Above: The London Eye

For the past destinations, we have been showcasing the historical attractions of London: the British Museum, National Gallery, and Natural History Museum.

This time, we move forward to the present - with a man made structure that is definitely rare and world class. The city’s only observation wheel and an attraction that simply cannot be missed.

#6 London Eye

Also known as the Millennium Wheel, the London Eye (pictured above: taken during a winter night in April of 2006) is currently the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe – having a height of 135 meters (or 443 feet). Needless to say, it is the most imposing structure in the whole of London.

It has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK and is being visited by an average of over 3 million people each year. By July of 2002, barely a year and a half from its opening, the London Eye has already been ridden by approximately 8.5 million people.

Since it was a structure built the then forthcoming millennium, the Eye was supposed to be a temporary attraction. In the beginning, the planning permission for the wheel was only five years. But because of the monumental amount of visits it gets, the local council agreed to extend the attraction for 25 more years – after which they will assess as to whether to give it another set of a couple more years or to make the attraction permanent (so there’s no hurry for tourists – you have 20 plus more years to plan a trip!).

When it was erected in 1999, it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the entire globe, surpassing the Ferris wheels of Japan (all in the 120 meter range). In May 2006, the London Eye was surpassed by the Star of Nanchang, located in the city of Nanchang in China - which is at 160 meters in height. Then just this February 11, the Singapore Flyer was built and is now currently the tallest in the world at 165 meters. The Singapore Flyer was developed by The Great Wheel Corporation, which is currently constructing the next two tallest Ferris wheels – the Great Berlin Wheel in Germany which will rise up to 185 meters; and the Great Beijing Wheel in China which will become the tallest ever at 208 meters.

The London Eye is located at the western end of Jubilee Gardens – a public park in South Bank, London. The Jubilee Gardens was created in 1977 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (marking her accession to the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms).

When you come to the London Eye, you can also come and visit the memorial of the British Battalion of the International Brigades from the Spanish Civil War; also in that area are the Shell Centre, the County Hall (in its corner is the ticketing office for the Eye), and the Ministry of Defense. You can also get a ride on the 40 minute circular cruise on the River Thames (departing from the London Eye pier, the ride takes you to the Houses of Parliament, then to the Tower of London and back to the Eye). The wheel is between the Westminster Bridge (the picture below was taken at night from the Westminster Bridge) and Hungerford Bridge.

Above: London Eye from Westminster Bridge

The London Eye was opened by then United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair on the evening of December 31, 1999 to bring in the celebration of the new millennium (that is why it is also known as the Millennium Wheel). Due to technical problems, however, the Eye was opened to the public only on March of the following year.

It is being operated by Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd – the biggest operator of amusement parks and entertainment attractions in Europe. Merlin is also the second largest leisure group worldwide, second only to none other than the Walt Disney Company and its Disneyland resorts. The Eye is still currently sponsored by the British Airways.

To give you a brief background on the ownership, in 2006 the Tussauds Group (owners of the world famous Madame Tussauds waxworks, the Legoland Parks, and various Sealife Centers) bought out the two joint owners of the London Eye, British Airways and the Marks Barfield family (lead architects of the project – the design for the London Eye was actually an entry for a competition to mark the millennium with a structure). In 2007, Merlin Entertainments bought the Tussauds Group therefore getting ownership of all the attractions. British Airways continued its brand association although the logo was dropped beginning this year.

From the London Eye you will get a fantastic view of the entire city of London – together with over 50 more other famous landmarks in and around the area. You can take in all of that within the 30 minute ride - it takes that long for the Eye to make a full revolution!

The total view from the highest point in the Eye is across 40 kilometers on clear days – some are able to clearly see up to the turrets of Windsor Castle (the picture above was taken 40 kilometers away – look at how huge the Eye is still from that distance). The Eye has a total of 32 enclosed glass gondolas (like the one pictured below), with each comfortably carrying up to 25 to 30 people. From inside these gondolas, you can see both sides of the river.

Above: The gondola in London Eye

For those coming to the country fro the first time, the London Eye is a spectacular place to start your tour of London. You can come and have a look of the city from the Eye, and then plan your tour from there – possibly looking at the exact locations to visit from above (picture below shows a gondola at the highest point in the London Eye).

One of the best times to visit the London Eye is during the New Year. Ever since January 1^st of 2005, the Eye has been the focal point of London’s New Year celebrations. A long fireworks display takes place - with fireworks being shot off from the wheel itself. Just make sure you come before the celebration as the Eye is temporarily closed at the beginning of each year for necessary maintenance.

The London Eye organizers also provide for special events. Like for example on Valentines Day – people can rent and have a private gondola all for themselves and have champagne, etc. Also, visitors can rent a gondola for an entire party for birthdays or weddings – as long as you can fit within the limits of the gondola! The organizers will provide the champagne (with canapés or even strawberries) and a waiter to serve a group of up to 20 people.

During these busy times, we recommend pre-booking a timeslot for your ride, as most people will be doing the same. You can do this thru phone or by visiting their website.

The London Eye is open from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm daily during the summer months of June to September; 10.00 am to 8.00 pm daily during the winter months of October to May.

Entry fee for adults is 15 pounds, half of that for children at 7.50, and for senior or concession visitors the entry fee is 12 pounds each. Kids under 5 years of age get to ride for free. If you come as a group of 15 or more, you get a 10% discount for both the London Eye and the river cruise.

The complete address for the Eye is Westminster Bridge Road, County Hall, Riverside Building, London SE1 7PB with telephone number 0870 5000600. you can reach it by tube on Waterloo. Here’s a road map you can follow for directions by road: