The London Eye opening hours are 11 am to 6 pm on most weekdays and 10 am to 8:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays per Google Maps, and the official site shows the same pattern for this weekend. Last entry is typically 30 to 45 minutes before closing. This guide covers the London Eye opening hours by day, the best time to ride, how to get there and what the rules are at the gate. When you know your slot, my comparison of every London Eye ticket has the prices.
London Eye Opening Hours
Today, Saturday 7 November 2026, the London Eye opening hours per Google Maps are 10 am to 8:30 pm, and the official site shows the same for today. The rest of the week looks like this:
Day
Hours per Google Maps
Monday
11 am to 6 pm
Tuesday
11 am to 6 pm
Wednesday
11 am to 6 pm
Thursday
11 am to 6 pm
Friday
10 am to 8:30 pm
Saturday
10 am to 8:30 pm
Sunday
11 am to 6 pm
The official London Eye opening hours page is the one to trust. It listed Sunday 8 November at 11 am to 6 pm and the River Cruise at 10:45 am to 5:45 pm. Its FAQ says the wheel generally runs 10 am to 8:30 pm at weekends, in school and public holidays, and from May to September. It also says the wheel typically closes between 6 pm and 8:30 pm depending on the season and day. The two sources of London Eye opening hours agree for this week. I did not find a full seasonal calendar on the pages I read, so a date outside this week deserves a check on the site.
London Eye Working Hours
The London Eye working hours, a close cousin of the opening hours, matter most for the last ride of the day. The official page says entry typically stops 30 to 45 minutes before closing. With a closing time of 6 pm that means arriving by about 5:15 pm at the latest, and I’d aim for an hour earlier because of the security check. The wheel takes about 30 minutes to turn, per the official ticket page, so a slot booked near the end of the day should still fit before the doors close.
London Eye Hours of Operation
The London Eye opening hours change with the season, and the site gives two closures. It is closed on Christmas Day, 25 December, and for annual maintenance throughout January. I could not read exact maintenance dates, so if your trip falls in January, check the official hours page before booking anything non-refundable. Of the 10 tickets I compared, only the Paris rail day trip is non-refundable, and the rest can be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead.
London Eye Hours Open and Last Entry
London Eye hours open on a given day decide which ticket suits you. A Friday or Saturday gives you the longest window, 10 am to 8:30 pm per Google Maps, which is the best chance of a ride after dark in winter. The London Eye opening hours Monday to Thursday are 11 am to 6 pm, so a winter ride is mostly daylight. London Eye last entry sits 30 to 45 minutes before closing per the official site, which means a 6 pm closing leaves a final entry of roughly 5:15 to 5:30 pm. That is my arithmetic from the official range, not a published last-entry time.
London Eye Entry Fee
The London Eye entry fee on the official ticket page starts at 29 pounds online for a standard or Fast Track ticket and 39 pounds at the door. Children aged 2 to 15 pay from 26 pounds online, and under 2s are free. Flexi Fast Track, which lets you ride at any time on your chosen day, is 49 pounds online. On GetYourGuide the entry ticket is $39, rated 4.6 from 41,035 reviews, and it offers a standard or fast-track option. London Eye tickets today are best booked online, because the official page shows walk-up prices 10 pounds higher for adults.
The London Eye - MEG
The London Eye Entry Ticket
★4.6 (41,035 reviews)
30 minutes
Free cancellation
My pick: The ticket I'd book for most visitors: standard or fast-track entry, 4.6 from 41,035 reviews, 24-hour free cancellation.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Ticket to the London Eye - standard or fast-track admission depending on the option booked
✓ London Eye guide - available for free download on iOS and Android
Meeting point: This activity has 2 meeting points. Your meeting point depends on the option you select. 30 The Queen's Walk, South Bank, London SE1 8XX, UK
Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Perfect experience! I recommend that. It is a must when you go in England.” – GetYourGuide review
The London Eye opening hours set the window, and the light decides the best slot inside it. The best time to visit is a question the official site doesn’t answer with crowd data, so I won’t invent quiet hours. What I can show is the light. Open-Meteo data for 2025 puts sunset at about 4:11 pm in November and 4:21 pm in January, while the June sunset is about 9:19 pm. On a Friday or Saturday in winter, a slot around 3:30 to 4 pm gives you daylight at boarding and city lights at the top. The monthly weather record also helps: October had about 5.3 sunshine hours a day and 9 rainy days, and April about 11.4 sunshine hours with 3 rainy days. For clear views, spring and early summer look better than late autumn, based on that single year of data.
Reviewers describe the view as impressive even on a cloudy day, but a clear slot is better. If the forecast looks poor, choose a ticket you can cancel 24 hours ahead, which covers every ticket in my comparison apart from the Paris rail tour.
How to Get to the London Eye
The London Eye is on the South Bank beside County Hall, at Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB per Google Maps. The nearest Underground station is Waterloo, about 0.3 km away and roughly 5 minutes on foot. Westminster station is about 0.4 km away, roughly 7 minutes across Westminster Bridge, and Embankment is about 0.5 km, around 8 minutes across the Hungerford footbridge. Charing Cross is about 0.7 km, around 11 minutes. These walking times are my estimates from straight-line distance multiplied by 1.3 at 4.8 km/h, so allow a little more at busy times.
Waterloo is also a National Rail terminus, per Transport for London, which is the place to check live Tube and train status for your day. If you are coming by river, the London Eye River Cruise pier is at County Hall, about a minute from the wheel. Big Ben is about 7 minutes from the Eye on foot, so the two fit well into one afternoon.
Is the London Eye Worth It?
Before the London Eye opening hours matter, the price does: the standard entry ticket costs $39 for a 30-minute ride and is rated 4.6 from 41,035 reviews. Wikidata gives the wheel’s height as 135 metres, and it opened in 1999. Reviewers praise sunset rides and the views even on a cloudy day, and one who fears heights was glad they went. The fast-track Champagne Experience is $65 and rated 4.9 from 922 reviews, but one reviewer said the only thing that justified the price was avoiding the queue. I’d pick the standard ticket unless the queue worries you, and check the London Eye opening hours for your date.
Things to Do Near the London Eye
Everything here is within a short walk of the wheel, so the London Eye opening hours set your day. Google Maps puts the London Eye River Cruise at 0.08 kilometres, the London Dungeon at 0.09, Big Ben at 0.45 and Trafalgar Square at 0.80. Buckingham Palace is 1.56 kilometres away and St. Paul’s Cathedral 1.88. A Madame Tussauds or SEA LIFE combo ticket costs $65 to $72 in my comparison. My London Eye map shows how they connect.
What to Know Before You Go
Security is the part people forget. The official security page says all guests pass a security check and may have bags searched before boarding. Small bags and backpacks are allowed, but large bags, suitcases and rucksacks are not. Luggage that can’t come on board can be stored at the ticket office for 5 pounds per item, to be collected by 7 pm. Weapons, drones, scooters, bikes, skateboards and pets (except assistance animals) are on the banned list, and alcohol is only allowed as part of a VIP experience. The page doesn’t mention ID requirements.
Pushchairs are allowed if folded before boarding. Join the entry queue at your booked time slot and allow extra time in busy periods, as the page advises. For capacity, the official ticket page gives the wheel 32 pods, and Wikipedia says each holds up to 25 people.
From the listings I compared, the champagne ticket meets at the VIP desk at County Hall, while the SEA LIFE combo has you join the standard entrance (queue A) 30 minutes before your time slot. A reviewer on the entry ticket said they turned up to be told the wheel was not working and had to come back an hour later, which is the kind of delay I’d leave room for.
Whatever the London Eye opening hours on your day, plan about 30 minutes for the ride and at least another 30 to 45 for security and queueing. Add time if you are combining the wheel with the river cruise, which lasts 40 minutes per the official page.
Next Step
Once you know the London Eye opening hours for your day, the next choice is the ticket. Every London Eye ticket I compared is explained there, with who each one suits, and the home page lists the other attractions I compare. If your trip includes the Houses of Parliament area, Big Ben is a short walk across the bridge.
Frequently asked questions
What are the London Eye opening hours?+
Google Maps lists the London Eye open 11 am to 6 pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 10 am to 8:30 pm on Friday and Saturday. The official site showed 10 am to 8:30 pm for Saturday 7 November 2026 and 11 am to 6 pm for the Sunday. Hours change with the season and school holidays, so check londoneye.com for your date.
What time is the last entry at the London Eye?+
The official site says entry typically stops 30 to 45 minutes before closing. I did not find a fixed last-entry time on the pages I read, so I'd arrive at least an hour before the closing time on your date.
Is the London Eye closed on any days?+
The official site says it is closed on Christmas Day, 25 December, and for annual maintenance in January. I could not read exact maintenance dates, so check the opening hours page before you plan a January visit.
How long does the London Eye ride take?+
One rotation takes about 30 minutes per the official ticket page and Wikipedia. Add time for security and the queue, which depends on the day and on whether you hold a standard or Fast Track ticket.
Can I take a large bag on the London Eye?+
No. The official security page says large bags, suitcases and rucksacks are not allowed, and luggage that can't come on board can be stored at the ticket office for 5 pounds per item. Folded pushchairs are allowed.
