- Getting to the London Eye by train
- The London Eye tickets, opening hours & tips
- What to do at the London Eye
- History of the London Eye
- Planning your trips to London by train
- Explore more London attractions guides
In the London skyline, few landmarks are as distinctive as the London Eye. Spinning around on the South Bank of the River Thames for more than 25 years, the biggest of big wheels offers visitors an unforgettable experience.
This guide explains everything you need to know about getting to the London Eye by train, including connections, arriving stations from popular cities, and the best way to buy cheap train tickets for your journey, as well as information on booking your London Eye experience and making the most of your visit.
The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, widely regarded as an impressive symbol of modern London. One of London’s most recognisable sights, a rotation on the London Eye is a truly unique experience in the heart of London.
Getting to the London Eye by train
Centrally located on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, the London Eye is easy to reach from a number of London train stations. Choose to travel by train for a convenient and environmentally friendly transport option that can take you to the London Eye quickly. And when you buy cheap train tickets in advance with TrainPal, you can save on your visit too!
Arriving at London Waterloo
For efficient arrivals at the London Eye by train, look for tickets to London Waterloo, which is the closest station to the attraction. When departing the station at Waterloo, you’ll be just a 5 minutes’ walk from the London Eye (follow signs for the South Bank). London Waterloo serves passengers arriving into London from Portsmouth Harbour, Exeter St Davids, Woking, Weybridge, and Poole, on South Western Railway trains.
Arriving at London Charing Cross
Alternatively, take the train to Charing Cross on the north side of the River Thames, and only 10 minutes from the London Eye by foot. To reach the London Eye, you’ll just need to cross over Hungerford Bridge. Arrivals into Charing Cross come from places like Maidstone East, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, and Dartford, on Southeastern services.
Arriving at other London stations
If you are arriving at other London stations such as London Euston or London Liverpool Street, you’ll easily be able to access the London Eye by taking the London Underground to either Waterloo or Westminster. Both will take you under 10 minutes from the London Eye. Waterloo connects passengers with the Bakerloo, Jubilee, Waterloo and City, and Northern Lines, while Westminster is served by the Circle, District, and Jubilee Lines.
The London Eye tickets, opening hours & tips
The London Eye is one of London’s busiest attractions, so it is best to book in advance and take the stress out of your day. Standard prices for the London Eye start from £29 per person, with various family packages available too. If you want flexibility for your visit but want to avoid the queues, a Flexi Fast Track Ticket starts from £51.02. A friendly reminder: booking a fixed timeslot London Eye ticket in advance for cheaper prices than you would pay on the day.
To make the most of your London trip, you can also add bundles of attractions, for example a Standard London Eye ticket + Madame Tussauds London admission for £48.99.
Opening hours can vary but are typically 10am - 8:30pm; check the London Eye calendar before your visit to check if there are any operational updates.
What to do at the London Eye
One of London’s most iconic landmarks, the London Eye is an unmissable part of a sightseeing day in London. Find out our top tips for what to do at the London Eye:
Ride the London Eye
Of course, the main attraction of the London Eye is the wheel itself! As you wait to board, marvel at the incredible 135 metre structure, and see if you can count the number of pods (spoiler: there are 32). Then, once your journey begins, enjoy the breathtaking 360-degree views of London: look out for London landmarks like Buckingham Palace, Wembley Stadium, St Paul's Cathedral, Tate Modern, and many more!
Upgrade your London Eye experience
If you’re looking for a truly luxurious London Eye visit, make your day extra special by upgrading to a London Eye VIP Experience today. Choose the Champagne Experience at the London Eye to add a chilled glass of Champagne to your spin, or opt for ultimate indulgence with the VIP Eye Lounge Experience. Other packages include Cupid’s Pod, and Proposal Pod.
Make the most of sightseeing opportunities
As well as admiring the sights from the heady heights of the London Eye, make the most of being in central London by tying your sightseeing experience to visits to other iconic destinations such as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament.
History of the London Eye
Did you know that the London Eye is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel? Or, in other words, it is a very big wheel with breathtaking views!
Designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the iconic sightseeing destination has been offering great views to visitors since 2000. Winner of 85 awards for national and international tourism, architectural quality, and engineering achievement, the London Eye is highly acclaimed by visitors and experts alike.
Originally intended as a temporary structure, the London Eye quickly became a permanent fixture on the London skyline. You can learn more about the London Eye’s history and construction at a free exhibit in the London Eye Ticket Hall.
Planning your trips to London by train
Leicester to London
Take the train from Leicester to London St Pancras on one fast train with East Midlands Railway. Passengers from Leicester to London can get to the capital in just over one hour. To get to the London Eye, make your way to Westminster on the Circle Line, or to Waterloo on the Northern Line from nearby London Euston.
Liverpool to London
Travel from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston by train with fast, direct services run by Avanti West Coast. In only 2 hours and 24 minutes, travel from the culture-packed city of Liverpool through suburbs, charming towns and the English countryside, and arrive in the capital ready to hit up the London Eye.
Cambridge to London
Hop on the train from Cambridge to London with fast direct services to London Liverpool Street with Greater Anglia, or Kings Cross with Great Northern. From the historic city of Cambridge to the London Eye, you can complete the journey in under 2 hours. Buy cheap train tickets with TrainPal, and save even more when you add a Railcard discount.
*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip