London Eye and the great wheel over the Thames

On the South Bank of the Thames in London, London Eye lifts glass capsules high above the river and the Houses of Parliament. Completed in 1999 and opened to paying visitors in March 2000, it has become a permanent part of the skyline and a familiar outline on the bend of the river.

A giant cantilevered wheel on the South Bank

London Eye stands in the borough of Lambeth, on the riverside next to County Hall, opposite the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. The structure reaches about 135 m (443 ft) above the Thames, with a wheel roughly 120 m (394 ft) in diameter, making it a substantial presence among the mid-rise buildings lining the river.revolving observation wheel

The wheel is mounted on one side only by a steel A-frame leaning out over the water, giving the whole construction the character of a cantilevered observation wheel. At the time of its completion in 1999 it was briefly the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, later surpassed by taller wheels in China and Singapore, but it remains described as one of the highest cantilevered observation wheels built so far.cantilevered observation wheel

Design, capsules and slow rotation

The conceptfor the wheel was developed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield in the 1990s, and the finished structure involved a team of designers and engineers including Frank Anatole, Nic Bailey, Malcolm Cook and Mark Sparrowhawk.architects including David Marks and Julia Barfield The wheel itself forms a large spoked ring held by tensioned cables, with its hub and spindle supported by the main frame beside the river.

Around the outer rim sit enclosed, air-conditioned passenger capsules that are attached to the wheel in such a way that they remain level as it turns. There are 32 of these glass capsules, a number often linked to the count of London’s boroughs, although the capsule numbers run from 1 to 33 with 13 omitted. Each capsule is built to carry a group of visitors at once, and a full rotation takes close to half an hour, with the wheel moving slowly enough that boarding and disembarkation usually happen while it keeps turning.32 capsules numbered from one to 33

Millennium project and place in London’s skyline

London Eye was built as a millennium landmark, initially known as the Millennium Wheel, with construction completed in 1999 and the wheel ceremonially marked at the turn of the year. It opened to its first paying passengers in March 2000, after technical adjustments, and has since carried tens of millions of riders who step into the capsules at river level and rise up over the rooftops.opened its doors to its first paying guests in March 2000

Set beside the Thames opposite the historic heart of government, the wheel frames views along the river and across central London. From the capsules, passengers see bridges, railway lines, office blocks and distant suburbs, turning slowly through changing angles on familiar monuments. Over the years the wheel has taken on different sponsored names, but the outline of the ring against the sky and the sight of capsules moving above the water remain consistent markers of London’s riverside.

Visiting London Eye: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• London Eye stands on the South Bank of the River Thames in central London, close to Waterloo station, opposite the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben.
• Access to the wheel is from the riverside promenade beside County Hall, with level approaches and some steps and ramps around the boarding area.
• The official language is English and the currency is the pound sterling (GBP).

Searching for London Eye on social platforms

These links open searches for London Eye on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about London Eye

Where is London Eye located in London?

It stands on the South Bank of the River Thames in the borough of Lambeth, close to County Hall and opposite the Palace of Westminster.

What can visitors expect during a ride?

Visitors board enclosed glass capsules at riverside level and travel through a slow, near half-hour rotation that lifts them over the river and central London.

What makes London Eye distinctive among ferris wheels?

Its height of about 135 m (443 ft), cantilevered support over the Thames, and ring of 32 large glass capsules give it a prominent role in London’s riverside skyline.