can be up to 30-40 minutes, you might want to consider a fast pass. The standard queue can become extremely long, particularly during:

• Summer holidays
• Christmas
• Easter and other school half terms

Fast Track tickets are significantly more expensive, but they can save a huge amount of time if you’re visiting London with children who won’t tolerate long queues well. For our family? We’ll take standing in a queue over spending the money!

Is The London Eye Good For Kids?

My boys are aged 10 and 13 and they both really enjoyed their first ride on the London Eye. The attraction is particularly for children who enjoy spotting landmarks and seeing cities from above. We usually take Thames cruises when we visit London, so they loved seeing London from a brand-new perspective.

It’s also a great attraction for kids from a practical perspective. Unlike some other London attractions, there’s:

• no complicated walking route (you can sit down the whole time!)
• no pressure to rush
• and no overwhelming sensory experience

Our children especially enjoyed:

• identifying famous buildings
• watching the tiny trains and boats below
• and seeing how far across London you can actually see on a clear day

For nervous children, it’s also worth knowing the capsules move extremely slowly and feel very stable. Our youngest is actually afraid of heights so he didn’t enjoy standing by the windows for too long, but he was perfectly comfortable enjoying the view from his seat.

Things We Wish We’d Known Before Visiting

The queues can look worse than they are

I’m not going to lie, I was apprehensive about having a long wait. But the line moves steadily once boarding begins, and because the wheel never stops turning, you’re constantly moving. Which makes the queue time feel even shorter.

The capsules are shared

This isn’t a standard ferris wheel, these capsules are huge. That means you do not get a private pod unless you specifically book one…..and that is definitely not a cheap endeavour!

Security checks take time

Arrive slightly earlier than your ticket slot. You’ll have to pass through security and a bag check. Worth noting too that after security and bag check is a concessions stand, so kids can take sugary snacks and drinks on board!

Weather matters more than you think

Clear days make the experience dramatically better. What’s the point of getting the best view in London if you can’t actually see the view? Skip rainy days!

Combination tickets are often better value

Especially if you’re already planning multiple Merlin attractions in London. I’ve shared our multi-attraction tickets experience below:

BOOKING TIP: Consider A Merlin Multi-Attraction Pass

We visited the London Eye as part of a multi-attraction visit: We also visited the Sea Life Center and Madame Tussauds. If you’re visiting several London attractions, combination tickets can work out significantly cheaper than buying everything separately.

Popular combinations include:

• London Eye + SEA LIFE
• London Eye + Madame Tussauds
• London Eye + London Dungeon

👉 Check all the different combos available and book your Merlin Multi-Attraction ticket here

So, Is The London Eye Worth It?

For most families visiting London for the first time, yes. And even if it’s not your first visit (it certainly isn’t ours!) then the London Eye is still one of those things I think everyone should do at least once.

It’s one of those attractions that actually delivers that “London experience” people hope for, and while it is undeniably a little bit pricey, the views and overall experience make it memorable. I recommend combining it with other South Bank attractions, walking along the river, and really embracing all things ‘London’!

We probably wouldn’t prioritise it on every single London trip, but for first-time visitors, families and anyone wanting iconic London views, we do think it earns its place on a London itinerary.

Planning More London Attractions?

You may also find these guides useful:

👉 One Day in London With Kids: Our Easy 3 Attraction London Itinerary
👉 Bubble Planet London: Full 2026 Review With Kids, Practical Information, And Tickets
👉 Visiting Skate Leicester Square and the Leicester Square Christmas Market, London

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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the site going. Thanks for the support!