Millennium Wheel London Eye

All visitors coming to London are suggested to include the Millennium Wheel London Eye in their itinerary. This spectacular observation wheel is the result of the grand effort put in by the Government of Britain to set up a view point that would enable the people to get a bird's eye-view of the magnificent city of London. The London Eye, also popularly called the Millennium Wheel, was opened to the public in the year 2000 by the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The London Eye was a collaborative effort between the Marks Barfield Architects and the British Airways, who were the major financers behind this extremely ambitious project. It was designed by David Marks and Julia Barfield, and is considered to be an exemplary feat of modern architecture. Presently, it is controlled and maintained by the London Eye Company, an enterprise of the Merlin Entertainment Group.

Situated on the south bank of River Thames, the London Eye stands at a height of 443 feet. The inspiration to build this London icon was derived from the Statue of Liberty of New York and the Eiffel Tower of Paris. British Government wanted to build a monument which would be grand in stature and lofty in height. The result was the London Eye, aptly named so because it serves as the watch tower of London. The structure is built in the form of a giant wheel, which is meant to symbolize the turn of the millennium.

The giant wheel of the London Eye has pod-shaped seating arrangements. Each pod is air-conditioned and can accommodate up to 25 people. The wheel takes around 30 minutes to complete one turn. The ride is very exciting and about 2 million visitors come to ride the Millennium Wheel every year.

Westminster is the nearest railway station to London Eye. The place is well connected by buses, coaches and cars. There are three parking stations at Millennium Wheel London Eye. The visitors can buy tickets at the London County Hall and at the London Eye Ticket Box Office. Tickets can also be booked online and no extra fee is charged for this service. Children below the age of 5 years do not require any entry fee. For senior citizens above the age of 60 years and young children below the age of 16 years, there are special discounts available on the purchase of tickets. The price of tickets at the London Eye varies from ?6 to ?15.

One gets a spectacular panoramic view of the city of London, spanning over an area of 40 km from the capsules of London Eye. Almost all of London's famous landmarks can be observed from the London Eye, including the Tower of London, the London Bridge, the Big Ben and the St. Paul's Cathedral. The night-time view of the London skyline from the London Eye Millennium wheel is equally fascinating too. London remains open throughout the year except between 11th and 21st January, when it remains closed for maintenance purposes.

Although the London Eye is yet to reach the popularity enjoyed by other London icons, such as the Big Ben and Stonehenge, the Millennium Wheel in London is fastly transforming to a major tourist attraction of London.