London Eye Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the London Eye. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London

• Westminster to Greenwich Sightseeing Thames Cruise in London

• The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

• London by Night Bus Tour With Christmas Lights and Live Guide

• London Eye River Cruise

Standard tickets to ride the London Eye cost £29 online or £39 on-site. You can choose from several ticket options, from fast-track admission starting at £48 to combination tickets for the London Eye and other activities, such as a Thames River cruise, from £49. Whichever you choose, tickets are always cheaper online.

Yes, the London Eye is definitely worth visiting. On a 30-minute ride, you can enjoy panoramic views of major landmarks, from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. One of the tallest observation wheels in Europe, the popular—and crowded—London Eye is best experienced on packages that can include exclusive perks such as Champagne service and fast-track entry. Other prebooked tours pair the observation wheel with river cruises or guided visits to attractions such as Westminster Abbey, allowing you to see even more of London.

Per one customer who booked the  London Eye River Cruise and London Eye Ticket Option, "Amazing! The river tour gave us views we wouldn't have been able to see by foot. The tour operator was great too, explained a lot of history. The London Eye was my favorite part, you can see the city from a whole different angle up there. Great for pics too!"

While you can buy same-day tickets for the London Eye, popular time slots often sell out. Book in advance to avoid long wait times and secure entry. Book more than 24 hours in advance for a minimum 10 percent discount.

For the best views from the London Eye, ride the wheel at sunset or after dark—note you can only do this from June through August. Visit early or late on weekdays to avoid crowds and get the lowest rates.

A ride on the London Eye lasts 30 minutes, which is how long it takes to complete one full rotation. Note that the time on your ticket is the time that you’ll enter the queue for your ride, so you’ll likely be at the wheel for up to 75 minutes.

London Eye admission tickets are for specific time slots indicating when to enter the queue rather than start your ride on the wheel. Expect lines to take about 45 minutes with a standard admission ticket or about 20 minutes with a fast-track pass.

No, you can’t take your own food and drink on the London Eye. However, you can take in bottled water. Staff can also make exceptions for food or drink needed for medical conditions or infants. Just be sure to inform the security team in advance. Hot food and alcohol are never exceptions.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the London Eye. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in London:

• Buckingham Palace

• Tower of London

• Westminster Abbey

• Windsor Castle

• Houses of Parliament & Big Ben

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in London.