The London Eye Ferris Wheel in London is one of the full-fledged sights of the British capital along with Westminster Abbey, the Tower and the Parliament Building. But unlike architectural monuments, it regularly serves the needs of tourists. After all, it is also an interesting and exciting attraction. Appearing in the year 2000, before the onset of the Millennium, it got its name "Millennium Wheel." And since the booths of the attraction are transparent capsules giving a 360-degree view, he also received the nickname, which soon became the official third name - “The London Eye”. In the first year of operation, the Ferris wheel was included in the Mast Sea list in the capital of Great Britain. But in this case, you need not only to see this attraction, but also to use it for its intended purpose. “Mast Tray” - “should try” - this section exists in many guides to different countries. It mainly lists the main dishes and drinks of national cuisines. But the call to the mast ferry also fits the London Ferris wheel. Believe me, an unforgettable experience awaits you.
The story of the London Eye
In 1993, the Sunday Times announced a tender for the construction of a monumental building in the British capital for the Millennium. Spouse-architects David Marx and Julia Barfield submitted their project - a giant Ferris wheel. But the jury ignored this proposal. Then the couple decided to bring their idea to life on their own. Construction money was found by chance. Architects talked about their idea and their misfortune with the jury, Bob Elling, head of British Airlines. He allocated funds (of course, subject to advertising his company). The London Ferris Wheel, which became known as the British Airways London Eye , was planned as a temporary structure. It was an experiment, and according to the documents the attraction should have been dismantled five years later, in 2005. But fate decreed otherwise. The London Eye has firmly established itself in the capital of Great Britain and has become one of its attractions.
Construction
This huge design is not easy to install. After all, the weight of only steel parts in the attraction is one thousand seven hundred tons. But there are still 32 cabins! And each of them weighs ten thousand kilograms. And the height of the London Ferris wheel, if we count from the base of the support to the top, is one hundred thirty-five meters. This is approximately the size of a 45-story building. At the time of construction, the London Eye was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. This circumstance immediately introduced the attraction into the Guinness Book. The London Eye did not hold the palm for a long time, until the Singapore ferris wheel 165 meters high was built. To assemble such a structure had to be in parts. Segments were brought along the Thames by barges and mounted on platforms specially set up in the middle of the river. Then the wheel should be raised. By the way, it stands not vertically, but at an angle, which makes the attraction even more interesting. They lifted the structure very slowly, two degrees per hour, until it reached its current position.
Where is the London Ferris Wheel located
In English, the attraction is called the London Eye and is easy to find on tourist maps. It is located on the banks of the Thames. You can get to the London Eye by metro. The nearest subway station is Waterloo. Follow the signs for the South Bank. You can exit at Embankment or Chering Cross stations. In this case, you will need to cross the Thames on the Hungerford Bridge. From the Westminster metro station, you can also approach the Ferris wheel, passing around the Parliament and Big Ben.
Attraction
In order for the structure to function normally and be safe, it had to be monitored. But there were no problems with that. Sponsors lined up just to conduct a PR of their company. After all, a photo of the London Ferris wheel flickered in every city guide. It has become as popular as Big Ben. Each company has made improvements to the London Eye. At the end of 2006, the wheel acquired LED backlighting, which made it possible to control the lights in electronic mode. The booths of this attraction resemble glass egg-shaped capsules. Each can accommodate 25 people.
What is special about the ride
Many people in their lives already rode the Ferris wheel. Many might think: what's so special? Why pay so much money and even stand in a long line? The fact is that the wheel moves very slowly - 26 centimeters per second. Therefore, the landing and landing of passengers in the capsule is carried out on the go. The London Ferris wheel makes a stop only in special cases: when it is necessary to take on board a person in a wheelchair, etc. And it completes a full revolution in half an hour with a little. During this time, you can enjoy the view and take a lot of photos. It is good for the flight to choose clear weather. Then, even Windsor can be seen from the height of the Ferris wheel (and an hour from London from it). But even on this, the features of the attraction are not exhausted. On the wheel you can order a special booth, the so-called Cupid capsule. There you will travel only together (except for the waiter who will serve champagne and fresh strawberries to the couple in love). You must admit that you will not find such an option on other ferris wheels.
Prices and how to buy a ticket
The London Eye Ferris Wheel is not a cheap ride. A standard ticket for an adult costs 25 pounds, and for a child - 20. There is a nuance: you need to use the opportunity to ride at a certain time. And if you are unlucky with the weather, you will consider the gray haze of fog behind the glass. You can take a ticket with flexible time. It will cost 27.5 pounds. If you pay for two skating, in the light and dark, it will cost you £ 30. Guide services on board capsules cost 28 pounds. Using a private capsule offers many options: from a romantic trip for two to corporate parties and wedding ceremonies. For £ 2800, the attraction employees will fulfill your every whim. Tickets can be bought at the box office, which are located on the other side of the promenade. But if you purchase them online, then save 10 percent of the cost.
Avoiding Queues
Almost every visitor to the city wants to get on the London Ferris wheel. Therefore, the lines for entering the booths are serious. But if you bought a combined ticket, you have superiority over other visitors to the attraction. There are several such advantageous positions. To the “London Eye” you can buy a forty-minute ride on the Thames in a tourist boat, or a visit to the aquarium, or a visit to Madame Tussauds, or a journey through the dungeons of the city. Such a combined ticket costs from 32 pounds. Another plus is that the time of visiting the Ferris wheel is not fixed.
What opportunities are open to the client in a standard capsule
The London Ferris Wheel is equipped with the latest technology. It used to be there only that there were benches for tired passengers and an air conditioning system. Now the amenities in the booth have significantly increased. Samsung Galaxy Tab is an interactive guide that will give you details of all the places that you see as you go up and down. Owners of smartphones can use the free application London Ai Official, which will be available circular panoramas and a lot of interesting information. There are markings on the floor of the capsule. If you get to these places when you go down, you will fall into the camera lens, which automatically photographs each booth. You can pay and get your picture in a souvenir shop next to the attraction.