The big wheel on the Thames
The best London Eye tickets
Standard entry, a river cruise with the Eye, a bus-cruise-Eye combo, the Shrek combo and afternoon tea in a capsule: here is which ticket to buy, with honest advice on whether it is worth the money, queues and Fast Track, and whether a combo really saves.
See our 6 picks
Yes, the London Eye is worth it on a clear day, booked online. The official site lists standard tickets from £29 online and £39 at the door.
The ride takes about 30 minutes. Standard entry here starts from €35. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 6 picks for the London Eye
One plain ticket, four combos and an afternoon tea on the wheel. All six have free cancellation.
-
from €35 per person Our top pick 30 minutes 4.6 (40,804) reviews on GetYourGuide
London Eye entry ticket
One full turn of the wheel, about 30 minutes. You pick standard or Fast Track entry when you book. A free London Eye guide app comes with it.
Best for Most visitors
Check availability: London Eye entry ticket on GetYourGuide -
from €19 per person 45 minutes–1.5 hours 4.5 (4,522) reviews on GetYourGuide
Thames river cruise, with the Eye as an option
A guided cruise past Parliament, St Paul's, the Tower and Tower Bridge. It leaves from the London Eye Pier. Add an Eye ticket if you want both.
Best for A cheap start on the river
Check availability: Thames river cruise, with the Eye as an option on GetYourGuide -
from €66 per person Valid 1–2 days 4.4 (6,825) reviews on GetYourGuide
London Eye, river cruise and hop-on hop-off bus
An Eye ticket, a one-way Thames cruise and a 24- or 48-hour open-top bus pass on 3 routes. The 48-hour pass adds a choice of 3 guided walks.
Best for A first full day of sightseeing
Check availability: London Eye, river cruise and hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide -
from €70 per person 90-day ticket 4.4 (159) reviews on GetYourGuide
Shrek's Adventure and London Eye combo
Entry to DreamWorks Shrek's Adventure and a ride on the Eye. Both sit at County Hall, so you walk from one to the other. The ticket is valid for 90 days.
Best for Families with kids
Check availability: Shrek's Adventure and London Eye combo on GetYourGuide -
from €117 per person 4 hours 4.4 (149) reviews on GetYourGuide
Vintage bus tour and London Eye
A 4-hour tour on an old double-decker bus, with a photo stop at Westminster Abbey and a short river trip. The morning tour also sees the Changing of the Guard.
Best for Fans of old buses and a set plan
Check availability: Vintage bus tour and London Eye on GetYourGuide -
from €90 per person 1 hour 4.9 (28) reviews on GetYourGuide
Afternoon tea on the London Eye
Two full turns, about one hour, in a shared capsule with a host. Sandwiches, scones and sweet treats come with tea or coffee. You can add a glass of Champagne.
Best for Birthdays and special days
Check availability: Afternoon tea on the London Eye on GetYourGuide
London Eye tickets compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Eye entry ticket | €35 per person | 30 minutes | Most visitors | The Eye sells this ticket itself, and it has 4.6 from 40,804 reviews. |
| Thames river cruise, with the Eye as an option | €19 per person | 45 minutes–1.5 hours | A cheap start on the river | The cheapest way in, from €19, with 4.5 from 4,522 reviews. |
| London Eye, river cruise and hop-on hop-off bus | €66 per person | Valid 1–2 days | A first full day of sightseeing | Three ways to see London in one booking, with 4.4 from 6,825 reviews. |
| Shrek's Adventure and London Eye combo | €70 per person | 90-day ticket | Families with kids | Two family stops side by side, with 4.4 from 159 reviews. |
| Vintage bus tour and London Eye | €117 per person | 4 hours | Fans of old buses and a set plan | A guided half day that ends on the Eye, with 4.4 from 149 reviews. |
| Afternoon tea on the London Eye | €90 per person | 1 hour | Birthdays and special days | The highest rating here: 4.9 from 28 reviews. |
€35 per person30 minutes 4.6 (40,804)
Details
- Who it suits
- Most visitors
- Why we picked it
- The Eye sells this ticket itself, and it has 4.6 from 40,804 reviews.
Thames river cruise, with the Eye as an option
€19 per person45 minutes–1.5 hours 4.5 (4,522)
Details
- Who it suits
- A cheap start on the river
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest way in, from €19, with 4.5 from 4,522 reviews.
London Eye, river cruise and hop-on hop-off bus
€66 per personValid 1–2 days 4.4 (6,825)
Details
- Who it suits
- A first full day of sightseeing
- Why we picked it
- Three ways to see London in one booking, with 4.4 from 6,825 reviews.
Shrek's Adventure and London Eye combo
€70 per person90-day ticket 4.4 (159)
Details
- Who it suits
- Families with kids
- Why we picked it
- Two family stops side by side, with 4.4 from 159 reviews.
Vintage bus tour and London Eye
€117 per person4 hours 4.4 (149)
Details
- Who it suits
- Fans of old buses and a set plan
- Why we picked it
- A guided half day that ends on the Eye, with 4.4 from 149 reviews.
Afternoon tea on the London Eye
€90 per person1 hour 4.9 (28)
Details
- Who it suits
- Birthdays and special days
- Why we picked it
- The highest rating here: 4.9 from 28 reviews.
- None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 6 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Is the London Eye worth it?
- 135 m
- height
- 30 min
- one turn
- 32
- capsules
Yes, if you go on a clear day. The Eye is 135 metres high, says its own site. On a good day you see up to 40 km in every direction.
The weather decides the view. On a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle. On a grey day the far views fade, so keep your plan loose.
Book online to pay less. The official site says online tickets save up to 26% on the price at the door.
Which London Eye ticket should you book?
For most people, the plain entry ticket is the one to book. It gives you one full turn of the wheel. Take a combo only if you want the second thing too.
Here are the six options side by side. Prices are the lowest "from" price on GetYourGuide.
| Option | From | How long | Rating | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry ticket | €35 | 30 minutes | 4.6 (40,804) | One turn, standard or Fast Track |
| River cruise, Eye optional | €19 | 45 min – 1.5 hours | 4.5 (4,522) | Guided cruise, Eye ticket if chosen |
| Eye, cruise and bus | €66 | Valid 1–2 days | 4.4 (6,825) | Eye, one-way cruise, bus pass |
| Shrek's Adventure and Eye | €70 | Valid 90 days | 4.4 (159) | Two attractions at County Hall |
| Vintage bus and Eye | €117 | 4 hours | 4.4 (149) | Old bus tour, short river trip, Eye |
| Afternoon tea on the Eye | €90 | 1 hour | 4.9 (28) | Two turns, tea, host on board |
Standard or Fast Track: what you actually get
Standard entry is fine for most days. Your ticket has a time, and that is when you join the queue. The Eye asks larger groups to arrive at least 15 minutes early.
Flexi Fast Track lets you ride any time on your chosen day. It costs from £49 online and £54 at the door, says the official site.
There is airport-style security before you board. Allow extra time at busy periods. Only small bags are allowed, up to 46 × 33 × 20 cm.
| Ticket | Online | At the door |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | from £29 | from £39 |
| Child (2–15) | from £26 | from £35 |
| Flexi Fast Track | from £49 | from £54 |
| Champagne Experience (with fast-track entry) | from £49 | from £59 |
London Eye with a river cruise, bus or other attraction
A combo only saves money if you want both parts. Each one adds a second thing to the Eye. Here is what each adds.
- River cruise: a guided trip on the Thames past Parliament and Tower Bridge. On its own, the official cruise starts from £15.50 for 40 minutes.
- Bus and cruise: an open-top bus pass for 1 or 2 days, plus a one-way cruise. It suits a first full day.
- Shrek's Adventure: a family walk-through show at County Hall, next to the Eye.
- Vintage bus: a 4-hour guided bus tour with a short river trip. The listing says it does not suit wheelchair users.
Official combo prices
The Eye sells its own combos too. These are online "from" prices on the official site.
| Combo | From (online) |
|---|---|
| Eye + River Cruise | £49 |
| Eye + Madame Tussauds | £49 |
| Eye + Big Bus | £59 |
| Eye + Shrek's Adventure + London Dungeon | £54 |
| 5-attraction combo | £59 |
The London Eye Pier
The London Eye Pier sits on the South Bank, right by the wheel. The river cruise pick leaves from here. It is a quick walk from the cruise to the Eye.
Afternoon tea and special experiences on the Eye
The afternoon tea is the best pick for a special day. You get two full turns, about one hour, in a shared capsule. A host points out the landmarks.
The official site lists it from £75 per person. On GetYourGuide it starts from €90. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are available.
For a bigger moment, the Eye also rents out whole capsules. A Private Pod costs £850 for 2 to 25 guests. Cupid's Pod, for two adults, costs £750.
Can you buy tickets on the day? (the ticket office)
Yes, you can buy tickets on the day at the attraction. But you pay the higher walk-up price. A standard adult ticket is from £39 at the door against £29 online.
Online prices change with demand. They can rise at busy times, so book early for weekends and school holidays.
The ticket office also has left luggage. It costs £5 per item, and you collect it by 7pm. Large bags and suitcases are not allowed on board.
Cheaper London Eye tickets: deals and 2 for 1
The surest saving is to book online. The official site says this saves up to 26% on the door price.
Train travellers can look at the National Rail Days Out Guide. It lists a 1/3 off offer for the London Eye, not a 2 for 1. Check its terms before you travel.
If you plan several attractions, the Merlin Annual Pass is another way in. The Eye names it on its own site. Compare its price with the tickets you would buy anyway.
On GetYourGuide, the cheapest start is the river cruise from €19. The Eye ticket on its own starts from €35.
Best time to ride, what you will see and how long it takes
Ride on a clear day, and allow about an hour in all. The ride itself is 30 minutes. Add time for the queue and security.
The wheel turns slowly, at about 0.9 km/h, so it never stops for boarding. From the top you see the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace.
The Eye is open 10am to 8:30pm at weekends, in school and public holidays and from May to September. Entry usually stops 30 to 45 minutes before closing. It is closed on 25 December and for upkeep in January.
For a higher, indoor view, the Shard is the other option.
Guides on London's big attractions
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: tickets with transfer
- London Dungeon tickets
- Madame Tussauds London tickets
- Shrek's Adventure London tickets
- Sky Garden: how to get in free, and the music nights
- Up at The O2 roof climb
- London with kids: what to do with children and teens
- London's parks and gardens: Kew, Hyde Park, Richmond Park and more
Before you book the London Eye
Check the weather
All six picks have free cancellation. Book a day you hope is clear, and change it if it turns grey.
Arrive early
Your ticket time is when you join the queue. Larger groups should come at least 15 minutes early.
Travel light
Only small bags go on board. Big bags and suitcases can go in left luggage for £5 each.
Find the start
The river cruise leaves from the London Eye Pier. The vintage bus tour starts at Victoria Coach Station.
London Eye questions visitors ask
How much are London Eye tickets?
Is the London Eye worth it?
Can I buy London Eye tickets on the day?
Where can I buy London Eye tickets?
More London Eye tickets, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (8), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.