Tickets for London Eye

[HappyHome]

Hi,
We are staying in London for a few days at Easter and would like to go on the London Eye. Just wondered where is the best place to buy tickets from as I have just googled it and there seem to be alot of places online offering different deals.
Also could anyone recommend somewhere to eat nearby? Thanks for any suggestions.

buyagift.com (I think - we got Legopland ones on there) or the main website. Definately book - don't just turn up!

There are quite a few places to eat just up the river on the same side. Head for the SouthBank centre - you have Wagamama, Pizza Express, Strada and a few other places. There is also a Gourmet Pizza on Gabriels Wharf (just beyond the southbank, before you get to the OXO tower). It is a nice walk along the river, you can get up to Tate Modern (also has some nice places to eat there) before going over the Wobbly Millennium Bridge to St Pauls and the City.

There are several restaurants along the Southbank between County Hall, National Theatre and Bankside(Wagamamas, Giraffe etc). We just paid on spec at the booking office by the Eye, cost about £45 for 2+2. It is only really worth doing if the day is clear.

I agree you should wait and turn up to buy tickets, it's a huge waste of money if it's rainy/ foggy. You shouldn't have much of a wait really.

I like the BFI cafe, the benches outside are nice on a sunny day, or as mentioned there are loads of the usual chains, Giraffe is pretty good for children.

But if you go at weekend or over holidays the queue can be really really long!

We went on it at half term and waited max. 15 minutes !

Really? We went one Saturday (yes I know!!!) and the queue was out of the door.

Thanks for all your help. Its been a long time since I've been to London (15 years to be precise! )so any advice is gratefully received!

We waited just a few minutes in half term week too!

We are hoping to go on Good Friday, then do the Science Museum on Saturday - anyone got any other suggestions for entertaining a 9yr boy while we are there?

The old operating museum and Garret is macabre but really interesting.

A boat trip up the Thames to Greenwich, then visit the Maritime museum and the Observatory (and fab parkland, markets etc) A return is quite cheap especially if you have a travelcard.

Little Venice is fab too, they always have events over bank holidays. Canal boats with museums inside, bbq's, stalls etc.