Keyword: The London Eye

The London Eye

The British Airways London Eye stands 135 metres (443 feet) high on South Bank of the River Thames. When it was officially opened December 31, 1999 it became the world's largest observation wheel.

Although it looks like a ferris wheel, the London Eye resembles a bicycle wheel. It is supported on one side only by an "A-Frame". Ferris wheels are supported on two sides. There are 32 enclosed passenger capsules located on the outside of the wheel.

It took 16 months to construct the London Eye. Almost every component and building method had to be invented - no one had ever dreamed of building anything like it! Each part of the London Eye had to be shipped to the building site during the low tides of the River Thames so the pieces wouldn't hit the undersides of London's bridges on the way.

More than 15,000 visitors "fly" the London Eye each day. On a day with good visibility you can see up to 25 miles in every direction.

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