London Eye at night

The London Eye, which receives more than 3.5 million visitors a year, is one of the most visited attractions in the British capital. For years it has been the highest observation deck in London. It is now surpassed by The Shard, a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark. Even so, the London Eye has lost none of its charm.

At night, it is the best place to enjoy the view with that special someone. Also if you just want to clear your head and go at a time when you won 't run into the crowds of people that go there during the day. Find out everything you need to know about the London Eye at night. I'll show you all the advantages of visiting at this time of day. Will you join me?

The most complete option

London Eye Tickets

Enjoy an unforgettable experience from one of the capsules of this iconic Ferris wheel.

Seeing the British capital from above is a must-see attraction on your trip to the British capital. You can also enjoy the 4D silent short film about the creation of the London Eye to learn all the details of this attraction.

From £31 at Hellotickets

With these tickets for the London Eye you can see the British capital in a special light from Europe's highest observation wheel. You'll have the chance to see countless landmarks of the city such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and even Buckingham Palace, plus you can find out all about the origins with the 4D silent short film included with your tickets.

Why I like this option... you'll see London in all its splendour. Seeing London's main monuments and sites under the lights at night is truly spectacular.

Recommended if... you go at Christmas and on summer evenings when the weather is nicer.

Tickets for the London Eye: they are the same price whether you go up during the day or at night. If you want to buy them directly there, when you arrive at the foot of the London Eye, go to one of the ticket booths and queue up to buy your ticket. Prices for the London Eye change depending on whether you buy combined tickets with another attraction or if you want a private booth. They accept digital or printed vouchers.

These are the approximate prices for standard tickets:

• General admission: 30 €.
• Under 16s: €24.
• Children under 4 years: free.
• General admission without queuing: 42 €.
• Under 16s without queues: €36.

And if you want to go up at night:

• General admission: 32 €.
• Under 16s: €26.
• Children under 4 years old: free.
• General admission without queues: 45 €.
• Under 16s without queuing: €40.

The time it gets dark in London varies depending on the time of year. In winter the nights are longer, so it gets dark as early as 16:00 and during the summer months at 21:00.

• The London Eye's opening hours in June, July and August are from 10am to 8.30pm.
• The rest of the year it is from 11:00 to 18:00. Sometimes the opening times change depending on the time of year or other factors. For more information you can visit the official London Eye website.
• The time to be on top is 30 minutes, the same as during the day.

Although visiting the London Eye at night is a personal choice, you won't be disappointed. You can see London's major sights and landmarks under the lights at night. And if you go at night and you still don't know which parts of the city you'll see through the viewing windows, don't worry, in each booth you'll find a tablet with a menu of options in several languages (including Spanish), which shows you which are the most outstanding landscapes that you're observing from the heights.

• Special packages are available at night: There is a special package under the name "Champagne Experiences". You can relax and enjoy a champagne while watching the lights of the whole city. To do this, you must book in advance. The cost is approximately €47.50 per person (maximum of 4 people).
• It can be a romantic plan and you can combine it with the Cupid's Pod: It is a special ticket that I recommend for the evening because it would add even more romance to the atmosphere. You can admire the views of London accompanied by a Pommery Rosé Champagne. Ideal for Valentine's Day, proposals or anniversaries. This package is priced at approximately €550 per pod.
• Enjoy summer nights and Christmas views in winter: If you go to London in summer it doesn't get dark until 7 - 8pm, so you can stroll around the city and then go to the observation deck at that time; an ideal way to extend summer nights. On the other hand, going up to the London Eye at Christmas time is also a great way to extend your summer evenings.

The views from the London Eye are wonderful and it's worth paying to go up there. Even from the observation deck you can see the following places that I am going to mention, and who knows, you might get a closer look at them when you leave the London Eye:

• Attend the key ceremony at the Tower of London: This is probably the oldest ceremony in the world. Every night at 9.53pm for the last 700 years, this ceremony has been held to close the door of the Tower of London, where the British crown jewels are kept. To attend, you must book 6 to 12 months in advance on the Tower of London's official website, as tickets are free and sell out easily.
• Attend a Twilight Tour at the Tower of London: At the Tower of London you can also take a guided night tour, where some historical facts and curiosities about the Tower are taught. It takes place only a few Sundays a year at 7pm and you can buy your ticket in advance. Check prices for the Tower of London.
• Visit the Sky Garden: The Sky Garden is a garden located on the 35th floor of another skyscraper in London known as the Walkie Talkie for its shape. It has a viewing platform from where you can still admire the beauty of the city at night, it usually closes at 9pm and the best thing is that the entrance is free.

• A reminder that it is best to buy your tickets in advance of your trip to London to avoid the queues and if you buy a skip the line ticket you can simply arrive at the time you specified on your purchase and go in.
• The weather in London in winter is usually very cold and it can be drizzly. I recommend you dress warmly (it's not a good idea to catch a cold on holiday).
• You can go up with your mobile phone or digital camera and take photos from the cabin.
• Take the best pictures from outside the London Eye on the Golden Jubilee Bridge. This flying Ferris wheel is illuminated in different colours at night, providing the perfect backdrop to capture its splendour.
• You can go on weekdays from Monday to Thursday to avoid the crowds.
• London in June, London in July and London in August gets very crowded, so it is recommended that you buy your ticket in advance if you go on these dates. This will save you time and you will be assured of a ticket for the day you plan to go.
• If you visit London in December, it doesn't matter if it gets dark at 4pm, because admiring the Christmas lights from the London Eye is a wonderful sight.

London is the city that never sleeps, which is why there are several bus and underground lines that run at night. In case you decide to visit the London Eye at night, you'll also find out how to get around. London's night-time transport is most frequent on Fridays and Saturdays, as the London Underground does not close on these two days of the week. On other days of the week, the tube runs from 5 or 6am until 11 or 12pm.

There are also several bus routes that can serve as bridges between two points in the city. On weekdays these services are more limited for evening travel. It is therefore likely that you will need to use a taxi or a bus line that operates at night.

Taxis are more expensive than public transport, but have the advantage of dropping you off at the door of your accommodation. Prices can range from €56 to €105 depending on the distance.

You can find places to eat near the London Eye after visiting the attraction. One option is to go to Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar which is only 0.2 km from the London Eye. The food served there is somewhere between Steakhouse and European and British dishes. You can also do well to go to La Cucina Di Mamma which is a good place to go as a family. This restaurant serves Italian food and is also about 0.2 km from the London Eye.

Do you want to enjoy a drink on your way out of the London Eye? Then go for a drink at the All Bar One Waterloo. They also offer food: British dishes, special diets, vegan and gluten-free options.

I hope you take my recommendations into account and don't leave London without seeing for yourself the wonderful views of the city from the London Eye.