The London Eye with Kids: A family guide and money-saving tips!

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Planning a family trip to London and wondering whether a visit to the London Eye with the kids is worth the time and money? This iconic riverside attraction has become one of the city’s most popular landmarks – but with ticket prices adding up quickly, especially for families, it’s worth knowing exactly what to expect before you go. In this detailed guide I’ll cover everything from how to get there, what you’ll see from the top, which nearby family attractions are worth pairing with the London Eye, money-saving tips and how to make the most of your visit with kids in tow. So, whether you’re visiting for the first time or planning a return trip, here’s everything you need to know about the London Eye.

Visit: March 2025 (Updated December 2025)

Where is the London Eye located – and how do I get there?

The London Eye is brilliantly located on the South Bank of the River Thames, right in the heart of central London. It sits directly opposite the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, making it one of the best spots in the city to take in that iconic skyline. For families travelling in by public transport it’s very easy to reach – it’s well signposted and only a short walk from the various nearby tube stations. The closest station is Waterloo, which is just a five minute walk away and served by the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern and Waterloo & City lines. If you’re coming from other directions, Westminster Station across the bridge is also nearby – giving you a scenic walk over the Thames to reach the Eye. Plus Embankment and Charing Cross are also within a 10 minute walk.

When was the London Eye built – and who owns it now?

Opening to the public in March 2020, The London Eye was constructed as part of the celebrations for the new millennium and it was originally intended to be a temporary installation that would remain there for five years. However, due to its popularity, it ended up being a permanent fixture on the South Bank and it has certainly become one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. This year, for 2025, it’s celebrating its 25th anniversary! The London Eye is currently owned by Merlin Entertainments – the company behind many well known UK attractions such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland, Shrek’s Adventure and the SEA LIFE Aquariums. This is great news for families because it means there are lots of discounted bundle ticket options available when visiting multiple Merlin attractions – more on that later!

Why is the London Eye so famous – and how was it constructed?

The London Eye was built horizontally on floating platforms on the Thames and then slowly raised upright over several days. The London Eye stands at 135 metres tall – it was actually the world’s tallest ferris wheel at the time of its construction. It’s famous for the incredible 360 degree panoramic view it offers across London. The slow rotation means that you actually barely feel it moving – I’m not a huge fan of heights but I wasn’t unsettled at all on the London Eye – it’s a very calm experience and not something kids will find frightening either.

What can you see from the London Eye?

One of the biggest draws of the London Eye is the sheer breadth of what you can see once you’re up there – it gives you a bird’s eye view over almost all of Greater London. Landmarks you can easily spot include Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard, Tower Bridge and even Wembley Stadium in the distance. The slow pace gives you plenty of time to take it all in, point things out to the kids and snap plenty of photos. Click here to download a PDF guide for the landmarks so that you know what you’re looking at and the kids can hunt them out, making it an educational experience as well.

When’s the best time to visit the London Eye with kids?

Timing your visit can make a big difference to how enjoyable and stress free your experience is. If you’re visiting with young children, or hoping to avoid long waits, weekday mornings outside of the school holidays are your best bet. Sunset rides are very popular too, offering magical views as the sky changes colour over the Thames but keep in mind they tend to be one of the busiest times. Evenings, while most popular, also offer a unique perspective of the city lit up at night – the wheel and surrounding trees are also lit with pink lights which is rather magical. Avoid bank holidays and weekends if you’re looking for a quieter, calmer ride. Having said that, we visited on a Saturday evening and it was absolutely fine – I’ll tell you more about the queueing below.

How long is the queue – and is Fast Track worth it?

I actually don’t think that the fast track tickets would be worth it unless it’s a particularly busy time – perhaps in the school holidays. As I said above, we visited on a Saturday in March at 6pm and the queue was six rows long, which seemed like it might give us a lengthy wait, but the line moves quickly and we were on the London Eye in about 25 minutes. The fast track queue was smaller and faster moving, but it is more expensive so I don’t think it’s worth it unless the queue is horrendously long. Particularly if you are able to avoid weekends, you’ll probably have a very short queue time anyway and it’s quite nice to watch it go around and take it all in before you get onboard anyway.

What’s it like on the London Eye – and can you sit down?

The experience inside the London Eye capsule is surprisingly calm and spacious. Each of the 32 glass capsules can hold up to 25 people and they are fully enclosed with floor-to-ceiling glass so that you don’t miss a thing. The experience lasts for 30 minutes and in the centre of each pod there’s a large bench so the kids can rest their legs if they want to – though it’s likely they’ll want to walk around to enjoy the view from all angles. It’s also climate-controlled so, whether it’s blazing hot or chilly outside, the temperature inside remains comfortable all year round. To get in and out of the capsules you’ll hop on while it’s moving slowly – it sort of almost stops – so carry little ones when getting on and off to make things easier.

Can you visit the London Eye without booking in advance?

Yes, you can turn up and buy tickets on the day for the London Eye but I would definitely recommend booking in advance. Pre-booked tickets are typically cheaper, and you’ll know when to arrive so it’s easier to plan your day. The time booked for your tickets is actually your queueing time, not the time you’ll board the London Eye, so that’s the time to arrive. We actually turned up 25 minutes early for our visit but we were let straight into the line, so it seems that there’s bit of wiggle room for the timing too. If you want to buy your tickets on the day, you can get your tickets from the ticket office opposite the attraction and there are tons of self-service machines so it shouldn’t mean more queueing time!

What facilities are available at the London Eye?

If you’re visiting the London Eye with young kids you’ll need to fold down pushchairs, or you can leave them in a dedicated area which is probably the easiest option for a stress-free family visit. The toilets are in the ticket building opposite so make sure that the kids use the loo before you begin queueing as there are no toilets in the pods. There is a little kiosk mid queue if you want any refreshments, but it’s worth bringing your own snacks to keep costs down. There’s a large grassy area near the London Eye with a playground – so it might be worth letting the kids play in the Jubilee Gardens before boarding so they’ve got their wiggles out, and it’s the perfect spot for a picnic. There are street performers dotted around there too, along the water’s edge, so it’s an interesting area to explore with lots going on.

What family attractions are near the London Eye?

The London Eye is a fantastic starting point for a fun-filled family day out because it’s surrounded by brilliant child-friendly attractions. Just a stone’s throw away is Shrek’s Adventure, an immersive walk-through experience that brings the Shrek characters to life. There’s also the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, home to everything from sharks and penguins to turtles and jellyfish – we really enjoyed our visit there too (you can check out my review here). For older kids and teens who enjoy a bit of theatrical spookiness, The London Dungeon is just seconds away with a blend of history and jump-scares! Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are just across the bridge, so you can tick off some iconic sights while you’re there too. Click here to read more about the London Merlin Attractions.

How much do the London Eye tickets cost – and how can I save money?

Tickets for the London Eye can be pricey (most Merlin Attractions seem to be at least £30 per person) but luckily there are tons of ways to save money on your tickets. Also, make sure you book at least 24 hours in advance too – as the tickets are significantly cheaper if you avoid booking on the day. And, here’s how to hunt out the discounts to make your family days out more affordable:

Look out for offers advertised directly by Merlin – kids could enter for free at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, The London Dungeons and Shrek’s Adventure for 2025 February half term so keep your eyes peeled.
If you’re having a day out in London, one of the best ways to save money is by booking a multi-attraction ticket through Merlin Entertainments – the price can be as little as £12 per attraction! This includes SEA LIFE London Aquarium, The London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, Bus Tours, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon. There’s also an option to include the London Eye River Cruise which departs just beside the wheel and lasts around 40 minutes, with family-friendly live commentary that might be of interest to school age kids. You get 90 days from the date of your visit to enjoy the other attractions, so it’s worth saving up and buying in bulk if there are other things you’d like to do too – click here to find ticket options and prices for your visit date, plus combo ticket deals.

Lots of the Merlin Attractions can be visited using Tesco Clubcard points so save your points and you could visit for free!
Another way to make some great savings is to use the National Rail 2-for-1 offers – if you’re travelling by train you can get 1/3 off lots of the London Merlin Attractions.
Or, check for discounts on Kids Pass – you can sign up to a trial for just £1 and they often feature the Merlin theme parks and attractions.
Cereal brands like Kelloggs also often run promotions where you can find discounts or even free tickets (things like 2 for 1 tickets) by purchasing specially-marked boxes so look out for these in the supermarket.
But for huge savings opt for a Merlin Annual Pass – you can access absolutely loads of attractions including all of the London days out mentioned above, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, Warwick Castle, tons of SEA LIFE Centres and more! Kids under 90cm won’t need a pass as they can enjoy the attractions for free. Check out all of the pass options and what’s included here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

The London Eye vs The Shard – which is better for families?

Both offer amazing views but personally I think that the London Eye has more going for it for a family visit as it’s a more interesting experience for the kids than The Shard. There are also loads of other attractions next to the London Eye, so it’s a lot more cost effective to book a ticket bundle for a full family day out too. And, for free views over the city don’t forget that the Sky Garden is a great option if you’re visiting London on a tight budget.

Final verdict – is the London Eye worth visiting with kids?

The London Eye can be pricey, so it’s not something that we’d do frequently, but I think it’s a great one-off experience. It offers stunning views, an iconic setting and a relaxing pace, all in a super family-friendly environment. The combination tickets offer the best value for money, given how much you save by booking in bulk. The £59 package they are currently offering (which includes the London Eye and 4 other attractions) would make each of the 5 activities less than £12 per person which is a hell of saving!

Personally, I think it’s worth taking the time to save up and plan for making the most of the other activities too – you can spread them over 90 days or have a full weekend of fun. When you think of it as £12pp suddenly it becomes a lot better value for money, which absolutely makes the London Eye worth visiting with kids – and you can make lots more family memories too! 😍 Or, opt for the Merlin Essential Annual Pass – it offers a whole year of fun and includes tons of other days out including some of the best theme parks in the UK. Check out this article for more info: Merlin Attractions Guide: Where can you go with a Merlin Annual Pass? Have fun!

Useful information for your visit…

Website: https://www.londoneye.com/
Facilities: Refreshments, gift shop, toilets
Opening Times: Varies by day – check their website
Address: Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
For up-to-date opening times and prices, please check their website.