London from above
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My latest Europe trip | Posted:
Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:04 pm
Next it was on to the London Eye.
Based on the bank of the river Thames near Waterloo Station this is spectacle well worth the visit. Basically it is the biggest observation wheel in the world, hence its name, which will in matter of 30 minutes make a full circle and thus give you a splendid view of London. It towers 135 meters over the Thames River and weighs 2,100 tonnes. If the sky is clear you will have a 25-mile panoramic view.
Built by British Airways for the Millenium celebrations. B.A. hate it being called a Ferris Wheel. They call it a 'flight'.
But in reality it is almost a copy of Vienna's Prater ferris wheel and dominates the river skyline opposite Parliament. We had no problem with queus, although people warned us that they could be long.. The capsules can get very hot in sunny weather - you can book a whole capsule if you wish (some famous uses include advertising cars, cocktail parties, wedding ceremonies). Take a telephoto lens if you want to get good photos from the top - London is a big, big city.
Nb It is usually closed for annual maintenance at the end of January/beginning of February, but this can shift so check their website.
Here is a pic from a distance.
It takes around 30 minutes to do 1 revolution.
Here are some pics from inside. This one looking down the Thames River.
Here is a pic of the capsules which you are in.
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