London Eye

London Eye, a giant observation wheel located in the Jubilee

Gardens on the South Bank. The 135 meter (443ft) tall structure was built as part of London's millennium celebrations.

the architectural team of David Marks and Julia Barfield, husband

and wife. They submitted their idea for a large observation wheel as part of a competition to design a landmark for the new millennium. None of the entrants won the competition, but the couple pressed on and eventually got the backing of British Airways, who sponsored the project.

and a half to complete. In the process over 1700

tonnes of steel were used for the structure and more than 3000 tonnes of concrete were used for the foundations.  The futuristic looking capsules, accommodating up to twenty-five passengers, were transported all the way from France by train through the chunnel. Each egg-shaped capsule is eight meters long and weighs five hundred kilograms. The twenty-five meter (82 ft) long spindle was built in the Czech Republic. The rim has a diameter of 122m (400ft), about two hundred times the size of a bicycle wheel. Eighty spokes connect the rim with the spindle.

to embark while it is moving. A complete turn takes

about thirty minutes. Thanks to the construction of the glass capsules on the outer side of the rim, London Eye Capsule Capsule the passengers have a great 360 degree view over London.  Many famous landmarks are clearly visible, including Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament. On a clear day you can see as far as forty kilometers (25 miles).  Make sure you get your tickets in advance, lines can be very long, both the lines for embarking and for ticket purchases. It's less crowded at night when the views are even more spectacular.

Westminster and Big Ben to the left, Charing Cross railway station centre, and Waterloo railway station to

the right