Jane's Midlife Journey

On the sea front overlooking the pier is Bournemouth Big Wheel; an observation wheel standing over 100 feet tall. Ride the wheel for a bird’s eye view of Bournemouth on one side and the beach and coastline on the other. There’s been a big wheel on the pier for almost a decade, but new since 2024 – fully enclosed pods for added comfort, visibility and safety.

How to get to the Big Wheel

The wheel is well placed for observing Bournemouth; located on Pier Approach with the sea (and pier, of course) on one side and the gardens on the other – a short walk either from the beach or the town centre.

Opening Times

Bournemouth Big Wheel usually operates daily from 10 am.

Price

A ride costs £8 for adults. One ride usually consists of two rotations and lasts approximately 8-10 minutes.

Details

Before I rode the wheel last summer, I hadn’t been on a Ferris wheel in 20 years. The last time was in a fairground in Lahore, Pakistan and it did not go well. It was really hot and the fair was almost deserted, but my girls really wanted to go on it, so we did. Once the ride set off, the operator promptly fell asleep. So we went round. And round. And round. Every time we reached the bottom, we shouted and waved at the operator, but he wouldn’t wake. It was both hilarious and terrifying in equal measures.

Back to the present, and it’s bang on 10 am when I arrive, so I am the first (and only) passenger. I pay my £8 and attempt to board. The capsule is quite high off the ground and there is no hand rail, plus it rotates as you attempt to climb in. This causes me to miss my step and hit my leg on the side, which hurts. I give up on mounting with any semblance of dignity and just crawl in on my hands and knees.

Apart from the bruise on my leg, and the dangling backwards, I quite enjoy my little ride and get a lovely bird’s eye view of the bay, pier, town and gardens. Not, however, as great a photo op as I’d hoped, because reflections from the glass are visible in photographs.

In addition, I can’t help thinking that £8 for 8 minutes is £1 a minute, which is a lot of money to pootle round in two small circles. Especially as nobody else boards during my ride, so two rotations takes rather less than 8 minutes. The operator obviously concurs, because he sends the wheel round a third time. Now I love to get my money’s worth, but an extra spin causes flashbacks to Lahore, and a part of me starts to panic that I’m never going to get off!

However, a couple of minutes later, I’m back at the bottom wondering if there’s any possibility of alighting with dignity. Apparently not! Although I quite enjoyed my ride and bird’s eye view of Bournemouth, I can think of better ways to spend £8, so from now on I’ll leave it to the tourists…

The Big Wheel is particularly striking at Christmas, when it becomes part of Bournemouth’s Christmas Tree Wonderland.

Note: There has been an observation wheel in Bournemouth since 2016, but not always the same one. I took my trip on the Big Wheel in 2023, so some photographs (with the coloured capsules) are not of the current wheel.

Observation Wheel for Children

The wheel is suitable for all the family (as long as they are able to climb/be lifted into the capsule). A children’s ride costs £6 or you can purchase a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) for £25.

• Updated: October 2025

I hope you found this information useful. For more inspiration on things to do in and around Bournemouth, check out my other ideas for ‘101 Things to do in Bournemouth’ here.