The London Eye Will Celebrate Star Wars Day With a Dazzling Light Show

The force is with London … or rather the fourth. In celebration of Star Wars Day on May 4, the British capital’s iconic observation wheel, the 443-foot-tall London Eye, will light up with an unprecedented light show celebrating the sci-fi fantasy franchise.

“London may not be a galaxy far, far away, but Darth Vader and Stormtroopers visiting the London Eye certainly cements London’s celebrations this May the 4th,” Imran Tauqir, lastminute.com London Eye’s general manager, said in a release shared with Travel + Leisure.  

The nighttime spectacle will kick off at 7:45 p.m. London time and run all through the nighttime hours until 6 a.m. the following day. The Thames River-front wheel will glow in a red, silver, and black theme, inspired by the dark side, as well as the lightsaber colors from Sith Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and Emperor Palpatine.

“Whilst the Eye hosts thousands of guests every day, we hope all fans in London and abroad this Star Wars Day find their inner Force and enjoy witnessing the illumination inspired by the villains of the Star Wars galaxy,” Tauqir said.

Also in celebration of the annual holiday. “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” will be back in theaters for its 25th anniversary through May 9 in select theaters in the U.S., as well as in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom through May 9. The screenings will feature an exclusive look at the Disney+ series “The Acolyte,” premiering in June. 

This isn’t the first time the London Eye has played host to a pop culture spectacle. In 2021, the entire wheel was transformed into Captain America’s Shield. Last year, the wheel donned pink for the “Barbie” movie and blue for Doctor Who’s Christmas special. 

The London Eye has honored holidays with various colors like green for Eid last month and red for Lunar New Year. It even showed its royal pride by dousing itself in red, white, and blue in April 2018 to welcome the birth of Prince Louis.