Otter Expedition: London Eye

By far my favorite activity in London is the Coca Cola London Eye.

There’s something so peaceful about it. The air-conditioned capsules rotate incredibly slow (0.6mph- twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting) and you get the most breathtaking view of London. It’s right across the river from Big Ben and Parliament, but on a clear day like the one we had, you can see all the way to Windsor Castle. One whole rotation takes about 30 min. I would suggest timing it around sunset, if you can. The pink/orange sky is so beautiful.

The Eye was in erected in 2000, and has seen 70 million visitors since then. Couples get married on it, they shoot off fireworks from it… Mary Poppins was even spotted standing on top of it a few weeks back when her movie came out. What started as a celebration of the new millennium has become an integral part of the London skyline.

My favorite part of the London Eye though, are all of the specialty capsules you can book. Our first day in London, we were taken on a Champagne rotation. It’s exactly what it sounds like. They wheel a bar cart onto your capsule so you can drink and toast while you take in the view. On our second day, we did a rotation with a chocolatier from Hotel Chocolat (a well known English chocolate company). We drank more champagne, and got a crash course in all things chocolate. It was pretty decadent and made the whole trip that much more special.

The skies the limit though with what they can book. You can throw a private party, a full dinner, or even a wedding inside a capsule. Afterwards, you can book one of their private charters down the river Thames. Talk about a perfect night!

If you’re heading to London anytime soon, or if you live in London and haven’t been yet, check out all the London Eye packages here.