By Debra Durkee
Facts About the London Eye
The London Eye has become one of the most recognizable symbols of England and a source of pride for Londoners. The 443-foot tall wheel provides a panoramic view of the Thames, and is still one of the tallest Ferris wheels in
Europe.
Statistics
The London Eye stands on the South Bank between the Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. The wheel weighs approximately 1,800 tons and was opened to the public in March of 2000.
Eye pods
There are 32 pods on the wheel, one for each of London's boroughs. Each pod can hold approximately 24 people at a time.
Passengers
In the first eight years, approximately 30 million people have ridden on the London Eye. Each ride - one circuit on the wheel - takes about 30 minutes.
What you can see
From the top of the wheel, passengers can see approximately 25 miles in every direction, including the Tower of London, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and even - on a clear day - Windsor Castle.
Getting there
The London Eye is easily accessible from three Underground stations - Embankment, Waterloo and Westminster, as well as from rail stations Waterloo and Charing Cross.
The first eye
The London Eye is the second of its kind. The first was built in Earl's Court in 1895, and was called the Great Wheel of London. It was demolished in 1907.
About the Author:
Debra Durkee has been writing professionally since 2005. She has been both a columnist and reporter, with her work appearing in print publications from the Metro Group, Inc in New York to the "Casa Grande Dispatch" in Arizona. Now a freelance writer, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from West Virginia University.
Photo Credits:
Misterweiss, 2008
