Explore Family Fun at London Eye and Tower Bridge

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes.

Embark on an unforgettable adventure through London with your family. This guide highlights the best of the London Eye and Tower Bridge, ensuring a day filled with breathtaking views, exciting attractions, and delicious dining options. Start your journey from a central and welcoming base at The Cumberland Hotel, located just moments from iconic landmarks. Discover essential tips for booking tickets, navigating the South Bank, and exploring nearby family-friendly experiences. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning for more, we’ve covered everything you need for a seamless family day out in the heart of London.

Table of Contents:

• Why base your London adventure at The Cumberland
• The ultimate family day: London Eye essentials
• What to know before booking your London Eye tickets
• Making the most of your day on the South Bank
• Going inside Tower Bridge: practical tips for families
• Unmissable nearby experiences – kid-approved
• Where to eat with the family near the London Eye and Tower Bridge
• Combining river cruises with your landmark adventure
• Making it work: sample itineraries for a seamless day
• Taking a piece of musical London home – why stay at The Cumberland
• FAQs for families visiting the London Eye and Tower Bridge

Why base your London adventure at The Cumberland

We’re The Cumberland Hotel London – a confident, music-inspired Central London Hotel with the River Thames, London Eye England, and Tower Bridge all within easy reach. Families choose us not only because we’re right by the action, but because we know the rhythm of the city inside out. Whether you’re here for family fun or a business trip with a side of exploration, you’ll want a hotel that’s central, connected, and genuinely welcoming.

Situated moments from Marble Arch and Hyde Park, The Cumberland Hotel puts you right in the centre of the capital’s buzz. Looking for well-connected hotels in Central London? We’ve got that sorted – Oxford Street’s shopping, the city’s legendary music scene, and easy tube access to the South Bank and London Bridge.

We’re more than a convenient bed for the night. Need tickets booked, family-friendly advice, or somewhere to drop your day bags while you conquer London Eye and Tower Bridge? Just ask our team. We’ll point you towards the best times to visit, restaurants with a side of local atmosphere, and even detours only locals talk about.

The ultimate family day: London Eye essentials

The London Eye is a must for families seeing the city for the first or fiftieth time. Why? Picture this: panoramic views of Big Ben, the Shard, and even Wembley Stadium on a clear day, all from a gentle, thirty-minute loop inside an air-conditioned capsule. Every ride feels like you’re seeing London for the first time, even if you call this city home.

What makes the London Eye England especially good for families:

• Each capsule is fully enclosed (great for kids who like to wander).
• Pushchairs are welcome; step-free access is a given.
• Discounted family tickets, with children under three riding free.
• Fast Track London Eye tickets are available if you want to dodge the queues, especially on weekends or during school holidays.
• The Golden Carousel next door is a true treat for younger ones who need a break from sightseeing.

What other experts say: You can get a detailed rundown of the London Eye from Visit London, including current opening hours and booking details. For ticket information and themed ride options, the official London Eye site is your next stop.

What to know before booking your London Eye tickets

Book ahead – especially during weekends or half-term. Standard London Eye tickets are flexible, but Fast Track options are brilliant for families (and anyone who dislikes standing in long lines). If you’re visiting over a bank holiday, book two to three weeks in advance.

The capsules are spacious and rarely feel cramped, even when it’s busy. There’s always a London Eye staff member on hand to help, so don’t worry if it’s your child’s first big city outing.

Top takeaways:

• Family combos (2 adults + 2 kids) save up to 30 percent over individual tickets.
• The London Eye opens around 11:00, with last admission close to sunset—the city looks different at every hour, but golden hour is stunning.
• Arrive at least 20 minutes before your time slot. Even Fast Track ticket holders need a few minutes for bag checks and boarding.
• Grab a downloadable map from the London Eye website and point out the landmarks as you circle the skyline. It’s educational, but feels like an adventure.

Making the most of your day on the South Bank

With the London Eye at your back, you’re steps from the South Bank – home to the type of family hangouts London does best.

Here’s how to use your time:

• Golden Carousel: Families with younger children swear by a ride – it’s cheap, cheerful, and right next to the Eye, feeding that classic London nostalgia.
• SEA LIFE London Aquarium: Got budding marine explorers? This aquarium has penguins, sharks, and turtles across themed zones and is ideal for filling a gap before or after your flight on the Eye.
• The London Dungeon: Not for the faint-hearted, but for families with teens or adventurous tweens, the Dungeon’s live actors and spooky sets are a fun way to dip into the city’s shadowy past.
• Shrek’s Adventure! London: Themed after everyone’s favourite ogre, this 4D immersive journey is packed with laughs, games, and interactive scenes. Pre-book tickets to avoid disappointment.

You can find detailed walk-throughs for each of these at yTravelBlog’s handy guide to South Bank days out. Or, for parents planning multi-attraction adventures, Little Kid Big City has great real-world tips for doing the London Eye with children.

Going inside Tower Bridge: practical tips for families

Tower Bridge isn’t just London’s most photogenic structure – it’s a hands-on, family-friendly experience with brains, history, and impressive views. Start with the Victorian engine rooms and learn exactly how London’s grandest bridge moves. Then take your time across the high-level walkways, complete with glass floors that challenge even the bravest kids to look down at the Thames.

Booking ahead is the way to go again, as time slots can fill up during school holidays, especially if there are special exhibitions on.

Highlights for families:

• Fun, interactive exhibits on bridge mechanics, history, and art.
• Glass-floored walkways 42 metres above the river – not as scary as they sound, but unforgettable for kids.
• Excellent family trails, quizzes, and downloadable activity packs on the venue site.

Find even more insider angles on Time Out’s Tower Bridge overview, or check the latest tickets and accessibility tips directly at the official Tower Bridge website.

Unmissable nearby experiences – kid-approved

Once you’ve conquered London Eye and gone inside Tower Bridge, there’s plenty left within a short walk, tube, or river cruise.

Here’s what to save time for:

• The Clink Prison Museum: This hands-on attraction lets all ages (especially older children) step into London’s gritty jailhouse history. Interactive displays and atmospheric cells make learning the city’s past genuinely fun.
• Borough Market: Pair learning with eating. Borough Market’s world foods – pies, vegan treats, cheeses, and yes, a perfect doughnut – mean even the fussiest eaters find new favourites. Ideal if you’re coming off Tower Bridge and need to refuel.
• Shakespeare’s Globe: If the weather’s fine and the kids can sit still, try a short performance or a family workshop at this riverside replica of the Bard’s theatre. Even just peeking from outside sparks imaginations.

A roundup of these, including what’s walkable and when each is open, can be found via GetYourGuide’s list of local family activities.

Where to eat with the family near the London Eye and Tower Bridge

Need somewhere to refuel after all that city adventuring? Good news – Central London spoils you for choice.

South Bank Choices:

• Giraffe: An upbeat world food spot with colouring sheets and a kids’ menu, steps from the London Eye.
• Wahaca: Kid-friendly Mexican, roomy tables, and ever-changing small plates.
• Honest Burgers: For great burgers with homemade rosemary chips – a hit with families who want something familiar.

Borough Market Picks:

• Bread Ahead Bakery: Insta-worthy doughnuts worth every crumb.
• Ethiopian Flavours: For the adventurous, platters to share with injera and stews both adults and kids will devour.

Near Tower Bridge:

• The Ivy Tower Bridge: Upmarket, but weekday lunches run family packages and come with a children’s menu.
• Rosa’s Thai Cafe: Easy-going, flavour-packed Thai food with plenty of space.

Pack snacks too, especially with little ones or for late-afternoon energy lulls. South Bank’s riverside benches make a great makeshift picnic spot.

Combining river cruises with your landmark adventure

A River Thames sightseeing cruise is the unsung hero of the classic London family adventure. Why rush from the London Eye to Tower Bridge on the tube when the river glides you between the two – with front-row views of St Paul’s, Westminster, and the city skyline?

What you get with most family Thames cruises:

• Open-air and covered seating (for all British weather forecasts).
• Live or recorded commentary that actually entertains children (no droning voices).
• Flexible hop-on, hop-off tickets so you can make a spontaneous stop at the Tower of London or Greenwich.

There’s plenty to choose from, but City Cruises is always mentioned in top family guides for Thames cruises. If you need a short ride, pick a Westminster–Tower Pier route. For a longer day out, nab a family ticket and stay on for the ride to Greenwich.

Making it work: sample itineraries for a seamless day

You’ve got options – here’s how to stitch them together for maximum fun and minimal stress.

Option 1: All in the Family (Younger Children)

• Morning at the London Eye (pre-book Fast Track).
• 20–40 minutes on the Golden Carousel (right beside the Eye).
• Lunch on South Bank (try Giraffe or Borough Market).
• Early afternoon at Shrek’s Adventure or SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
• Slow walk towards Tower Bridge, crossing through Borough Market for a treat.
• Finish at Tower Bridge, book an off-peak time slot inside to avoid crowds.

Option 2: Big Kids and Teenagers

• Late-morning cruise from Westminster Pier to Tower Pier (commentary plus city views).
• Go inside Tower Bridge for the high walkways and engine rooms.
• Grab snacks at Borough Market, then head back along the river.
• Ride the London Eye for city views at sunset.
• Older children in tow? Swap Shrek’s Adventure for the London Dungeon.

Option 3: Mix and Match Local

• Begin at Tower Bridge – high up for the best city photos before crowds.
• Walk along the river to Shakespeare’s Globe or the Clink Prison Museum.
• Lunch at Borough Market – street food or traditional British pies.
• Cruise back to the London Eye for mid-afternoon or sunset.

A day spent between the London Eye England and Tower Bridge is big – and you’ll want a Central London Hotel that knows the city’s soundtrack as well as its skyline. At The Cumberland Hotel, everything is on your doorstep, from Oxford Street’s pulse to hidden music haunts and—most importantly—simple, direct connections to the South Bank and Tower Bridge.

We’re more than just hotels in Central London; The Cumberland offers spacious family rooms, a choice of onsite restaurants (perfect for unloading after a busy day), and bold, music-inspired design that adds something extra to your trip. Whether you’re a local making the most of a staycation or flying in for a first taste of London’s icons, let our team sort the details. From London Eye Tickets and skip-the-line museum bookings to genuine local recommendations, consider us your trusted guide to the capital.