After 7 years, I finally experienced the breathtaking views from one of the London Eye’s iconic capsules! Don’t wait as long as I did to discover this must-see landmark in London. From the stunning vistas of the Thames to iconic sights like Big Ben and the Parliament, the experience is truly unforgettable.
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The London Eye: one of London’s most iconic landmarks!
The London Eye, everyone knows it, right?
This well-known London Ferris wheel is located on the South Bank of the River Thames. An icon in the London skyline that has always been a popular attraction among the tourists (and early easily accessible due to long queues) … and Londoners too.
The reason for the slowness in my discovering of the attraction was primarily due to its expensive price. My suggestion would be to explore bundle tickets, which often offer special prices for two or more iconic attractions (like Mme Tussauds, Tower Bridge …).
How much do you know about The London Eye? Let me give you a few facts…:-)
It stands at a height of 443 feet (135 meters). Built in 1999, it held the title of the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, but it is now the fourth tallest Ferris wheel in the world after Las Vegas’s High Roller (168 metres), the Singapore Flyer (165 metres), and the Star of Nanchang (158 metres) in China.
It was conceived following a project submission by two architects in 1993 for a competition sponsored by The Sunday Times and Great Britain’s Architecture Foundation. The goal was to erect a new landmark in London to commemorate the millennium. Funnily enough, no winner was declared during the competition, but the architects undertook the development of the project themselves and found the site where the wheel now stands!
What’s more interesting is that it was originally scheduled to be dismantled after five years. In the end, it was kept in place because of its enduring popularity.
The London Eye features 32 “capsules” (the cabins designed to carry passengers). This number symbolically represents the 32 boroughs comprising Greater London, in addition to the City of London.
I was quite intrigued at first by the pace of The London Eye. In fact, the wheel rotates at a very slow pace to allow passengers to board and disembark seamlessly (doing so, it completes two revolutions per hour).
Once inside (being so focused on taking as many pictures as I could), time actually seemed to fly by … I found myself enjoying the experience so much that I would have gladly taken another round!
Stunning views from The London Eye
It’s undeniably an exceptional way to discover London, with a panoramic 360-degree view of the city’s iconic landmarks.
I had the opportunity to enjoy this experience in March, but I would suggest visiting later in the season, ideally from May to October, to fully appreciate the lush greenery and maximum sunlight.
Fun facts about The London Eye
- The London Eye wasn’t the first Ferris wheel of its kind. The Great Wheel predates it. It was constructed in Earl’s Court for the Empire of India Exhibition, and it stood there until 1906 when it was dismantled.
2. Annually, approximately 3.75 million people embark on a journey to experience the London Eye, establishing it as the UK’s most frequented paid tourist attraction (on the other side the British Museum holds the title of the most visited free attraction, with a staggering six million visitors attending each year).
3. As I told you before, The London Eye counts 32 capsules, symbolically representing each of London’s 32 boroughs. However, due to the superstition surrounding the number 13, there is no designated ’13th’ capsule. Instead, the capsules are numbered sequentially from 1 to 12 and then from 14 to 33.
4. Among the 32 capsules, one holds royal significance. On 2 June 2013, a capsule was renamed the Coronation Capsule in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, marking her 60th year on the throne.
I hope you’ve found this post enjoyable and inspiring!
If you’re planning to take a ride on the London Eye soon, I’d love to hear about your experience. Share your thoughts and opinions on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!
To go further:
The London Eye website.
The London Eye, Westminster Bridge Road, London
SE1 7PB
Opening hours: 11am – 6pm
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