The London Eye

The London Eye has become a very attraction tourist place in short time. London Eye is a giant observation wheel located in the Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank of the River Thames, London, UK. 

The London Eye also known as the Millennium Wheel. The idea of building the London Eye was pioneered by an architect couple, David Marks and Julia Barfield. The couple envisioned the idea of a Ferris wheel where people could sit and enjoy a beautiful view of London. The project was financially funded by the British Airways and The Tussauds Group. The London Eye had its formal opening ceremony on December 31, 1999 at the hands of then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but was opened to the public only on March 9, 2000. Hundreds of people from 5 different countries worked on this marvelous structure for 7 years till it was finally erected. The 135 meter (443ft) tall structure was built as part of London's millennium celebrations. The spindle that holds the wheel and the hub rotating around the spindle weigh about 330 tons. 1700 tonnes of steel were used for the structure and more than 3000 tonnes of concrete were used for the foundations. The diameter of the London Eye is 120 m. The wheel has 64 spoke cables and 16 rim rotations. There are about 32 capsules in the London Eye. Each egg-shaped capsule is 8 meters long and weighs 500kg. The capsules are air-conditioned, and seats are also provided for the passengers to sit. The passengers are allowed to walk around and enjoy the view. The official capacity of each of the 32 capsules is 25 persons. This means that it can carry a whopping 800 people in every revolution. The wheel moves at half a mile an hour, taking thirty minutes to complete a full rotation.

The London Eye is the fourth-tallest structure in London. It is one of the most popularly visited, paid attractions in Great Britain. It is said that the London Eye is visited by an average of 3-3.5 million visitors every year. Many famous landmarks are clearly visible, including Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. On a clear day you can see as far as 40 km (25 miles). The ticket rates are standard and not costly at all. There is a special discount for children between the age group of 4 to 15 years, and there is no ticket available for children under 4. Tickets are also available on online. A ride in the London Eye is a great experience, and one that you wouldn't want
to miss during your next trip to the city.