London Eye, Observation wheel on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom
The London Eye is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the Thames, 135 metres tall with a 120-metre rim of tensioned steel cables and 32 sealed, air-conditioned ovoid capsules outside the rim, each holding 25 to 28 people. It is supported solely by an A-frame on one side, and its rim turns on 16 friction wheels.
Architects Julia Barfield and David Marks designed the wheel in 1998 for London's millennium celebrations, with construction completed in 1999 and public opening in March 2000. Originally planned to operate for five years, it became a permanent installation after sustained demand from visitors and residents.
This observation structure has become a reference point along the South Bank skyline since the millennium celebrations, helping people find their way around the city and offering a shared meeting place near theatres and galleries. On clear days, walkers and photographers gather along the riverside path to frame the wheel against the Houses of Parliament or the towers of the financial district, watching the capsules turn slowly overhead.
The wheel stands within walking distance of Waterloo and Westminster stations, and each rotation takes 30 minutes while capsules hold up to 25 passengers. Booking online reduces waiting times on site, especially during weekends and school holidays when longer queues tend to form.
The rim is driven by 16 friction wheels, eight on each side grouped in fours, so the wheel never needs to stop for boarding except to admit wheelchair users. At 0.26 m/s a full turn takes almost half an hour, and on a clear day passengers can see as far as Windsor Castle, some 40 km away.
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