LONDON EYE
An amazing feat of engineering, the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel offers fascinating views over the whole of London. Towering over the Thames opposite the Houses of Parliament, it was built to celebrate the millennium year, and has proved enormously popular. Its 32 enclosed capsules each hold up to 28 people and offer total visibility in all directions. A rotation on the London Eye takes 30 minutes and, on a clear day, you can see up to 25 miles (40 km) across the capital and the south of England.
The London Eye, South Bank
NEED TO KNOW
South Bank SE1 • www.londoneye.com • Open Sep–Mar & May: 11am–6pm daily; Apr & Jun–Aug: 10am–8:30pm daily; closed Dec 25 and 2 weeks in Jan. Ticket office opens 9:30am • Adm adults $35, children $29, under 3 free; check website for discounts • Timed tickets on the hour and half-hour
- There are cafés in County Hall and on the South Bank.
- Tickets are available on the day but advance booking is advisable to avoid standing in long lines.
- All capsules are fitted with interactive tablet guides.
1. BT Tower
Built for the Post Office in 1961–4, this 620-ft (190-m) tower is now a TV, radio, and tele-communications tower. It was given Grade II Listed Building status in 2003, meaning its defunct antennas needed special permission to be removed.
2. Houses of Parliament
The London Eye rises high above the Houses of Parliament on the far side of the Thames. From here you can look down on Big Ben and see the Commons Terrace, where Members of Parliament and the House of Lords drink, dine, and discuss policy by the river.
Houses of Parliament
3. One Canada Square
With its distinctive pyramid roof, One Canada Square is located in the heart of Docklands, which is the East London business and finance center. It stands in the middle of the Isle of Dogs.
4. Wren Churches
The enormous dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral stands out as the star of the City churches. Pricking the sky around it are the spires of some of Wren’s other churches, including St. Bride’s, which has a tiered design that has inspired wedding cakes, and Wren’s favorite, St. James’s on Piccadilly.
Wren Churches
5. Alexandra Palace
The BBC transmitted the world’s first high-definition public television broadcasting service from Alexandra Palace on November 2, 1936. There are exhibition halls and an ice rink here.
6. Crystal Palace
This TV and radio transmission mast, to the south of the city, is near the site of the 1851 Great Exhibition “Crystal Palace.” It was moved here from Hyde Park in 1852 and burned down spectacularly in 1936.
7. The Shard
Designed by Renzo Piano, this 1,004-ft (306-m) glass spire rises from London Bridge station and gives the city skyline a new defining point. The 95- story building houses offices, restaurants, and a hotel. There is an observation deck on the 72nd floor.
The Shard
8. Heathrow
To the west of the city, London’s main airport is one of the busiest international airports in the world. The Thames acts as a kind of runway, as planes line up overhead to begin their descent.
9. Queen Elizabeth II Bridge
On a clear day you can just make out the lowest downstream crossing on the Thames, a huge suspension bridge at Dartford, some 20 miles (32 km) away. Traffic flows north in a tunnel under the river, south over the bridge.
10. Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle sits by the Thames to the west of London. The largest occupied castle in the world, it is still a favorite residence of the royal family.
Windsor Castle
MILLENNIUM LEGACY
The London Eye was one of a number of nationwide projects designed to mark the millennium. The focus in London was on the enormous Millennium Dome, a spectacular structure built in Greenwich to house a national exhibition. Other projects were Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge, the Waterloo Millennium Pier, the Great Court at the British Museum, and the opening up of Somerset House (Strand).
