Alcohol on the London Eye or river cruise
 

I was just wondering if alcohol is allowed on the London Eye or a river cruise. Its my friend's birthday, and I thought it would be fun to surprise her with a champagne toast for her birthday overlooking London. I want to do one of them on the night of her birthday, but i wanted to be able to toast her bday and our London trip.

There have been several recent trip reports where the poster has mentioned smuggling alcohol onto the Eye for a quiet toast.

We walked on the Eye this year, and no one searched my purse, don't see why you couldn't take something with you. There is a bench in the middle of the pod, where you can sit, to do the pouring. At the end of the ride is a camera and they post where to stand to have your photo taken and then you can buy it at the end. You could be holding your toasts for the photo.

Are you still only 19 years old????????

Why is her age relevant, Intrepid?

19 would be entirely legal in the UK, and what's wrong with a glass of champagne? Be careful with the cork, though, and remember you can't choose who's going to be in the cabin with you, unless you book one specially (which is not likely to be cheap).

Eating and drinking are not allowed on the london eye. however, there is no staff on the individual pods so i don't think there is much of a worry. chances are you will have your bag searched but they are looking for bombs not sealed bottles. in UK, the tiny bottles of champagne are screw tops (at least the ones i've seen) so i don't think sharing one of these would cause any fuss. i would not try to drink a proper full sized bottle on the Eye as you only have 20 mins and with the cork, the glasses, etc, it will not be very subtle.

might i suggest an alternative...why not climb to the top of the base of the nelson column in trafalgar sq and enjoy a proper bottle of champagne up there? there you will have more time to enjoy a full sized bottle and can relax with proper glasses and even some tarts or cakes. Yes, there are people climbing all over the base but if you go on the highest level you will not be bothered by any kids running around you. The side of the base facing toward the thames provides great views at sunset...just watching the people and the traffic around the this part of the square is captivating. i have done this many times and it is one of my favourite ways to spend an hour or so.

If you go to the London Eye website - you can book a package that includes champagne. I think you have to do it in avance. It includes fast track boarding.

Walkinaround: Do you know, I live here and I've never done that, but I think that I just might (when we finally get some decent weather!) - sometimes you forget to do that kind of thing in the city where you live. Just need to find someone gorgeous to join me - sigh!!

I've never done it either, mainly because Trafalgar Square for me is just 1000s of teenage tourists, masses of cars/buses/taxis whizzing by and pigeons pooping all over the place. Never struck me as very romantic. Maybe I should give it another chance.

Kate, I know what you mean, but in my romanticised view of the world I'm thinking that by being high above the rest of them, champagne in hand and great company, I might view it in a different light. And at least there are fewer pigeons these days!

We were waiting to go on the London Eye and had forgotten that we had a bottle of wine in our backpack to have with dinner later that evening. All backpacks and purses were searched prior to "boarding." The wine was confiscated, but returned to us after we got off.

thank you guys for your replies... and this may sound pathetic, but being only 19 makes it a little more fun. We cant legally drink at home, we will have just gotten to London, and i think we should celebrate. So i think we may try to sneek a little bottle on. Thanks guys!

If you do decide to take some booze on board, get a little bottle from Marks and Spencer or suchlike. They are about 1/3 the size of the usual bottles and are therefore easier to hide!

As far as the river cruise, I usually take the boat to Greenwich & back, and it has a full bar.

I'm not trying to be a killjoy, but if alcohol is not supposed to be taken on the Eye, why are you so determined to do it anyway? What if you spill the champagne or the cork flies out of your hand and hits somebody? The ride is only 30 minutes--must you really have a drink in hand to enjoy the view? You could just as easily have a drink before or after the trip. There are several nice bars that also give you a view of London that would be a better, more elegant place for a champagne toast than sneaking a drink on an Eye capsule packed with gawking tourists in bumbags and trainers (for example, you could get a nice view of the Houses of Parliament at the Marriott County Hall bar, which is right next to the Eye).

Venice: I fully understand your view that the fact that it's illegal at home but not here makes it more fun - and makes for a better photo when on the Eye! As Nigello says, M&S do small bottles that you should be able to sneak on - and make sure you ask someone to take a photo of both of you together. If you do get searched and they confiscate it then that's a bit of a bummer but you'll be able to get it back afterwards and sit on the river and enjoy it there. (They run champagne 'flights' so I imagine that it's more to do with trying to make money for themselves than it being against the law)

BTilke: Tut tut! Don't you remember what it's like to be young and having the urge to do 'naughty' things?! Lighten up! :-)

you won't get into any trouble and the small bottles from M&S, etc are screw tops anyway so there is no safety issue. you are obviously very keen on doing this so go for it. i'm sure many others have done this and managed not to kill or maime themselves or their fellow passengers. seems like about the most harmless "mischief" that you can get up to in london!

Tallulah et al: Mea culpa. I suppose I've just become tired by the binge drinking culture that so pervades the UK. It's increasingly irritating to run into loud drunks at the bus stop at 4 in the afternoon; to have alcohol-fueled fights break out on the High Street while trying to get the shopping done, ad nauseum. I guess I think of the dry Eye as a refuge from the binging boozers. ;-)
If Venice thinks the best way to toast a friend's birthday is swigging down some cheap second rate screw top champagne in a pod full of rubbernecking tourists, then go for it. It would be far more elegant to celebrate it in a proper bar (with view) or on a river cruise, but to each his own.

What BTilke says is very true. Brits have an increasingly strange relationship with booze, involving drinking more of it in less time. Brits on an Eye trip might roll their eyes at illicit boozing by their fellow voyagers. Smuggling a mouthful Cab Sauv onboard the London Eye for a quick glug does, on second thoughts, sound a bit grubby, especially when you can have a drink in much nicer surrounds once off the Eye.

Nigello: No 'Brit' would 'roll their eyes at illicit boozing' anywhere, particularly at two young women having a great time and drinking champagne on a day out! On the whole we don't give a toss what other people do unless it directly affects us in a negative way, which this in no way would. Live and let live.

Some people will tut and roll their eyes at anything. Most would only get annoyed at people who are so kail-eyed as to shouting and 'making an exhibition of themselves', which I'm sure the OP wouldn't. But maybe it's not worth the hassle. If the weather's nice, try the middle of the Millennium Bridge or Hungerford Bridge.

There is a "Champagne Cruise" available for the London Eye. You first ride the eye, without champagne and immediately following ,board a boat for a lovely ride on the Thames (45 minutes). They serve you a glass of champagne on board. You also get preferred boarding on the Eye, so you do not have to wait in line. This is not an economical way of doing it, but quite nice.

To Ralstonian...Where do you purchase that river cruise and Eye combo package? Is the Eye a walkup ticket booth situation..or reservation/purchase in advance only? Thanks.

to Azwurth-
www.londoneye.com , click on book online, scroll down to either champagne cruise (includes Thames River ride) or champagne flight. All other information you need is on this sight. You can purchase tickets there, but there could be a long wait.