"Everyone" says the London Eye is a must. I do not like heights or ferris wheels. I guess I can do this if it is that special. Would anyone who feels the same as I and done this comment about your experience? Thank you!

I enjoyed the Eye, but I have no fear of heights or ferris wheels. If you are that phobic, then I'm not sure this experience is for you. Once you are in that capsule you are stuck there for an hour. Is your phobia so bad that you will have a panic attack? Or will you just be nervous the entire time and not enjoy yourself?

Another way of looking at it is that maybe you could do the Eye and conquer these fears. But without knowing you personally I'm in no position to say what's best. It's your call.

Just a note from my exerience and that is our "flight" was no more than 25 minutes. The ride moves slowly, so there's no comparison to a ferris wheel other than how it looks from afar.

Perhaps my memory is inaccurate, I thought the ride was longer. But in either case, once you're on the Eye, there's no turning back. If riding the Eye doesn't appeal to you, there is no shortage of other things to do in London.

I thought the ride was OK, but I wouldn't call it a must.

I know the feeling -- I HATE ferris wheels and am terrified of heights, but I was fine on the London Eye. Just don't look straight down. Look out at the city and the horizon and you'll be fine. There are benches to sit down if you need to. The wheel goes very slowly and the total ride was around 25-30 minutes. Enjoy.

Thanks to all. P_M I've never had a panic attack...just very twitchy and nervous Leslie, sounds like I can do it. Comments about the best time? Sunset?

Go at the published sunset time or just after. The "flight" itself does take 30 minutes (the boarding line can be another 15 minutes or more). You scarcely have the feeling of movement. They stop the eye every now and then (twice on our flight, I think) to help people who need assistance on boading or disembarking, and I really could hardly tell the difference. The way the pods are attached, they don't swing or rock or anything. Also, because your are fully enclosed it helps with the heights thing. Well, it helped with my heights thing, which only kicks in when I am not enclosed, or don't have something at around waist level to hold onto.

The Eye was lots of fun, the area around it had street performers and ice cream (with flake!) vendors - very festive, and this was early March. I have some pictures from our London trip at http://tinyurl.com/hp3nk. The Eye pictures are towards the beginning as we did it the first day.

One big difference is that you are in a totally enclosed compartment. No fear of falling out! Enjoy!

The Eye was fine, but I wouldn't consider it a must. It certainly isn't be amoung the first few places I recomend.

Keith

I can only share my exp. I felt very confined and the sun was beating down. I loved the first half round then couldn't wait to get out on the secound half - that' just my opinion and i'm sure there are plenty of london eye fans out there.

If you don't like heights, you won't miss anything by skipping the eye. While it is interesting from an engineering point of view, there are plenty of other "down'to earth" things to do in London. Keep in mind that you are in the pod with about 8 other people, and there is a bench where you can sit if you prefer that to standing.

I don't like heights, but I'll be damned if I'll make that change anything I do. I also close my eyes at certain points on ferris wheels, but enjoy other parts.
I can report that the pod is large and see-through, but the floor is opaque, and they allow only a set number of people in the pod, and security is good, so 20 kids won't suddenly jam behind you in the pod. You definitely won't get pushed somewhere you're not comfortable.
The pod moves almost imperceptibly. Certainly even if people ran from one side to the other, they couldn't make it swing or rock, like a standard ferris wheel. Jiggle, maybe.
There is a big bench in the middle, a good distance from the edges of the pod, so you can't see down, just out, unless you're close to the edge of the pod, which is your choice. And there is a wide handrail around the inside edge.
Personally, I love the Eye and feel very comfortable on it, at all phases of its rotation. But if you felt a little nervous, you could sit on the bench, look away from the hub mechanism, and feel very much like you were on the sun porch of a building.
Unless you're severely phobic, I really think you'll be fine. It's worth looking at up close anyway, then judge your comfort level.
Going early, or late, also may mean you could get a pod to yourself, or nearly so.
Personally, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let my silly fear stand in the way of doing a perfectly normal activity that children and old people are doing without a second thought.
Be fearless! The view is gorgeous. Even though I lived in London for years, I see something new every time.

On the other hand, the worst reason to do something is because "everyone" says you must do it. If it sounds appealing, do it. If not, do something you're actually interested in.

Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time.

a couple of comments

- there is no sensation of movement so totally unlike a ferris wheel

(I don't really understand the comment about the sun beating down - if you are uncomfortable with the sun simply move to the other side of the capsule.)

I've been up maybe 4 or 5 times. Once was w/ a friend who is <u>totally</u> height-averse. Hates elevators, ferris wheels etc. He reluctantly joined me because he is a photographer and wanted at least a few pix from up high. He was pretty much scared spitless when we started and he hunkered down on the central bench. But w/i about 3 minutes he was up walking about the capsule, snapping away and completely forgot his fears. He absolutely <b>loved</b> it and immediately after landing he ran into the ticket office to buy tickets so he could take his (also height challenged) wife.

We went as a group from work shortly after it opened. One girl who is scared of heights did not move from the bench in the middle of the capsule throughout the whole flight so for her it wasn't an enjoyable experience. It sounds like it affects people fearful of heights very differently.

As a few have mentioned above, it's not a must-do so if you are a bit nervy about the whole thing then just give it a miss. There's plenty of other things in London to do that'll be far more rewarding.

Yes, it is a must...and it goes around very, very slowly...it stops at one spot to take pictures of people in the pod if they want to stand in a special stop.. If you decide you really can't.. take the riverboat trip down the Thames to Greenwich...that is a must too.. The new buildings/redone warehouses and condos along the Thames. These old and new buildings have brought a new life to the area..

Thank you all so much for the comments! All the detail really helped. Bluehour I do feel as you do about not letting fear stand in the way. In a younger time I went parasailing (can't swim) and was NEVER so terrified but didn't want to regret not doing it. I have also climbed to the top of the cathredral in Cologne. So all in all this should be a piece of cake!

janisj, &quot;scared spitless&quot; I love the phrase!

Hi

When I was in London I visited Westminster Cathedral - http://www.westminstercathedral.org.uk and took an elevator to the top. There is a small enclosed viewing platform where you can get a bird's eye view of the city.

Cheers