London Eye and Thames Cruise: the perfect combination for your trip to London

Are you thinking of visiting several of London's most famous tourist attractions? Instead of buying tickets separately, which can be more expensive, it's a good idea to purchase combined tickets for some of them, as this can help you save a little during your holiday.

This is the case with combined tickets for a cruise on the Thames and a ride on the London Eye, two of the most popular things to see and do in London.

Want to know how you can buy combined tickets and how much you can save with them? I'll tell you that and more in the next post!

An ideal proposal

Offer: London Eye Tickets, Big Bus Tour and Thames River Cruise

Explore London from different perspectives with this special pack.

During your visit to the British capital, don't miss the opportunity to see its most iconic monuments and landmarks in comfort with this offer, which includes a bus ticket, cruise and a ride on Europe's tallest Ferris wheel.

From CAD 113 at Hellotickets

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Explore the British capital with this pack that includes tickets for the London Eye, a pass for the Big Bus tourist bus and a cruise on the Thames, an ideal way to discover its monuments and points of interest.

With this option, you'll learn all the details and ins and outs of the city's history thanks to headphones and an audio guide with recorded commentary. You can choose between two routes depending on how much time you have and how much you want to delve into, lasting around 1 hour and 20 minutes or 2 hours and 30 minutes respectively. There are also bus tickets for 1, 2 or 3 days.

Why I like this option... it is a very comprehensive option and offers excellent value for money.

Recommended if... you want to get to know London at your own pace.

The most comprehensive option

London Top Sights Tour with Tickets

Get to know London in depth with this experience where you won't leave anything behind.

A 10-hour experience with an expert guide, during which you will enjoy a tour of the British capital, a cruise on the Thames and, of course, a ride on the London Eye.

From CAD 307 at Hellotickets

Thanks to this tour of London with tickets included for the London Eye, you can take a tour of the city's main attractions without missing a thing. The tour lasts approximately 10 hours and includes bus transfers, tickets to St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, and a ride on the London Eye.

You will also have a professional guide at your disposal who will explain in detail the history of the city's most iconic landmarks, monuments and places of interest. A comprehensive experience to discover the British capital in depth, enjoy panoramic views from the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe and sail the waters of the Thames.

Why I like this option... it's the most comprehensive option for getting to know London.

Recommended if... you don't want to miss anything and want to get to know London in depth, as you'll have a guide at your disposal to answer any questions you may have.

If during your stay in London you are sure you want to include a trip on the London Eye and a cruise on the Thames in your itinerary, the best option, both for convenience and speed, is to buy a combined ticket for both attractions online and in advance.

Both are two of the city's most popular tourist attractions, which means long and tedious queues at the ticket offices for those who choose to buy their tickets on the spot once they land in London. So, in my experience, I don't recommend waiting until you arrive in the British capital to buy your tickets. If you buy them online from home, this is precious time on your trip that you could spend on other more entertaining plans, such as a bike tour of London's parks, a Harry Potter tour or a food tour.

It's very easy! For example, you can use the Hellotickets website to purchase a combined ticket for the Ferris wheel and the cruise. When you access the page, all you have to do is select the combined ticket you want, then the number of tickets and, finally, the date and time for the Thames cruise.

Later, when you are ready, you will need to book the date and time for the other activity (the London Eye ride) separately.

From £41 you can get a combined adult ticket for a Thames cruise and a ride on the London Eye, so when you buy them together you can save around 15%.

The ticket for a Thames cruise is included in the London Pass and the London Explorer Pass, but unfortunately the ticket for the London Eye is not.

If you are sure you want to do both activities and do not plan to purchase a tourist card, the best way to save a little money is to buy combined tickets, as buying them separately is more expensive.

One of the advantages of purchasing a combined ticket for a Thames cruise and the London Eye is that you can plan each activity as you wish, meaning you don't have to rush through them on the same day, but can choose the day and time for each attraction separately.

For example, if you purchase a combined ticket on the London Eye website, the first thing you need to do is select the date and time you would like to take the Thames River Cruise. Once you have made your booking, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to book your visit to the other attraction (the London Eye) in advance.

When you purchase the combined ticket, please note that you cannot change the date and time of the first activity (the Thames cruise), but you can edit the details of your visit to the other attraction up to five times before the original date selected.

A Thames cruise or a ride on the London Eye are two of the most interesting things you can do in London.

Thames cruise

• During the cruise, you will enjoy a moment of peace and a very relaxing ride, feeling the breeze and the sun on your face.
• You will see some of London's most beautiful monuments located near the riverbank, such as Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, London Bridge, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and The Shard viewing platform, among others.
• You will have the opportunity to enjoy the London skyline from a different perspective.
• You'll get some impressive souvenir photos.
• If at the end of the cruise you are left wanting more because you had such a great time, you can always come back for a dinner cruise on the Thames, a totally different experience that complements the previous one, as you will be able to see the Thames at night and enjoy an elegant evening with dinner and live music.

Ride the London Eye

• It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, standing over 130 metres high.
• It is famous for its spectacular panoramic views, where on a clear day you can see up to 40 kilometres away.
• Its structure is in constant motion, allowing you to contemplate the London skyline from a very original and different perspective than we are used to.
• At the highest point of the London Eye, you will have the opportunity to see the city from a bird's eye view and capture beautiful monuments such as the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben, the great dome of St Paul's Cathedral and the City of London, Westminster Bridge and the Fenchurch Building, among others.
• If you have a flexible schedule for seeing the London Eye, go up the Ferris wheel at sunset, because it is one of the most beautiful views from the London Eye. The phenomenon varies depending on the month, so if you decide to go up at that time, I advise you to check when sunset is in London beforehand.

The London Eye is located on the south bank of the River Thames, opposite the Palace of Westminster. The ticket offices are inside County Hall, the building next to the wheel. And the London Eye pier (Waterloo) is next to the wheel. You can easily walk from one place to the other.

To get to the London Eye, take the Jubilee line underground and get off at Waterloo station, which is the closest to the attraction.

If you fancy eating in the vicinity of the London Eye and its pier, don't miss these suggestions:

• St Stephen's Tavern: A British pub where you can try the best traditional local cuisine. Interestingly, prime ministers such as Churchill and Macmillann used to eat here.
• La Cucina Di Mamma: A good Italian restaurant to eat at near the London Eye. The Piccante and Four Cheese pizzas are out of this world.
• Pret a Manger: Ideal for breakfast if you're visiting the Ferris wheel early. You can eat there or order takeaway. The breakfast rolls and classic British porridge are two of their specialities.

Check out the post on places to eat near the London Eye if you'd like to stay and eat in the vicinity.

Tips for visiting the London Eye

• The best time to ride the London Eye is early in the morning as soon as it opens, but if you have other plans for the morning, another good time is around 3 p.m., when there are fewer people.
• The London Eye is most crowded on weekends and public holidays. It's best to go on a weekday to avoid the queues.
• The views from the London Eye capsules are stunning, but if you want to take the best photo of the wheel outdoors, go to the Golden Jubilee Bridge.
• Go up the London Eye at night to see the city lit up in all its splendour. It's a magical feeling!

Tips for taking a cruise on the Thames

• Be punctual. The boat leaves on time (never better said!) and doesn't wait for anyone. Arrive early and take the opportunity to explore the area a little before boarding.
• Wrap up warm, especially if you're taking the cruise during the London winter. London can get very cold when temperatures are low, and if you're going to be on deck, it's best to wear warm clothing.
• Bring some medicine for seasickness to take before boarding in case the rocking of the water makes you feel ill. This way, you will enjoy the experience much more.
• Do not lean too farover the ship'srailing and keep a safe distance as a precaution.
• Remember to bring a fully charged camera battery so you can take photos and videos during the trip.