Your family will love these amazing tourist attractions near London Eye. Don’t miss them when you are right nearby.
The 30 minutes you spend on the London Eye may top your favorite moments in London. As one of the city’s leading paid attractions, more than 80 million people have taken the ride since it was opened to the public in 2000. It was intended to stand for just five years but is now a permanent attraction.
Traveling at just 0.6 mph, the London Eye delivers sweeping 360-degree views of the city’s skyline and will take you 443 feet above the South Bank. When your feet are back on the ground, there are other attractions and points of interest that you may want to explore while you’re in the neighborhood. The following list will introduce you to some of our top recommendations for fun near the London Eye.
Top Tourist Attractions Near London Eye:
Namco Funscape
The fun doesn’t have to stop with the London Eye. Namco Funscape is less than a five-minute walk on The Queen’s Walk and offers bowling, ping pong, and arcade games in addition to family-friendly food and drinks. It’s a great place to spend a couple hours or even an afternoon, especially if you need to escape unexpected bad weather or the mid-day heat in summer.
Namco Funscape also has an escape room if you want to challenge your family. You pay one flat fee for up to six people, so it’s a cost-effective activity that encourages kids to think creatively and use their brains even while on vacation.
This is one of the biggest attractions in London, and you can reach it in about five minutes on foot from the London Eye. The aquarium is divided into three zones:
- Coral Kingdom – Explore a 40-foot-long tank that includes hundreds of clownfish, a bright yellow tang fish, and even a four-eyed fish. They all depend on the brilliantly colored coral in this delicate underwater ecosystem.
- Ocean Invaders – Scientists believe that jellyfish have patrolled the ocean for millions of years. Why not give your little ones a chance to explore their lifecycle and see a few up close and personal? You can do that and much more in this fun jellyfish exhibit.
- Rainforest Adventure – The crocodiles and critters are ready to play as your family uncovers the hidden gems of a rainforest.
Kids will run into stingrays, octopus, penguins, sharks, and a variety of creatures lurking in the rainforest and in the ocean. Each of these zones features hands-on experiences and activities that are designed to educate and entertain simultaneously.
It takes about five minutes to stroll down The Queen’s Walk from the Southbank Centre to the London Eye. This entertainment complex is home to the Royal Festival Hall and often offers free music and other forms of outdoor entertainment. The centre hosts thousands of events throughout the year in addition to live shows hitting the stage regularly at the Purcell Room.
If you aren’t up to enjoying a little theatre or visiting the Poetry Library, find the Southbank Centre’s large outdoor water fountains. Kids of all ages love running through them during the hot summer months.
Westminster Bridge
One fun way to see the Westminster Bridge is to take a ferry or water bus from the London Eye Pier. The bridge is a short ride away, but you may also want to get off the boat and walk across the bridge. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of London and will have the opportunity to explore some of the attractions on the northern bank of the River Thames.
Wonderground
Using The Queen’s Walk, you can get to Wonderground from the London Eye in just a couple minutes. It’s a small play area that features a bi-level carousel that is popular with younger kids visiting the South Bank area. If you’re lucky, you may catch live performers entertaining the crowd for free.
There are some other rides at Wonderground, and they’re all just for the kids. This is a great place to stop off to relax a bit between all of the attractions found along The Queen’s Walk. You’ll find it just north of Jubilee Park and Garden.
Touring the South Bank with Kids
Are you planning a London family vacation? The South Bank is a great place to spend an afternoon or even a full day with amazine tourist attractions near London Eye. There are a variety of dining options, including upscale restaurants and affordable diners plus some beautiful parks that serve as great backdrops for picnics. You’ll also find a variety of attractions and points of interest that provide entertainment and physical activity.
When you’re ready to cross the bridge and explore other areas of London, we have the tips you need to fill your itinerary with the best London attractions. There’s never a dull day when you’re exploring the Big Smoke with the people you love most.