London Eye is one of the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom. Located on the south wave of the River Thames, the London Eye is 135 meters cantilevered observation wheel which offers the highest public viewing point in London. Almost 4 million tourists visit the London eye manually.
Let’s have a look at the history of this iconic structure in London.
1. The London Eye was opened on 31 December 1999 by Prime Minister Tony Blair. It was not opened for the public because there was a capsule clutch problem in the wheel. It was first opened to the paying public on March 9, 2000.
2. It was intended on five-year ease with temporary attraction.
3. It was the world’s highest Ferris wheel in 2000 with a height of 135 meters and a diameter of 120 meters. Its height was surpassed in 2006 by the 160-meter (525 ft) Star of Nanchang, In 2008 by the 165-meter (541 ft) Singapore Flyer, and in 2014 by the 167-meter-tall (547.9 ft) Las Vegas High Roller.
4. It was the highest public viewing point in London till 2013 when 245-meter-high observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard was opened to the public.
5. The London Eye was designed by David Marks and her wife Julia Barfield of Marks Barfield Architects in 1993.
6. There are 32 capsules in the wheel which are the symbols of London’s 32 boroughs and are numbered 1 to 33, eliminating the no. 13 for good luck. Visitors can see the famous landmarks of London from the 443 feet high from cantilevered observation wheel.
7. The London Eye attracts more than 15,000 visitors a day and won more than 40 awards for the contribution in London Tourism and architectural landscape.
So, be ready to visit the most popular attraction site in London.