Fast Facts About The London Eye

FAST FACTS ABOUT THE LONDOS EYE

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Fast Facts About The London Eye A visit to London will not be complete without experiencing the London Eye. Despite its being a fairly new installation in the city, the humongous Ferris wheel joins the ranks of the UK’s flagship attractions—a list made up mostly of historic places and structures. Its popularity has inspired Sir Richard Rogers, an award-winning architect, to say that the Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris, which is to provide everybody, not just enthusiasts or rich people, an opportunity to see the city from above.

Standing for 15 years, this observation wheel has served witness to many historic events. Here are some interesting facts about the beloved superstructure: It Provides a Panoramic Vantage Point With a height of 160 m, observers can see London in all directions up to 40 kilometres. In a bright and sunny day, people can see some of the city’s most famous landmarks. These include St. Paul Cathedral

in

the

east

and

Nelson’s

Column in Trafalgar Square. Observers may also see the Windsor Palace.

It Carries More People than Most People Think The capsules,

Eye each

has

32

one

air-conditioned

representing

the

boroughs of London. Each capsule has a weight of 10 tonnes. A capsule can carry 25 passengers; each gondola has seats and is roomy enough to let people walk around or switch spots.

It Has a Predecessor Unbeknownst to many, the London Eye has a predecessor. The Great Wheel was commissioned for the Empire of India Exhibition, was built in 1894 and opened in 1895. It became a popular attraction until 1906, after serving more than 2.5 million passengers.

All it Takes is Half an Hour As it is a superstructure, it takes 30 minutes to complete a revolution. The cycle is continuous; it does not stop to gather passengers or let them step off.

These are only some of the most interesting facts about The London Eye. To complete the experience, observers are advised to use binoculars.

SOURCES: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/desti nations/europe/uk/london/11458671/Th e-London-Eye-in-numbers.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/en gland/london/4569123.stm http://lhalondon.com/