How much does a ticket to London cost? The London Eye is one of the largest Ferris wheels. Location and map

The London Eye is a modern attraction in Great Britain. The London Eye attracts approximately 3.5 million visitors per year. From its 135 meter height you can see almost the entire capital of England.

For a long time, the structure was the highest in the world. But recently the championship was taken away by the Singapore Ferris wheel. How long? Even larger viewing platforms are now being designed.

Interesting facts about the creation of the London Eye

It's hard to believe, but the London Eye was initially defeated in an architectural competition. Julia Barfield and her husband David Marks created a presentation of the attraction. But a picky commission rejected the high-tech idea in 1993.

A chance conversation with the head of British Airways helped a couple of architects realize their idea. The UK's largest airline became the first sponsor of the Ferris wheel.

The implementation of the plan was constantly complicated by criticism and bureaucratic delays. Londoners believed that the modern attraction would ruin the view of the historical capital.

As a result, we had to compromise and propose a temporary installation of an observation deck. Its dismantling is planned for 2005. However, the London Eye has become so popular that the land lease has been extended until 2030.

The attraction often changes its name. Initially it was called the Millennium Wheel, that is, “Wheel of the Millennium.” Then it was renamed the London Eye with a sponsor prefix. That is British Airways, then EDF Energy. The wheel is now called the Coca-Cola London Eye.

The history of the installation of the London Eye is very interesting. The structural elements were transported on barges and docked on the waters of the Thames. Then the colossus was very slowly raised on cables and secured.

The official opening took place on December 31, 1999. But the wheel began to work only at the beginning of March 2000.

How to get there

The Ferris wheel is located on the south pier of the Thames. On the territory of Jubilee Park. Against Palace of Westminster, Big Ben. The height of the London Eye is 135 meters. If you decide to get to the Ferris wheel by bus, then the following routes 77, 211 and 381 are suitable for you. The famous double-decker London buses can also take you to the attraction.

If your choice is the metro, then you need to get off at the following stations:

• Waterloo. Located just 5 minutes walk;
• Westminster. Pay attention to the signs. You need to get off at Westminster Pier;
• Embankment;
• Charing Cross.

The last two stops involve a longer walk. 15 minutes long. In addition, the London Eye can be reached by train to Waterloo and Charing Cross stations.

Features of the attraction

The pride of the wheel is its 32 ellipse-shaped cabins. When moving, the cabins additionally rotate longitudinally. Each capsule is equipped with benches in the center. Transparent walls allow you to see everything around.

INTERESTING. The number of cabins was not chosen by chance. There are 32 boroughs in London. However, you will not find booth 13 on the list. The number was excluded due to superstitious prejudices.

Up to 25 people can be in the capsule at the same time. This allows you to hold some kind of corporate parties or other celebrations. Additional maintenance services are provided. 800 people can ride the wheel at the same time.

The London Eye's full rotation time is 30 minutes. The speed is very low - 0.9 km/h. Therefore, the wheel stops only at in rare cases. When boarding disabled people, the elderly and visitors with children in strollers.

In addition to the ticket, you can purchase a booklet highlighting all the sights of London. Although they buy it more as a souvenir of the trip. Since all booths are equipped with interactive displays with explanations. Main feature London Eye is providing a variety of services. You can order champagne, chocolate tasting and much more. The ticket price will depend on your wishes.

The cost of travel

The price of a ride on a wheel depends on many factors. For example, discounts are provided for pensioners and small children. Tickets can be purchased either directly at the box office at the entrance or on the official website with an additional 10-15% discount.

Let's try to understand all the intricacies of travel prices in the London Eye.

Standard ticket the cheapest:

• for adults the price will be 24.95 GBP when purchased at the box office and 22.45 GBP when purchased online;
• for children from 3 to 15 years old 9.95 GBP to 17.95 GBP;
• Children under 3 years old ride for free.

The price includes a simple trip with a visit to the 4D cinema. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis. However, when ordering online, you can specify a date and a 30-minute interval. This will allow you to be guaranteed to get on the wheel at this time and avoid too long queues.

If you don't want to stand in line, you can buy Fast Track ticket. It costs more:

• adult 34.95 GBP at the box office, 31.45 GBP on the website;
• children under 15 years old 29.95 GBP at the box office, 26.95 GBP on the website.

The price also includes admission to the cinema.

Combo ticket most beneficial for those who, in addition to the Ferris wheel, want to visit other attractions:

• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum;
• Oceanarium;
• Dungeon of Dragons;
• The Adventures of Shrek.

The ticket price will depend on the number of attractions visited:

• 2 attractions for adults will cost 39 GBP, for children 28 GBP;
• 3 attractions 48 GBP for adults and 40 GBP for children;
• 4 attractions 55 GBP for adults and 45 GBP for children.

Let us remind you that one item in any London Eye set.

Special tickets Booths are available for rent for corporate events or other celebrations. By paying 550 GBP, you can invite 3-25 people. The entire group will be admitted without a queue. They will treat you to champagne.

What is the London Eye famous for? The most romantic "Cupid's Capsule". Its rental will win the heart of even the most unapproachable girl and will cost 380 GBP. There will be only you two in the booth plus a waiter serving champagne and chocolate.

In addition to the agreed tickets, there are also offers for groups of over 10 people. It is possible to buy a ticket with a ride on the Thames, or visiting restaurants and tastings.

Now you know where the London Eye is and how to get to it. It is better to check the opening hours on the website. On this moment The wheel is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The box office opens half an hour earlier.

Considering that observation decks and Ferris wheels are generally my favorite places to visit anywhere in the world, there was no way I could miss the London Eye.

Historical reference

I began my journey to the famous attraction by learning about its creation. To do this I had to do a little digging on the Internet. Those who just want to watch brief information, can take a small free program near the cash registers. It tells in a few sentences the history of the London Eye, which begins in 1998, when the fateful meeting of the married couple David Marks and Julia Barfield with the head of British Airways, Bob Elling, took place. A few years earlier, Barfield and Barfield (both architects) had entered into a Sunday Times competition to propose a design greatest building millennium. Now this may seem strange, but the couple did not manage to win, but they did not give up the idea of ​​​​building their own project of a sightseeing attraction.

The constant search for sponsors eventually bore fruit. Moreover, the head of British Airways unexpectedly turned out to be the spouses’ neighbor, so the meeting was not initially a business meeting at all. Well, after funds for construction were found, the architects got to work.

The construction of the London Eye took six years. All these years, segments of the future attraction were delivered along the Thames to the construction site. There, on special platforms installed on the river, they were collected and gradually created one of the greatest Ferris wheels in Europe. An interesting fact about the London Eye is that the structure was originally planned to be temporary and was a kind of experiment. Considering that we can still see the Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames, the experiment turned out to be successful.

Ferris wheel name

The London Eye originally became known as the Millennium Wheel because it was built at the turn of the millennium. Subsequently, in the course of working with sponsors, the London Eye changed its name several times. So for a while it was known as British Airways London Eye and then Merlin Entertainments London Eye.

The last name change to date took place in 2011. For three years, official sources indicated the London Eye as EDF Energy London Eye. This deal was beneficial for both parties. EDF Energy installed TVs and Wi-Fi in the Ferris wheel booths. In return, they received advertising by attaching the company name to the London Eye for three years.

In 2014, after the expiration of the contract with EDF Energy, the London Eye received a new official name, Coca-Cola London Eye, as the Coca-Cola Company became its official sponsor.

How to get to the London Eye

The London Eye is located on south coast Thames in the Lambeth area. The Ferris wheel is visible, in general, from almost all sides, especially from the embankment. Therefore, if you decide to walk, walking around the city center, the main task is to get to the river bank :). For example, I walked from the Monument station, which is about 3 kilometers along the embankment. It’s a bit far, of course, but you can fully enjoy the view of the gradually approaching London Eye.

Since the London Eye is located in the center, and even in a place especially popular with tourists, it can be reached by any public transport.

• The nearest tube station is Waterloo, and this is the junction of four lines - Waterloo & City line, Jubilee line, Bakerloo line and Northern line. The easiest way to pay for your trip is with an Oyster Card. Since the station is located in the first zone, they will charge a minimum price of 1.4 € (1.2 £) from your ticket. In general, central London is simply filled with metro stations, so you don’t have to limit yourself to just Waterloo. You can get to Embankment or Westminster, and from there walk to the Ferris wheel over the Thames Bridge.
• Another very colorful option, in my opinion, is to take a water bus along the Thames. The price, as in the metro, will depend on which zone you are coming from, but minimum cost will be higher – about 4 €. You can also pay with Oyster Card. The beauty of this transport is not only that you will admire the city, but also arrive at the London Eye Pier, which is located next to the Ferris wheel.
• The closest buses are 12, 53, 77, 148, 159, 211, 453, 734, 109, 155 and 381. You can get off at the following stops: London Eye, County Hall, Westminster BridgeCounty Hall. The last three routes operate at night. By the way, I highly recommend coming there when it gets dark and strolling along the embankment to look at the lights sparkling on the London Eye. This spectacle is worth seeing for yourself, rather than being content with a description. It is still easier to pay with an Oyster Card with a minimum price for the first and second zones of 1.4 € (1.2 £).

London Eye Tickets

Tickets for the London Eye can be purchased at the box office next to the wheel, or can be booked on the official website. And I highly, highly recommend buying on the website, because the queues at the box office are kilometer-long. I came there without a ticket and had to wait for about 20 minutes, and I was also very lucky, because when I passed by the ticket office on other days, there were even more people.

Another advantage of purchasing tickets on the site is a 15% discount. The ticket office opens at 9.30, and the attraction itself starts operating at 10.00. But the hardest part about riding a Ferris wheel is choosing which ticket you want to buy. Again, when I got there for the first time, I took the standard one: exclusively for the London Eye. Who knew that there were combined tickets, which are not much more expensive, but include a lot of other interesting things! But first things first. If you still decide to limit yourself to just the Ferris wheel, then ticket prices are as follows:

• adult – 21.50 € (24.95 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years) – 22 € (18.95 £).

A standard ticket is taken for certain time, so try not to miss it. Combination tickets can include a ride on the London Eye and one to three attractions:

• Madame Tussauds Museum (Museum Madame Tussauds),
• London Aquarium (SEA LIFE London Aquarium),
• Shrek's Adventure attraction,
• London Dungeon.

Choose a show to suit your taste and welcome! :) True, the pleasure is not free. Now let's try to figure out the prices.

London Eye plus one of the following attractions:

• adult ticket – 45.30 € (39 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years) – 32.50 € (28 £).

London Eye plus two of the following attractions:

• adult – 55.80 € (48 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years) – 46.50 € (40 £).

London Eye plus three listed attractions:

• adult – 63.90 € (55 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years old) – 52.20 € (45 £).

Combination tickets do not have to be used immediately. After your London Eye ride, other attractions will be available for 90 days.

Now let's talk a little about other types of tickets. Yes, yes, this is not the end yet :). There is a Fast Trask ticket that allows you to skip the line on the Ferris wheel. And don't forget about the discount when purchasing on the site! Here are the prices at the box office:

• children (from 4 to 15 years) – 33.60 € (28.95 £).

A Flexi Fast Track ticket allows you to visit the London Eye during the day at any time. True, you will have to stand in line for the wheel among those who also purchased tickets for the same time. It can only be purchased through the website:

• adult ticket – 40.60 € (34.95 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years) – 34.80 € (29.95 £).

The Ultimate Fast Track ticket allows you to visit the London Eye within 3 months of purchase. It can also be purchased only through the website:

• adult ticket – 46.40 € (39.95 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years) – 40.60 € (34.95 £).

If you want to admire London from the Thames, there is a London Eye + River Cruise ticket:

• adult ticket – 37.10 € (32 £);
• children (from 4 to 15 years old) – 23.20 € (20 £).

Well, in addition to other attractions, you can order a wine and champagne tasting, a private capsule or a romantic dinner.

Ride the London Eye

When you finally figure out which ticket to buy, you can finally go where thousands of tourists strive every day - go into the London Eye capsule and look at the capital from above. The spectacle is amazing and, what is especially pleasant, lasts half an hour. That means there is plenty of time to take a photo on the Ferris wheel. By the way, lovers of memorable shots can stand in a specially designated place in the capsule, and a camera will photograph them. And you will be able to receive the photographs at the exit as a souvenir. Naturally, all this costs money (one photo for 8.7 € or 7.5 £) so I would not recommend it.

It’s better to take photos yourself, there’s enough time. And the most interesting thing is to just stand, look at the city and enjoy the view. In addition, the capsules now include a film dedicated to the history of the London Eye, and an interactive guide will tell you about the most interesting sights that can be seen when you climb to the very top. It is much more interesting to listen and admire London from the window than to look for a place on the floor to stand for filming. And taking photos through the glass of the capsule is much more interesting.

To help the traveler

Visiting any attraction can be much more enjoyable if you know some little tricks. Here I will share what I learned from my own experience from visiting the London Eye:

• When I first returned from London and excitedly shared my impressions, I was asked: “When is the best time to go to the Ferris wheel to avoid rush hour?” The answer is that this does not happen. There are always queues there, from opening to closing. However, by evening, of course, the flow of people begins to decline, this can be taken into account.

• A souvenir photo is nice, but it’s better to take a photo yourself, it’s cheaper, and it’s the same as a memory of the trip. If you are traveling alone, then ask one of your capsule neighbors. The tourism fraternity obliges us to help in any situation.
• Don’t forget that the trip lasts half an hour, so think immediately about whether you need to visit the toilets or stock up on water beforehand.
• If the day is cloudy, it is better to reschedule your trip to another time. Of course, you will see the city, but clouds may prevent you from appreciating the full scale and distance that is visible from the top point of the Ferris wheel. I didn’t know this, and I’m still sad that because of the clouds I couldn’t check whether Windsor Castle was really visible from the window of the capsule.

London Eye- the main Ferris wheel in London with a height of 135 meters, at first it was also the tallest in the world, and today it is one of the most popular attractions, allowing you to take in the entire city.

The London Eye Ferris wheel belongs to the group of new attractions, but despite its small age, it consistently ranks among the top most visited tourist places in London. About 3 million people visit the attraction every year.

Story

The history of the creation of the world's most famous Ferris wheel is quite interesting, but practically unknown. A detailed report about it is difficult to find; even the official website is silent about the events that preceded the start of construction.

It all started in 1993, when a competition of architectural projects was announced, timed to coincide with the future meeting of the new millennium. High-tech architect couple Julia Barfield and David Marks have created the concept for an innovative Ferris wheel. A presentation about him was sent to the competition, but it could not win. By the way, no one won then, since the commission did not like any of the submitted projects.

Initially, the Ferris wheel was called the “Millennium Wheel”, and its current name is “ London Eye" (English: London Eye) received later. Sponsorship contracts are also concluded with the attraction; currently there is one with the Coca-Cola company, so the full name of the wheel is Coca-Cola London Eye.

The impetus for the London Eye construction project was a chance conversation between the couple and their neighbor, who was the director of British Airways. The story about the wheel impressed him and, under the patronage of one of the largest British companies, which also became a sponsor, implementation began. But the future wheel was criticized; many believed that such a project would not look good in the historical center of London and would spoil the panorama. Bureaucratic barriers were also created; the consent of a huge number of departments had to be obtained: from the administration of Jubilee Park, where the “eye” is located, to the authorities of all city districts.

The London Eye was originally planned as a temporary attraction that was due to be dismantled in 2005. But given the success and popularity of the wheel, no one even considered the option of dismantling it on time; in 2006, a land lease agreement was signed for a period of 25 years, which means that the wheel will work until at least 2030. And this fact immediately refers us to, which was also planned as a temporary building.

Also, the project almost failed because of the first contractor. The competition was won by the well-known company Mitsubishi, but the Japanese made a mistake with their calculations - the proposed price was too low. They tried to change the project, turning the innovative attraction into a simple and cheap Ferris wheel, but the contractor was changed to a whole international group of different companies that built the London Eye.

Construction progress

The construction of the London Eye took only 2 years. The special design of the wheel, which will be discussed later, made it possible to assemble it in a lying position on the Thames, and then simply raise it to a vertical position by pulling the cables.

The components of the Eye were brought on barges and docked on the water. On the one hand, this simplified the assembly of the gigantic structure, but many natural factors had to be taken into account, such as ebbs and flows, frost, and also take into account active shipping on the Thames. By the way, nature interfered with the construction of the wheel; several times the barges could not reach their destination on time.

Thousands of people watched the rise of the London Eye. The process itself was very slow, at a rate of only 2 degrees per hour, and took place in two stages. During the first days, the wheel was raised to an angle of 65 degrees and left in this position for a week while other necessary technical work was carried out.

There was no time to open the wheel by the beginning of 2000. Formally, the London Eye was inaugurated by Tony Blair on December 31, 1999, and then the first visitors were even able to ride it. But before this, technical miscalculations were identified regarding the fastening and operation of the cabins, so the real opening for everyone occurred only on March 9, 2000.

London Eye design

The symbol of the new millennium has not only a modern design, but also a unique design. This type of wheel is called cantilever; it is mounted on one L-shaped truss, installed at a slight angle. The structure is held in this position by cables.

Unlike most other ferris wheels, which use powerful beams to hold the structure, the Eye uses spokes that are thin relative to its size, which make it very elegant in appearance. And in the dark, the internal beams are practically invisible, which creates the feeling that the wheel is hanging in the air.

Cabins

But the main pride of the creators is the design of the attraction's cabins. They are egg-shaped and attached to the outside of the wheel. During movement, each cabin rotates in special mounts along its longitudinal axis.

There are a total of 32 such cabins on the wheel, each symbolizing one of the London districts. Capacity is 25 people, so the wheel can simultaneously ride exactly 800 people. Moreover, the capsules are almost transparent, providing a 360-degree view. And the large size allows you to hold various events directly on the wheel, this includes corporate parties, romantic dinners for two, etc.

Even quite enlightened London is captivated by superstitions, which is why the number 13 is missing from the numbering of cabins.

How does the London Eye work?

The wheel rotates quite slowly, completing a full rotation in about 30 minutes, which makes it possible to calmly enjoy the views. The rotation speed of the wheel is only 0.9 km per hour and it does not stop for loading and disembarking passengers; exceptions are made only for disabled people. Visibility in good weather reaches 40 kilometers, which allows you to see even the countryside Windsor Castle.

The location of the wheel in the very center of the city makes it possible to see many attractions. Along with the ticket, you can purchase a small booklet, which shows the view from the wheel and lists most of London's attractions, but this is not relevant now - it is easier to install an application on your phone or use the interactive display in the booths.

Riding options

Anyone can simply ride the Ferris wheel in London; to do this, you need to purchase a ticket, stand in line and take the ride. Tickets for regular visits are divided into several types:

But the owners of the Ferris wheel allow guests to arrange exclusive rides, for this you need to purchase separate tickets:

And in fact, these are not all options for traveling on a wheel. The attraction's management regularly comes up with new offers; it is better to find out current programs on the official website. A variety of additional services are constantly offered, from live guides to tasting trips.

Location and map

One of the main roles in the popularity of the Ferris wheel was played by its convenient location in the center of the historical part of the city. It is located in the small Jubilee Park, in close proximity to famous tower, which are almost opposite - on the other side of the Thames and on the other side of Westminster Bridge.

London Eye on the map

Tourist Information

Any tourist planning a trip to the capital of Great Britain dreams of visiting the famous London Eye - a Ferris wheel, which is one of the largest attractions of its kind in the world. The project of the grandiose Ferris wheel in London was developed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, a married couple of architects who won a landslide victory in the creative competition for the most grandiose structure dedicated to the Millennium - the transition from the 20th to the 21st centuries. Hence the original name of the London Eye - the Millennium Wheel. The English landmark is located on south coast Thames, in the capital's Jubilee Gardens.

Features of the attraction design

The height of the Ferris wheel in London is 135 meters, which corresponds to the size of a 45-story skyscraper. The attraction's cabins are transparent, closed 10-ton capsules with comfortable seats. The capacity of each cabin is up to 25 passengers. Just as London has 32 suburbs, according to the authors’ plans, the number of booths corresponds to this number. This is symbolic, because the Ferris wheel is the hallmark of a huge European city. The total weight of the gigantic structure is 1,700 tons. The technical solution of the attraction is unusual: the booths are not suspended from the rim, as in other similar structures, but are mounted outside.

Due to the fact that the capsule cabins are almost completely transparent, an unprecedented feeling of flying above is created. ancient city. This feeling arises due to the fact that the capsule opens a vast panoramic view. In clear weather, the viewing radius reaches 40 kilometers. The Ferris wheel is a particularly impressive sight in the evening and at night, when it is illuminated with LED lamps. The luminous structure resembles a fantastically huge rim from a giant bicycle.

It takes about half an hour to complete a full circle on the attraction, with a movement speed of 26 cm per minute. This low speed allows passengers to enter and exit the pods without stopping when their pod is in its lowest position. An exception is made only for disabled people and elderly people. To ensure their safe boarding and disembarking, the wheel is suspended.

How to get to the Ferris wheel in London?

The London Eye is a short walk from the capital's Waterloo station. You can also quickly reach the English landmark on foot from Westminster metro station.

How does the Ferris wheel work in London?

The London Ferris Wheel operates throughout the year. During the period from June to September, the attraction's opening hours are from 10.00. until 21.00. From October to May the wheel accepts passengers from 10.00. until 20.00. On Valentine's Day, the London Eye is open even at night.

What are the prices for Ferris Wheel tickets in London?

The price of the Ferris wheel in London depends on the type of ticket. A standard ticket, purchased at the ticket office directly next to the attraction, costs 19 pounds (approximately $30) for an adult, 10 pounds ($17) for children from 4 to 15 years old. By purchasing a ticket online, you can save almost a fifth of the cost. Also, significant discounts are received by persons who use a combined ticket, that is, tourists who decide to visit several attractions in London.

At first, the London Eye was planned only as a temporary project. But thanks to its popularity, the duration of the attraction was extended to 20 years. According to the latest data, the London landmark is second only to the Parisian Eiffel Tower in terms of attendance. Some particularly romantic people even use the building to hold their own weddings.

IN Lately Information appears in the press that it is planned to modernize the structure, including the installation of televisions and wireless Internet. This gives hope that the London Eye will remain for many decades to come.

Others that every tourist strives to visit and see are famous Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and many others.

Imagine if any city in the world could have an “all-seeing eye” from which nothing can be hidden! London has its own “eye”: it is one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world. Its view is 360⁰ and from there you can see all 32 areas of London. That is why it is called the London Eye.

When you're in the UK's capital, be sure to visit London's Lambeth district on the south bank of the Thames. The London Eye will help you see the city from a bird's eye view and even a little higher! You will feel like you are sitting on the shoulders of a giant 135 meters high (about the level of the 45th floor!), and right in front of you, or rather below you, you will see the famous Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.

A little history

The Eye of London was solemnly “opened” on December 31, 1999, for which it is sometimes called "The Millennium Wheel" or "The Wheel of the Millennium". As befits a Ferris wheel, as all Ferris wheels are sometimes called, the London Eye also presents its own surprises. The spectacular launch on the eve of the millennium took place without passengers, as one of the capsule cabins turned out to be faulty. Prime Minister Tony Blair nevertheless ceremoniously pressed the start button, and passengers waited until March to ride the attraction.

The London Eye has been plagued by bad luck even before. The point is that the newspaper Sunday Times in 1993 year held a competition to develop a monumental structure to welcome the new millennium. The competition was attended by husband-and-wife architects David Marks and Julia Barfield with a design for a Ferris wheel. As a result, no one was interested in the project and lost the competition. Fortunately for the residents of London, David and Julia are not used to giving up and therefore they themselves decided to make their dream come true. How many rapids were knocked down to obtain all kinds of permits from area residents, organizations, maritime and river departments, historical societies and officials! Moreover, grandiose project was developed without support government agencies and construction companies. And the finances were found thanks to a chance meeting with neighbor Bob Elling, head of British Airways, during a trivial conversation about sending a Christmas card.

The couple implemented their project for 6 years, and how many obstacles were overcome: technical problems, corporate troubles, and debates with ardent opponents of the development. The theme of the wheel has not left the pages of English newspapers for several years. Many believed that it was inappropriate to spoil the historical center of the city in such a way that aesthetics were inferior to commerce. Moreover, the topic of the wheel was raised in parliament, because the construction site was located just opposite the Palace of Westminster!

The construction itself was not that long - only 16 months. The wheel parts were transported on barges along the Thames and assembled lying down on special platforms on the river. Then this colossus was lifted using a special system.

The most amazing thing is that the London Eye was conceived as a temporary structure and it had permission for a period of only for 5 years. Its expiration date ended in 2005, but the public loved this attraction so much that they could not part with it. So, “Glaza” has already suffered 15 years and there are high chances that it will last even longer. In general, a similar story happened with Eiffel Tower , which was installed temporarily as the entrance arch of the Paris World Exhibition of 1889. However, it has become the hallmark of Paris!

Interesting Facts

Here is a selection of fascinating facts about the London Eye:

• 1,700 tons of steel were spent on this architectural miracle, and the total weight of the wheel was 2,100 tons. The riverside Ferris wheel is three times taller than Tower Bridge and four times wider than the dome of St Paul's Cathedral.
• From a distance, the London Eye resembles a phantasmagorically giant bicycle wheel. You can ride the attraction in one of 32 transparent space-looking capsule cabins (representing 32 London boroughs), ordering strawberries, truffles and champagne.
  
• Each capsule weighs 10 tons, but they are firmly fixed, as practice has confirmed. The capsules are equipped with air conditioning, heaters, a multimedia screen and wireless Internet, so you can post your selfies from the capsule straight to Instagram.
• Each cabin is designed for 25 people. However, for those who want to be alone with their chosen one or chosen one, there is “Cupid’s Capsule”. True, this pleasure costs £360, but romance is guaranteed! Since the opening of the attraction on the wheel, 5,000 marriage proposals have been made (of which the organizers are aware), 512 weddings have taken place; More than 1.5 million glasses of champagne were drunk.
  
• Cabin No. 2 has a special name – Coronation Capsule, which it received in June 2013 in honor of the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II.
• It is not necessary to stand in the capsule, there is comfortable places for sitting. The capsules move almost silently, without swaying at all, so the feeling of reliability and comfort will not leave you. Inside the booths, on installed tablets, you can select the desired language and get details of the history of London by clicking on an object on the screen.
• The London Eye can accommodate up to 800 passengers per revolution, equal to the capacity of 11 double-decker tourist buses.
  
• The London Eye can be cloned! A number of cities want to acquire a similar profitable miracle on their land. This desire was expressed by representatives of Boston, Toronto, Sydney and several other cities, which upset tourist council London.
• The wheel works non-stop and makes a full revolution in 30 minutes. The rotation speed is 26 cm per second or approximately 15 meters per minute, or 0.9 km per hour, which allows visitors to enter and exit calmly and without panic. Over the course of a year, the London Eye rotates 7,668 times, covering 2,300 miles—the distance from London to Cairo.
  
• Regarding the view: from the wheel you can see the London expanse for 40 miles. In a full turn you can see the Queen's Residence of Windsor, St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden and 55 other attractions, weather permitting.
• Until 2008, the London Eye in the Guinness Book of Records was proudly called “the most big wheel reviews in the world." But later he lost the championship to the Singapore wheel - Singapore Flyer (165 meters).
  
• The London Eye has received 75 national and international awards since its opening. international tourism for outstanding engineering achievements and architectural value.
• The lighting is implemented with LED lighting from Color Kinetics to allow digital control of the lights. This property was used for illumination in honor of New Year's holidays, the opening of the 2012 Olympics, the anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II and the birth of Prince George.
  
• The London Eye has gone by different names: it was originally called the Millennium Wheel, then the British Airways London Eye, and later the Merlin Entertainments London Eye. And from January 2011, the attraction was called the ELE Energy London Eye for three years as a result of a deal with a sponsor. And now it's called Coca Cola London Eye.
• The Wheel has become an iconic place for corporate parties, birthdays and weddings. On New Year and on Memorial Day, fireworks displays are held here, as well as filming and commercials.
  
• The London Survey Wheel turned out to be a profitable business. 35 million British pounds (55 million US dollars) were invested in its construction. But in 2009 alone, according to the owner of the company Merlin Entertainment, it “generated” £25 million in profit, so it has long since paid for itself.
• About 4 million people fly on it every year. In terms of the number of visitors, the “Eye” is ahead of the famous Indian Taj Mahal (2.4 million), Egyptian pyramids(3 million) and St. Paul's Cathedral (2 million).