The London Eye

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the south bank of the River Thames in London. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, with over 3.5 million visitors annually.

The London Eye was designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield of Marks Barfield Architects. The wheel was constructed by Hollandia, a subsidiary of the German company Siemens AG, and erected by Mabey Harland. It was opened to the public on December 31, 1999.

 

The London Eye is 135 metres (443 feet) high and has a diameter of 120 metres (394 feet). It has 32 capsules, each of which can accommodate up to 25 people. The wheel takes 30 minutes to complete one revolution.

The London Eye is not the only Ferris wheel in London. The London Wonder Wheel is a smaller wheel that is located on the north bank of the River Thames, near the Tower of London.