Children under 2 years old fly for free on the London Eye, but they still require a booked ticket. While they are free, they must be accompanied by a paying adult (18+). Infants must be included in the booking, even though there is no charge for them.
Everyone is welcome to visit the London Eye including children! Children aged 15 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+ years or older. Children must remain under supervision whilst on the site of the London Eye and London Eye River Cruise.
Please note that children aged 15 years or younger must be accompanied onto the London Eye by an adult aged 18 years or older. Children under 2 years old can board the London Eye free of charge, however must have a ticket for entry, which can be collected from the Ticket Office located opposite the London Eye.
Whether the London Eye is "worth it" depends on your priorities: it offers iconic, weather-protected panoramic views and a unique, slow-paced experience, making it great for first-timers or families with kids who love spotting landmarks like Big Ben, but it's pricey, can involve long queues, and offers similar views to free or cheaper alternatives like the Sky Garden, Shard, or a Thames river cruise.
No, children under 11 travel free on the London Underground (Tube), DLR, Overground, Elizabeth line, buses, and trams when accompanied by a fare-paying adult (up to four children per adult); they just walk through the wide gates with you, but for 11-15 year olds, you need to get a Young Visitor Discount or 11-15 Zip Oyster card for half-price travel.
Visiting the London Eye: Worth the Price? (Tickets + Everything You Need to Know)
How to get a free travel pass?
To apply for a free travel pass (concessionary bus/travel card), you typically apply through your local council or a national transport body (like Transport for Wales/Scotland) by proving your age (e.g., 60+) or disability, residency, and identity with documents (passport, council tax bill, photo) online or in person, but specific requirements vary by region (UK, Ireland, etc.). Check your local authority's website or a national portal like GOV.UK for eligibility and application links.
For a quieter experience, we recommend visiting early in the morning or later towards closing time. During busy peak periods like weekends and school holidays, expect longer wait times for London Eye boarding. The time stated on your ticket is when you enter the queue line.
What age qualifies for a child ticket? Children aged 5 to 15 can travel with a child ticket. Children under 5 travel for free with a fare-paying adult. Additionally, those aged 16 and 17 can save 50% on most rail fares with a 16-17 Saver Railcard.
London Eye queue times vary greatly: expect 20-30 mins for standard tickets on quiet days, but up to an hour or more during peak times (weekends, holidays, summer), with Fast Track options cutting wait to 5-10 mins. The time on your ticket is when you enter the queue, so allow extra time for security and potential slowdowns, especially for standard entry; arriving early morning or late evening often means shorter lines, while booking online can save time at the ticket booth.
The London Eye welcomes everyone from all age groups. Adult tickets apply to individuals aged 16 and over, while child tickets are for children aged 2 to 15. Children under 2 can visit for free, but must be booked in (free of charge). For guests aged 15 or under, an accompanying adult (18 or over) is required.
For a 4-year-old in London, focus on interactive museums (Science, Natural History, Transport), animal encounters (London Zoo, Battersea Park Zoo, city farms), iconic sights (London Eye, Tower Bridge, Changing of the Guard), and great parks like Hyde Park or Kew Gardens, often with playgrounds or water features for fun, plus themed adventures like the Peppa Pig Bus Tour or Paddington Station.
Blue Light Card Tickets provides our members with the chance to get discounted tickets to music, comedy, sport and family events, as a special thank you for all that you do for us.
Can two people use the same contactless card on the Tube?
2.4 Only one person at a time can use the same contactless card or device for travel. You may pay another person's contactless pay as you go fare only if they are travelling with you and you have paid your fare by another means.
The Shard vs The London Eye: Which Should You Visit? This is like choosing a favorite child! The Shard certainly has the wow factor in terms of views, and adrenaline junkies will no doubt prefer it for its dizzying height.
We're over the moon that once again, some of London's most iconic buildings and landmarks will be glowing bright pink in support of our incredible MoonWalkers and Volunteers as they take on the challenge of The MoonWalk London 2025!
