The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is one of the most famous tourist attractions of London. The wheel is an architectural marvel, as its construction lasted seven years, and required hundreds of skilled workers who worked endlessly to finish it. The construction itself was finished in 2000, and the wheel quickly became a symbol of the city, towering at an impressive 135 meters.
The Wheel was actually opened for the public by the then-Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair on 31st December 1999, but the Eye started turning only in 2000. As the popularity of this landmark grew, it reached an incredible number of 2.8 million visitors in the first two years.
Until 2006, the London Eye was the tallest observation wheel in the world, but it was overtaken by the Nachang Wheel in China. In 2008, Singapore set a new world record for the tallest observation wheel, with the Flyer wheel being constructed, which reached a height of 165 meters. The London Eye contains 32 glass capsules, each of which can carry 25 people, as well as a weight of around 10 tons. The wheel turns quite slowly so that visitors can see the panoramic view of the entire city, as well as board the wheel without it stopping. The full ride on the London Eye takes around 30 minutes.
Visitors should bear inn mind that it could happen that the wait for the ride could take a bit longer, depending on the queue. They should also know that the ticket is quite expensive.
Ticket price for the London Eye
Regular ticket price: £ 27
Reduced ticket price £ 22 - for children from 4 to 15 years
Free entrance for children up to 3 years
London Eye opening hours
From January to March from 11:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.
From April to June: from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
June, July and August: from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
From September to November: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
December: from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (opening hours may vary due to weather conditions).
