Although London offers many places to catch an amazing panoramic view of the skyline, we knew we had to see the city from 442 feet up in the air in the Coca Cola London Eye. The 30 minute guided flight, which is continually moving, is the tallest observation wheel in the world and we were lucky enough to have the entire capsule almost all to ourselves. It’s an extremely popular attraction, but since the wheel is consistently moving, with a total of 32 pods in total (holding upwards of 25 passengers at a time), you’ll never have to wait long. Although the lines move fairly quickly, I still highly suggest arriving early in the morning, in hopes of not having to share with 25 strangers.
We enjoyed our flight with another couple, newlyweds from the US, which allowed us to easily move around the pod giving us a spectacular view of the entire city. Don’t worry if you do have to share with others, it’s spacious enough for everyone to enjoy the view at all angles without being over crowded. Scared of heights, no problem, you feel incredibly safe and secure in this glass capsule, even more so than the CN Tower. It’s incredibly sturdy, secure and steady, even when walking around. Apparently you can see over 40km in each direction (although on a clear day like the one we had) I bet it’s a lot farther than that? We had an amazing clear view of Windsor Castle, Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, House of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral, unlike anything you’ll see on solid grounds.
Since it was our first time visiting London and our first attraction of our trip, it was nice to have the interactive screens in the capsule to help explain exactly what we were looking at. I was able to capture incredible photos and videos without having to look through tiny windows. It’s fully enclosed and climate controlled so you never have to worry about the outside temperature, making it the perfect attraction on hot, humid days, or cold, snowy nights. It’s definitely a view I’ll never forget and if you’re ever in London, I highly recommend it. Each ticket retails for £21.20, but I highly suggest purchasing the Coca Cola London Eye and London Eye River Cruise together for only £28.80.
Speaking of the London Eye River Cruise, immediately after the London Eye, we cruised down the River Thames in a comfortable and stylish river boat. It picked us up directly under the London Eye and features both an open upper deck and comfortable lower saloon to enjoy a stunning view at both levels of the boat. We were able to enjoy a splendid view of the city’s more famous landmarks, the same ones we just saw 442 feet up in the air, but at sea level.
Live commentary was presented by an expert guide during our 40 minute ride that not only brought the city to life, but kept us extremely entertained by her witty commentary and sassy jokes. We got an up-close and personal, clear view of the House of Parliament, Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tower Bridge and so much more. It took us all the way from the Big Ben to the Tower of London and back again. We learned so much about the traditional landmarks, bridges and historic buildings that we would have otherwise never known about. Although it felt like a fairly quick ride, we learned a ton of information about the beautiful city of London.
The London Eye River Cruise gave us a totally different perspective of London from what we saw up in the air and then by walking around the city. We learned a lot about the past and present, along with future plans and events.
Next time you’re in London, I highly suggest both the Coca Cola London Eye and the London Eye River Cruise
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