The London Eye & River Cruise: The Most Scenic Part of London

Hi, my name is Mark. I’m a big guy exploring a bigger world. This is the start of my travel blog, and I want to invite you on my journey of discovering new places while navigating life during a global pandemic. Plus, I’ll be sharing my experience traveling as a bigger guy during the COVID-19 pandemic. My goal is to inspire you to try new things no matter your shape or size and to ignite passion in you to see the world and all it has to offer. There are so many sites, cultures, and histories to learn from and experience, and I hope you will join me for the ride. First stop, the London Eye and River Cruise!

The London Eye

We are in London, England. I couldn’t have picked a better place to begin my journey of exploring the world. The vibrant colors, fun activities, and scenic atmosphere will make you come alive! It’s always been a dream of mine to come here and visit the London Eye.

As seen above, the London Eye is a major attraction in this area. The London Eye is located on the Thames River, which offers a sight-seeing River Cruise. This attraction is a 40-minute riverboat cruise that will take you through the heart of London. You will see many famous landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tate Modern, Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the Tower Bridge. They offer tickets for the riverboat cruise and the London Eye, as well as a bundle package that includes both.

The attractions are fairly easy to access. The Ferris wheel conveniently has large steel carts to ride in, and I did not feel uncomfortable climbing aboard or sitting in them for the duration of the ride. If you are of a bigger build, like me, I would highly recommend these attractions. 

Thames River is a very famous site used as a filming location for a lot of movies. Transformers, Spiderman, London has Fallen, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Independence Day: Resurgence, Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Strangers Tides, Now You See Me 2, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 all had scenes filmed at the Thames River. Pretty cool, right? I mean, if you think about it, this is the perfect filming location for exciting boat chases, riverside restaurants, pirate breakaways, and wizards on a nighttime flight! Also, another cool feature about the location is that Big Ben is located directly across from the river. Big Ben is the most famous clock tower in the world, making it another popular location for tourists to visit while in London. It is such a notable landmark due to its rich history and beautiful architecture. Definitely a must-see!

COVID-19

I wanted to travel and explore the world this year, but I knew I would face many changes and challenges along the way. However, I started this journey with the expectation of new travel policies, and that mindset made all the difference. I thought I would share some of my experiences and observations with you about traveling during a global pandemic.

First of all, the area around the London Eye is usually packed. It is a popular site for both locals and tourists. However, while I was there, there weren’t many people out at all and the area was very bare. This may be a positive thing for a lot of people because you can avoid the crowds and get a better view of some of the landmarks. However, for the social butterfly who loves to meet new people on their travels, this may be a bummer. 

Let’s talk masks. From what I saw, the majority of people walking around did not have masks on even though we were supposed to wear them. However, I will say that they get points for cleanliness. Attendants were cleaning each cart on the Ferris wheel before each individual or group boarded, and they only allowed people to ride every other cart to allow for proper social distancing. I appreciated their attention to detail, especially during the pandemic. It was encouraging to see their dedication to sanitary standards.

Should You Go?

I would highly recommend this travel location. London is great for individuals, friend groups, and families. There is truly something to do here for any and all ages. I can promise you won’t be bored. I also found that the attractions at this location were comfortable for me as a big guy. So, if you are of similar stature, I encourage you to check out all that the city has to offer!

Now, is it better to wait until after we are through the pandemic? Well, honestly that is entirely up to you. It depends on what you think is best for you and your family. From my experience, I am still going to travel and see the world, but in the safest way possible. As I said, I’m just a big guy in a bigger world, wanting to experience all that it has to offer. I am looking forward to continuing this journey, discovering new places and cultures, and sharing my stories with you!