London Eye - Daredevil DD

[velochic]

We'll be in London for about a week in September. Dd is 5 years old and a serious daredevil. She loves roller coasters, has been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and likes anything fast. I was wondering if anyone had done the 30 minute London Eye ride and if it would be too much for a 5 year old.

[orangefoot]

If she can wait patiently in a quick moving line for about half an hour before you get on the thing you'll be fine! It isn't a thrilling ride in the sense of a roller coaster but it is amazing. There is so much to see and if you are in the pod with any Londoners they will tell you the names of what you can see - like The Gherkin, the BT tower and the different church spires.

The wheel turns very slowly and does not stop turning to let people on and off so even though there is a queue people are getting on all the time so you do move along quite quickly.

From the website

SLOWLY BUT SURELY:
Each rotation takes 30 mins, meaning a capsule travels at a stately 26cm per second, or 0.9km (0.6 miles) per hour - twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting; allowing passengers to step on and off without the wheel having to stop.

http://www.londoneye.com/home.aspx

Once you get on she will be able to press her face to the glass or lie on the floor and look down through the edge of the pod if she wants and that won't be a problem. You can get your picture taken in the pod and buy a copy to take home.

My boys loved it when we went but dh hates heights and was a rather unwilling passenger although he is proud to say he's been on it now!

[velochic]

Thanks. I realized that it was slow-moving for sight-seeing. I was mostly worried about the height. I think we'll try it. Last time we were there, she wanted to do it, but at 3 years old, I figured she would be too young and get bored.