THE LONDON EYE - THAMES RIVER OBSERVATION WHEEL
Flying over London with Coke
It used to be if you wanted a view of the London rooftops you had to go up the chimney like Mary Poppins and Burt – “over the rooftops step in time” or climb the steps of St. Paul’s to the dome, but since its opening in March of 2000 at the beginning of the new millennium, the London Eye has become one of the most identifiable landmarks of London, almost eclipsing even Big Ben (see Touring on Thames Time). Its popularity has since spawned copy cats in other cities around the world, but “the eye” remains one of the most iconic.
It was originally called the “Millennium Wheel” and originially sponsored by British Airways but recently has become the Coca Cola London Eye. Other wheels have long been entertainment attractions but the London version at the time of its opening as the world’s tallest tourist observation wheel and still the tallest cantilever wheel. The glass enclosed capsules of the London Eye wheel rise 135 meters over London along the banks of the Thames River. At first both vilified and beloved by Londoners, as either modern marvel and symbol of London's leadership in the new times or eye-sore on the city's cultural heritage, the London Eye has become a permanent fixture and either way you look at it, the eye is a quite a ride and offers a magnificent view of one of the world's great cities, It is one of Britain's most popular commercial sight-seeing destinations, visited by more than 3 million people a year.
A ride on the London Eye has a variety of price and experience levels. A standard ticket is for £21.50 (for Adults and Children over 4) if purchased on the day, or £15 if purchased online in advance. A Fast Track Entry ticket is £29.96 to go to the front of the line with no wait or £26.96 if purchased online 24 hours in advance. There are some special theme rides for Day and Night, a Champagne ride for those in a romantic mood or Guided Tour ride. For a group or just the randy romantic couple who want to be alone, a private capsule flight can be arranged with priority check-in and boarding.
The London Eye also offers a 40 minute all-weather Thames River Cruise with commentary by a living guide (instead of the recorded ones) on the sights along the banks including Parliament, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. Its £13.25 for adults and £11.93 for kids 4 to 15. A ticket to ride on the wheel is not included in the River Cruise Experience, but they can be booked separately. The London Eye is managed by the same company which manages London’s other top tourist attractions Madame Tussauds’s Wax Museum, the London Dungeons, and the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, and combined tickets are available.
The landing for the London Eye is on the south bank of the Thames across the river from Big Ben and Parliament (see Visiting Big Ben and Parliament), near Waterloo Rail station at the Waterloo Millenium Pier. ©Bargain Travel Europe
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See Also:
LONDON
SIGHTSEEING BY BUS TOUR
TOWER OF LONDON
FROM
TRAITOR'S GATE TO MORTIMER'S HOLE
HMS BELFAST LONDON WAR SHIP MUSEUM
HAY'S GALLERIA SHOPS AND SHIPPING HISTORY
