The history of the London Eye is full of drama. Initially it was merely one of the competition projects for the Millennium celebrations, and its authors did not even win the competition. It was planned to be dismantled after five years. It was built by a married couple of architects who were refused by almost twenty banks. And today it is an integral part of the London skyline, visited by more than three and a half million people every year.
The history of the London Eye is strikingly reminiscent of the history of the Eiffel Tower. Both structures were conceived as temporary. Both were to be dismantled after the event for which they were created: the tower — after the World`s Fair of 1889, the wheel — after the Millennium celebrations in 2000. Both faced a wave of criticism and mistrust. Both were saved contrary to the original plans — and became symbols of their cities.
This is not an ordinary Ferris wheel. The London Eye is the largest cantilevered observation wheel in the world. Its height is 135 metres. 32 sealed glass capsules symbolise the 32 boroughs of London, and a full rotation takes exactly 30 minutes. Since opening in 2000, more than 85 million people have ridden it. On a clear day, Windsor Castle can be seen 40 kilometres away from the highest point.
The history of the London Eye: a risky bet that no one believed in
1993: the losing competition project
The story begins in 1993. The architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, a married couple, took part in a competition organised by The Sunday Times newspaper and the Architecture Foundation for a project for a new symbol of London for the Millennium. Their idea — a giant observation wheel — did not win. More precisely, no one won: the jury considered all the entries insufficiently good.
But Marks and Barfield did not give up. David later said: "Julia and I could not let it go." They invested their own funds, registered the company "Millennium Wheel" and continued to promote the project.
A financial nightmare: 25 banks said "no"
The main obstacle was money. They approached almost twenty banks, and no one wanted to invest in a "crazy" idea. The turning point came by chance: a journalist from the London Evening Standard discovered their planning application and launched a "Support the Wheel" campaign in the newspaper. Public support attracted the attention of British Airways, and the airline decided to finance the project in exchange for 50% of the shares of the "Millennium Wheel" company.
Construction: assembly lying on the water
In 1998 construction began. The parts of the London Eye arrived from all over Europe: the segments of the steel ring — from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, the cables and curved glass — from Italy, the capsules — from France. These huge components were too large for roads, so they were delivered by barges along the Thames.
The most astonishing thing was the method of assembly. The engineers built a temporary platform on the water and assembled the London Eye lying down, in the form of a complete circle, and then raised it vertically with the help of hydraulics. The first attempt at raising was halted due to a technical problem; the second was successful.
31 December 1999: the first rotation without passengers
On the eve of the Millennium, the London Eye made its first full rotation — but without passengers. Prime Minister Tony Blair was to be present at the official opening, but technical problems delayed him. The first paying passengers came on board only on 9 March 2000.
The 2000s: from temporary to permanent
Initially it was assumed that the wheel would stand for five years and then be dismantled. But the success was so great that in 2002 the owners announced the decision to keep it forever. In 2006 British Airways sold its share, and the wheel passed to new owners. In 2015 the company Merlin Entertainments bought out the remaining shares.
Today the London Eye is one of the most recognisable symbols of the city, alongside Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the red double-decker bus.
How the London Eye is built
Construction
The London Eye is a cantilevered wheel: it does not have a central axle supported on two sides. Instead, it is attached to two supports inclined at an angle and held by a system of cables. This design allows the wheel to "hang" over the river without requiring massive supports.
The total height is 135 metres. The diameter of the wheel is 120 metres. The weight is about 2100 tonnes. The speed of rotation is 0.26 metres per second, which is slower than walking speed. The wheel stops only for the boarding and disembarking of passengers, but it never stops completely: boarding takes place while moving, like on an escalator.
The capsules
The 32 capsules of the London Eye are not the usual open cabins but sealed glass capsules resembling spacecraft. Each capsule is about 4 metres long and 3 metres wide, holds up to 25 people and is equipped with air conditioning and a ventilation system.
The capsules are mounted on the outer rim of the wheel, not suspended as on classic Ferris wheels. This means that they always remain in a horizontal position, regardless of the rotation of the wheel. The panoramic glazing provides a circular 360-degree view.
The number of each capsule corresponds to one of the 32 boroughs of London. Some capsules have special functions: for example, capsule No. 1 is used for private events and dinners, and one of the capsules is equipped for wedding ceremonies.
Night illumination
At night the London Eye turns into a giant light screen. The LED illumination system allows the colour of the wheel to be changed depending on events: red — on St Valentine`s Day, green — on St Patrick`s Day, rainbow — during London Pride. During the 2012 Olympic Games the illumination changed in honour of each participating country.
The experience of visiting the London Eye: what you will see
The panorama
A full rotation takes 30 minutes. During this time you rise to a height of 135 metres and see London from a bird`s-eye view. On a clear day the panorama covers up to 40 kilometres: from Windsor Castle in the west to Essex in the east.
The main sights visible from above:
• Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament;
• Tower Bridge and the Tower;
• St Paul`s Cathedral;
• Buckingham Palace;
• St James`s Park and Hyde Park;
• Waterloo Station;
• The skyscrapers of the City — the "Gherkin", the "Walkie-Talkie" and others.
Practical information
Opening hours
The London Eye works daily, but the hours change depending on the season. Usually:
• in summer — from 10:00 to 21:30;
• in winter — from 11:00 to 18:00.
The last ascent is 30 minutes before closing. It is recommended to check the schedule on the official website before your visit.
What you should know
• Queues: in peak season the queues can be long. An online ticket with a fixed time helps to avoid waiting.
• Weather: in rain or fog visibility is reduced. It is better to choose clear days.
• Time: a full rotation takes exactly 30 minutes. Allow about an hour for the visit, including queues and the security check.
• Security: all visitors pass through a security check. Large bags are prohibited.
• Photos: permitted. Tripods and selfie sticks may be restricted.
• Food: there are cafes and restaurants near the wheel. Food and drinks are prohibited in the capsules, except for private events.
Special opportunities
• Private capsules: you can hire a capsule for a private event, dinner or marriage proposal.
• Weddings: one of the capsules is equipped for wedding ceremonies.
• Night tours: evening rides with champagne and a panoramic view of night London.
The London Eye is not just an attraction. It is a story of how the impossible became inevitable, how the temporary became permanent, how a losing competition project became one of the symbols of the city. Here you can spend half an hour, rise to 135 metres and see London as the birds see it.
