London From A Different Angle (London Eye)

Member Name: Emily88

Product:	London Eye
Date:	02/09/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful experience and views

Disadvantages: Expensive, queues

The London Eye is a popular tourist attraction in the capital city of London. I have been on it twice, most recently with my family, and I really enjoyed my experience.

* What Is It? *

At 135 metres tall, the London Eye (also known as the Millennium Wheel) is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions n London, with thousands and thousands of people visiting every year. It has 32 egg shaped capsules moving slowly around in a circle, giving phenomenal views of London.

* Where Is It? *

The London Eye can be found on the South Bank of the river Thames, opposite the Houses of Parliament. The nearest tube is Waterloo, but Embankment, Charing Cross and Westminster are all within walking distance. The river cruise also stops off nearby at the Millennium Pier. We found the London Eye very easy to find - after all, it is kind of hard to miss a 135 metre wheel!

* How Much Is It? *

The prices for a standard flight on the London Eye are:
Adult (16 plus) - £17.50
Child (4-15 years) - £8.75
Child under four - Free
Senior (60 plus) - £14.00
Disabled - £14.00

There are also different packages you can buy, such as a Champagne Flight, a Fast Track (which means you have a shorter queuing time) and combining your flight with a River Cruise. I believe you can also get married on the London Eye!

* How Do You Get A Ticket? *

You can buy online, which I recommend to avoid having to queue on the day. Just go to the website - www.londoneye.com. You also get a 10% discount.

If you want to book on the day, the ticket office is inside Country Hall, which is right next to the London Eye. But be prepared for big queues.

* My Experience *

Even though we had booked online, we still had to join a pretty long queue. However this did move quite quickly and we were soon near the front. A security man had to check our bags, and then we got ready to board. The capsule is actually moving when you step in, which I think would worry some people, but it is going really slowly so you just need to do a quick jump (or large step). Once inside, the capsule has a wooden bench in the middle, but otherwise there is nothing but the floor to ceiling windows around the outside of the pod. Twenty five people are in the capsule with you. The London Eye moves very slowly - it takes around thirty minutes to complete the cycle. Because of this there are plenty of photo taking opportunities, and you can take your time in looking at the magnificent views over London. I wouldn't advise going on the Eye if you're scared of heights though.

I would definitely recommend a ride on the London Eye to anyone planning to visit London.

Summary: 5 stars