London Eye 4D Experience

The London Eye 4D Film Experience started in August 2009 and is included in the London Eye ticket price. It is a fantastic 4D film to entertain you before your trip on the London Eye. The 4D effects are superb and this short film has the only 3D aerial footage of London.

That's right, you buy your ticket for the London Eye and the 4D cinema experience is included. Merlin Entertainments, the London Eye owners, spent £5 million creating the film and bespoke 4D cinema and have decided to simply enhance the value for money offered at the London Eye.

The London Eye is now the The Merlin Entertainments London Eye but as they have been running the attraction for the last few years anyway it seems a fair rebranding. (In London, Merlin Entertainments also run the London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium and Madame Tussauds.)

The 4D Cinema entrance is in the County Hall London Eye Ticket Hall so after buying your ticket go straight to the '4D Experience' where you'll be issued with 3D glasses.

As you may need to wait before entering the cinema, there's a short film before going in about the creation of the London Eye. There are no words as the images explain all.

About 160 visitors will pass through the 4D cinema every 8 minutes so don't worry about waiting as the cinema is more spacious than it first seems.

The bright pink cinema is all standing and is on four levels. The top level is fully accessible for wheelchairs and buggies.

Put on your glasses and enjoy. There are no words and the images are set to the music of Coldplay and Goldfrapp.

The story is about a little girl visiting London with her father and she wants to be higher to get a better view so they come to the London Eye. She loves it and starts imagining what it would be like to see London from a bird's eye view and we're off soaring around the sky with the only 3D aerial footage of London. The bird is a seagull (not a pigeon) and it hovers so you think you could touch it. (Go on, reach out and try!)

We view London from up high and see parties such as the Chinese dragons at Chinese New Year and the fireworks at the London Eye for New Year's Eve. But what makes it 4D?

Oh this is the fun stuff as you're not only watching (in 3D) but all your senses are involved. You see dry ice around your feet when you arrive and that's just the start. When it snows on screen guess what happens? Yes, it snows in the cinema! When the children play with bubbles guess what happens? You got it, there are bubbles in the cinema. And when you watch the fireworks you can really smell them (sorry, no fireworks in the cinema.) It rains on screen and oh my, you can feel it.

Oh wow. For a short film (less than four minutes) before the main attraction you think you've come for, you are going to love this free extra.

I stood there with my mouth wide open at the end as did many others. It's fantastic! It just seems mad that you get splashed (only a little so don't worry) and can feel the wind in your hair.

The effects are Hollywood standard as no expense was spared. And I love the fact the little girl is 'normal' and not a stage school kid. She looks thrilled, and the audience are thrilled for her.

I was lucky enough to try the film three times on the first day and I still want to go back for more!