London Weekend Break

The London Eye

Also known as the Millennium wheel, the London Eye opened to the public in March 2000 as part of the millennium celebrations (although its official opening by the UK Prime Minister was on the 31 December 1999).

The Eye acts as an observatory looking down and across the city of London with spectacular views of the skyline and many of the city’s better know sightseeing attractions. The eye is located in Jubilee gardens and reaches a height of 135 metres. At the time of its construction it was the largest wheel of its kind in the world, but that title has since been passed to two further and still larger wheels.

More about the Millennium Eye below these links.

Links relating to the London Eye

A flight on the London Eye (Millennium wheel)

Visitors to the Millennium wheel have the opportunity to take a single revolution ride at around one half of a mile per hour in one of the Eye’s thirty two air conditioned capsules. Each capsule offers 360 degree clear glass vision and can accommodate up to 25 people. The duration of a single rotation is around half an hour.

The cost of a flight (as of May 2007) is 14.00 pounds sterling per adult, 7.25 for a child (up to 15 years of age) and 11.00 pounds sterling for a senior citizen.

Although now a huge financial and tourism attracting success, the Millennium Eye has had its fair share of problems from some early technical difficulties, through to financial misdemeanours. Those problems are now in the past and the Eye acts a both a focal point on the London horizon and a must see visitor attraction for many of the city’s visitors.