Hotels near the London Eye

A remarkable feat of design and engineering, the London Eye is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel at 443 feet tall. It opened to the public in early 2000 and has now become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK, largely due to its observation pods which offer an incredible bird’s-eye view of the city’s landmarks.

The London Eye is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). On opening to the public in 2000 it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel but has since been surpassed by three other Ferris wheels, Star of Nanchang (160 metres tall), Singapore Flyer (165 metres) and High Roller (167 metres).

There’s another record that the London Eye held for a brief period; that of the highest pubic viewing point in London. The opening of The Shard in 2013 broke that record with its 245-metre-high viewing deck on the 72nd floor.

Despite its impressive size, the London Eye ranks only 46th in the list of the tallest structures in London which is, once again, dominated by the colossal 310m height of The Shard. The London Eye is significantly taller though than Big Ben by over 35 metres.

The impressive structure of the London Eye is not solely down to its frame but also its 32 observation pods or ‘passenger capsules’ which each weigh 10-tonnes and hold up to 25 people as they rotate at 10 inches per second.

The London Eye is designed to operate in all weather conditions including wind and rain, but, from time to time, if there are severe gusting winds or weather conditions it may be stopped for a short period.

All of the observation pods on the London Eye are temperature controlled with either heating or air conditioning to reflect the current weather conditions.

The London Eye is not designed to be a scary attraction although due to its height and curved glass observation pods, if you have a fear of heights then you may find it a particularly intense experience.

The London Eye is situated in the borough of Lambeth, on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament. The ticket office is located inside County Hall, directly next to the London Eye.

One full rotation of the London Eye takes about 30 minutes at a speed of 0.6 miles per hour. With its 32 observation pods able to carry 25 passengers each, 800 passengers can be transported on any one full rotation. Dependent on its opening times, which change throughout the year, the London Eye can complete between 21-23 full rotations per day.

The London Eye looks spectacular at night when it is fully lit up, adding to the dramatic London night-time skyline. From February 2020, the London Eye is sponsored by travel company Lastminute.com who have agreed that the Eye will be illuminated at night in its hot-pink brand colour.

Opening times for the London Eye vary throughout the year, but typically the attraction opens at 10am and closes between 6-830pm.

Yes there are, each observation pod has a bench in the centre but these are only available on a first come, first served basis.

There are no toilets in the observation pods so make sure you go before your journey if you need to! There are male, female and disabled toilet facilities available in the London Eye ticket hall.

There is no definitive best time to ride the London Eye as it offers superb views of London both day and night at any time of year. It’s worth trying to time your ride to experience nightfall over the city, aim to start your journey just after sunset and you’ll see day giving way to night across one of the best cities in the world.

Wait times to board the London Eye vary dependent on time of day and time of year. A good rule of thumb is to allow 45 minutes of queueing in the standard entry queue and 20 minutes using the Fast Track entry queueing system. It’s recommended that you arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your time slot to give you plenty of time to collect your tickets.

You certainly can, the London Eye is completely safe for expectant mothers. There is a bench in the centre of each observation pod so you can sit down if you need to at any point.

Most types of bag are allowed on the London Eye except particularly large bags and suitcases. There is no cloakroom facility so make sure you plan your journey accordingly.

Only bottled water is allowed on the London Eye; no other food or drink is permitted. If you need to bring any specific food or drink for medical reasons then you should contact the London Eye in advance of your visit so that their security teams are aware.

You’re not allowed to bring alcohol on the London Eye but there are a range of hospitality items available that can be pre-booked and will be served by your own personal host.

It’s worth booking your tickets on the London Eye website in advance of your visit, as you’ll receive a 10 per cent discount. There are various ticket packages available, some of which include entry to other popular London attractions. The current standard adult book online in advance ticket costs £27.50 and a child’s ticket costs £23. Under 3’s go free.

You can pre-book London Eye tickets in advance. If you book at least 24 hours in advance you’ll receive a 10% discount so it’s well worth doing if you know exactly when you want to visit. When you book a ticket you’ll be asked to select a time slot which gives you your planned boarding time.

The London Eye’s Fast Track ticketing and queueing system is certainly worth it if time is of the essence on a busy day of sightseeing! You’ll cut down time spent queueing significantly, which, considering how long the line can get during peak hours, is likely to be worth paying a little extra for.

You don’t need ID for the London Eye if you’re planning to turn up and buy tickets on the day, as there are no age restrictions. However, if you have pre-booked tickets online you will need to present photo ID and the payment card you booked on to be able to collect them.

The best thing to do if you’re running late for your pre-booked time slot is to speak to a member of staff on arrival to let them know and they will endeavour to ensure entry at the next available time. You’re likely to have to wait and you may also incur a £10 rebooking fee.

If you have pre-booked your ticket in advance via the website then you’ll save time by printing your ticket at home; all you’ll need to do on the day is join the boarding queue and enjoy the ride. If you’ve pre-booked but haven’t printed your ticket in advance then you will need to show photo ID and the payment card you used to book at the ticket office to collect your tickets before joining the queue.

It depends on what ticket type you have purchased. All tickets include a ride on the London Eye and entry to the 4D cinema experience located at the back of the ticket office. A Fast Track ticket allows you to bypass the majority of the queue via a dedicated Fast Track entrance which is clearly signposted on arrival.

The London Pass is a popular option for visitors to London as it grants access to over 80 top London attractions such as Tower Bridge, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. Unfortunately, it doesn’t currently include the London Eye. If you want to buy a pass that grants you access to multiple London attractions including the London Eye then the London Explorer Pass is the one to buy.

Flex – Pay now or on arrival, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Our most flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 1pm on the day of arrival. You can also amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Semi-Flex – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to three full days before arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to three full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Advance – Pay now, fully refundable with free cancellation up to 28 full days before arrival, free to amend thereafter until the day of arrival. Fairly flexible rate – you can cancel and get a full refund up to 28 full days before arrival. No refunds after that date. You can also amend your booking date at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Standard – Pay now, non-refundable. Free to amend booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival. Slightly flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel and get a full refund, but you can amend your booking at the same hotel up to 1pm on the day of arrival (additional room rate charges may apply depending on your new stay date).

Non-Flex – Pay now. No amends or refunds. Our least flexible rate – you won’t be able to cancel or amend your stay after booking.

Our standard check-in time is 3pm. For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

Checkout is by 12 noon on your departure date. If luggage storage is available, our teams will be happy to store any bags for you if you’d like to check out before 12pm.

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

For an additional fee*, you can start your stay sooner with early check-in from 11am. Add early check-in to your stay while making your booking, or afterwards by managing your stay in your Premier Inn account. Early check-in is subject to availability and not available at all Premier Inn hotels. 

*Prices and times will vary depending on date and location. 

In 2020 we launched Premier Inn CleanProtect™, our rigorous, daily cleaning method that’s used throughout our UK & Ireland hotels. Developed in partnership with Diversey, a global leader in cleaning and hygiene products for the healthcare and hospitality industries, our promise seeks to give you extra peace of mind so you can always book and stay with confidence.

Check-in - minimising contact at reception and providing hand sanitiser in most public areas for peace of mind. 

Bed linen and towels - laundering all our linen and towels at over 60°C to thermally disinfect them, so you can enjoy a great night’s sleep. We’ve also placed spare pillows in a zip-up bag, for extra peace of mind.

Equipping our teams - providing our team members with all the equipment and sanitisers they need, as well as always operating in the safest way possible for our teams and guests.

A generous serving of safety - you can relax knowing that enhanced cleaning measures are in place throughout our restaurants. Tables are cleaned between visits and contactless payment is in place too, so you can dine safely and comfortably with us every time.

Clean on request - if you'd like your room cleaned during your stay with us, just let us know at reception and use the handy door hanger on the back of your door by 12pm each day.

Most Premier Inns have specially-adapted rooms allowing easier access for customers with disabilities. If there is no specially-adapted room available at the hotel of your choice, we will be happy to offer you alternative accommodation at a nearby Premier Inn. If you have difficulty walking, but do not need a specially-adapted room, please feel free to request a room near reception on the ground floor for easy access. 

If you'd like get in touch, you can reach out to our specialist team via email at pi.accessible@whitbread.com or call us on 0333 0919 817 between 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday (calls charged at local rate).

Unfortunately, with the exception of trained assistance dogs, we don't allow pets to stay at our hotels.