OVERVIEW
The London Eye has rightfully become a classic part of the London Experience and is it popular with tourists and locals all year round.
The ride itself lasts for approx 30 minutes but you will need to allow longer for the security screen and bag check before hand. The boys have been asking to go on the "big wheel" for years, so they were really excited to finally have the chance to actually ride on the London Eye.
They enjoyed the initial part of the ride as the Eye pod was rising up, excitedly pointing out the different buildings they recognised and asking questions about other landmarks. However they both got a little scared when we were nearing the top and found it difficult to relax. We hadn't expected this, as neither child has a fear of heights, so we were at a bit of a loss to know how to help them. They definitely relaxed once we were no longer at the top and seemed to perk up and enjoy the ride again as we went down the other side.
Although we visited in February and the weather was cloudy and bit rainy we still had a great view from our pod. The boys loved being able to see down onto Waterloo rail station and spot the red buses in the distance, even if the views of the Thames itself did fade into the foggy more quickly than we might have liked.
We weren't sure how easy it would be taking our autistic children on the London Eye but in the end it was both easier and as hard as we had anticipated. Read on to find out more.
Photo Gallery
OUR EXPERIENCE
Did we feel welcome?
The London Eye staff were very friendly and there were no quibbles when we asked to join the priority line for speedy boarding - we showed our carers passes and access card for Autism with its no queuing symbol.
They were also quick with their bag searches so we were not hanging around too long.
Like most SEND parents we are acutely aware of how loud our boys can be, particularly in shared social places where people tend towards quiet. We were therefore pretty nervous about being in an enclosed space for 30 mins with no quiet space to take them if they started getting loud and overexcited. As expected we did end up being the loudest family in the pod; this is something we are doing our best to address while simultaneously learning not to worry about other people's reactions too much.
Thankfully the audio guides are personal headsets that feed directly into the listeners ears so on balance the boys were ok and did not unduly disturb anyone's enjoyment on board.
Did we have to queue?
We visited on a Saturday afternoon in early February and it was pretty quiet and although we were able to use priority boarding as part of our disabled access, it would not have been disastrous if we had been asked to join the standard queue.
Having been on the Southbank during the spring and summer I have seen for myself that the queues for the London Eye can get extremely long. There is no way I would consider taking the boys on the London Eye in the middle of the day in August without priority boarding - to be honest I would aim to either go first thing in the morning or early evening.
Accessibility
This attraction is not aimed specifically at children, autistic or otherwise, so the information provided on accessibility is general in nature.
However there is a very helpful section on the official website that covers most of the sensory elements of the London Eye experience as well as a comprehensive and well produced visual story that takes you through what will happen on the day from start to finish.
You can download a pdf of the London Eye Visual Story here.
Are the facilities neurodivergent friendly?
The London Eye glass pod itself is very simple, with only a large bench in the middle that could comfortable seat around 4 0 6 people at any one time. Most people spent the whole ride standing and looking out the windows, so it was not a problem when one of the boys needed to feel more grounded and lay across the bench.
There is a button you can use if you need to speak to a member of staff during the ride. We wondered if it might be cold on board, but the pod was well heated. If anything it was too hot and stuffy and we did need to remove our coats.
Facilities are provided at ground level including accessible toilets, these were clean and in good condition when we used them.
Cost / Disabled Concession
For the latest pricing information visit the London Eye ticket page.
The price of our tickets was included as part of an annual Merlin Attraction Pass, so we did not have to pay at the attraction. We still needed to book 7 days in advance.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The London Eye is a great experience and offers a unique perspective on Londonn's geography and city sky line.
It does feel quite intense being effectively 'stuck' inside the pod with strangers for 30 mins but the ever changing view is an effective distraction.
I see no reason why any family with autistic / adhd children should not be able to enjoy the experience together - although there are a few things that might make it easier on the day:
1. Go through the visual story provided on the London Eye website
2. Try to visit outside of August and early or late in the day on weekends
3. Arrive early so there is plenty of time to go to the bathroom and find the right queue. There is the potential for this to be confusing during busy peak times with lots of people milling around.
4. Make sure to speak to a line attendant and ask if you can join the queue for disabled access (they do recognise hidden disabilities). If you like to carry evidence than your DLA confirmation letter, access card, blue badge or national disability card would all be ok.
5. If your child has vigorous stims or is vocally very loud consider explaining this to the person at the very front of the queue and requesting that you are put in a pod with reduced capacity, for the benefit of both your young person and other passengers. They may agree.