London Eye: Is The River Cruise & Standard Ticket Worth It? [2025 Review]

So, thinking about visiting the London Eye and doing that river cruise add-on ticket thing, are you? I totally get it. You might be searching for how to cram in as much of London’s finest landmarks in a short trip as possible. The London Eye and a river cruise along the Thames? I mean, it sounds lovely. Is that the right choice, though? This is a fresh look at what you can expect, including whether the combo deal is a good bang for your buck.

What Does the London Eye River Cruise and Standard Ticket Offer?

That, you see, this deal hooks you up with two pretty big London experiences. It gets you a spin on the London Eye itself and a leisurely sightseeing cruise on the Thames. The big wheel gives you panoramic city views, you know, and the boat bit lets you view many different, famous landmarks from the waterway, giving you that great second perspective.

What the London Eye Part Gives You:

A standard ticket on the London Eye, that, by the way, gets you one rotation in a capsule.
Amazing views of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, plus Buckingham Palace and more. I’m telling you.
Entry to the 4D Cinema Experience before you ride. Which, yeah, it’s a neat way to get your engines revved for what’s coming.

What the River Cruise Tosses In:

A roughly 40-minute circular cruise on the Thames. I think you should do it, if possible.
Sights such as the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe, and also, that big modern guy, the Shard.
Live commentary providing background. This could be quite cool facts, and, too it’s pointing out the important bits, even.

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Is It A Reasonable Deal For The Money?

Right, so, let’s break this down so you understand the finance, okay? Tickets for big tourist hotspots such as these can vary pretty noticeably. Factors such as the season (peak times such as summer or holidays generally means pricier tickets), time of day (later rides on the Eye at sundown? More likely to lighten your wallet), and how far in advance you book (early bird catches the discount, sometimes!) do play a part.

Now, to help, let’s consider a quick comparison. Getting tickets to both separately will almost always be dearer than going with the combo. And those package deals do tend to offer a discount. But I believe it is important that you need to want to do both to see any genuine savings. if one part of the duo has limited appeal, then you are likely to lose money. And you’ll spend time on an experience you did not really desire. You should definitely mull it over.

For Example (Prices accurate as of late 2025, but very much are likely to vary)

Standard London Eye Ticket: around £36 if you book in advance online. That sounds fair, eh?
Thames River Cruise: Similar cruises run about £22-£28, give or take. Pretty much around that region.
Combo Ticket: With a package you could be seeing deals as low as £50-£60, basically, dependent on the offers at that time.

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Making the Most of Your Combined Visit

Right, the organization could be so important to getting maximum reward. This could make all the difference, you know. Here are some tips to ramp your day up a gear, basically:

Pre-Book. Pre-Book. You Must Pre-Book!: Buying tickets online in advance, very much can dodge some queues, too it’s probably getting a somewhat better deal, basically. Select a time slot, basically, for the Eye, especially, that makes things run more silky smooth.
Hit That Early Timeslot: If at all possible, try for an earlier time, specifically on the Eye. Very often it will be fewer people at that hour, and you, like your, snapshots won’t include quite so many tourist heads, obviously.
Cruise Timing Matters: Very many cruises leave from near the London Eye. Try to slip that cruise in either right before or directly after your revolution. Keep in mind traveling time if it departs elsewhere, actually.
What About Food?: Eat before you go! Even if just to eat something small, anyway. Food choice in the immediate location could be seen to be rather inflated, pretty much. Save some cash for later treats and a pint down the pub, kind of?

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Other Cool Stuff Close By

You see, you are plum in the middle of things in this location, in fact. After the Eye and a float along the river, this location hands you options aplenty. Here are ideas to perhaps expand your outing, kind of.

Houses of Parliament and Big Ben: Quite a stroll to the iconic Big Ben. You might get photos and think about soaking up some Brit history.
Westminster Abbey: It may well be worth it to nip to the Abbey, is that right? Explore this magnificent church steeped in historical past.
Southbank Centre: It is nearly worth your time taking in the Southbank Centre. They quite often have shows, street food and happenings going on down there, I believe.
Walks Along the Thames: Actually, wander at your pace. Enjoy some London atmosphere and a bit of people watching down by the waterway.

Read our full review: london eye river cruise Full Review and Details