London Eye

The London Eye,

the massive Ferris
wheel was built on
the banks of the
River Thames in
1999.
From the top of
the London Eye you
can see things about 25 miles away. On a
clear day, you can make out Winsor Castle. It
is one of the highest viewing platforms in
London (the viewing platform of the Shard is
higher).
It takes a 30 minutes to complete the
revolution and doesn’t have to stop for
passengers to step on and off.
It took 7 years to construct the London Eye
and it was designed by a number of
architects.
More than 3 and a half million people every
year go on the London Eye and it can carry
800 people on every revolution.
There are 32 capsules (one for each London
borough). Each one weights 10 tones and
carry 25 passengers. The capsules are air-
conditioned and seats are provided, although
passengers are able to walk around.
At 135m high, the London eye is one of the
tallest buildings in the city.
The London Eye was often called the
Millennium Wheel when it was first opened.
It has already become an iconic London
building. It provides a focal point for London’s
New Year’s firework display and was light up
in the colors of the Union Jack to celebrate the
wedding of Prince Charles and Kate Middleton.
The spindle which holds the wheel weights
over 300 tones and is 23 meters high.
The London Eye is not the first big wheel to be
located in London. The Great Wheel was
constructed in 1895 for the Empire of India
Exhibition. It was demolished in 1907 having
being used by over 2 million people.