London Eye South Bank

London Eye, South Bank, London

The London Eye is in the top 3 most photographed sites in the UK along with the nearby Houses of Parliament and the Bull Statue in Birmingham

London Eye, located on the south bank of the Thames in London across from Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, is a 135-meter-tall Ferris wheel built for the Millennium celebrations of 2000. It was initially sponsored by British Airways.

Tallest Ferris Wheel

When it was built the structure was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. Nowadays it remains the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK, with visitor numbers over 3.5 million annually. However, profitability remains precarious due to the huge costs involved in maintenance and operation.

When it was built the structure was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world

Still the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, The London Eye was so big it had to be carried into place by barges on the River Thames.

The structure stands outside the old County Hall building part of which is the London Sea Life Aquarium. Jubilee Gardens is close by.

The wheel seen from the north bank of the River Thames.

London Eye

The 32 fully sealed and air-conditioned passenger capsules represent the 32 boroughs of London and can carry up to 25 people. The Eye was built in sections and carried to the site by barges on the River Thames.

Nearby

Visitors to the Big Wheel may also want to visit the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, or the George Inn in Southwark.

Access – Getting There

EDF Energy London Eye
Riverside Building
County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1 7PB

Waterloo, Embankment, Charing Cross, and Westminster are the nearest Tube stations. By London bus take any one of numbers 211, 77 or 381.

The Eye illuminated at night

Hours
January – March; daily 10.00 am – 8.30 pm
April to June; daily 10.00 am – 9.00 pm
July and August; daily 10.00 am – 9.30 pm
September to December; daily 10.00 am – 8.30 pm