On top of the world... well London at least! (London Eye)

Member Name: glitterprincess

Product:	London Eye
Date:	15/08/03 (181 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant experience

Disadvantages: A bit expensive

Many major cities seem to have a landmark attraction that allows you to tower above the city for a birds-eye view. New York has the Empire State Building, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye has fast become that attraction for the capital of England.

Officially known as the British Airways London Eye, I remember it being put in place for the Millennium and drawing mixed reactions. Some thought it was a blot on the landscape and much too large and modern while others thought it looked amazing- a true symbol of the 21st Century. I have to say I fall into the latter category.

These days it seems to have been accepted as a major part of London and is a must-see attraction during any visit. Saying that, it is not as if you can miss it. But experiencing it is in a totally different league than simply standing at its base gazing up admiringly.

I have to hold my hands up though and admit that I do have a soft spot for ferris wheels and the sight of one at any fairground is one I love, so of course I am bound to be an immediate fan of a 135-metre wheel! It is the tallest observation wheel in the world- that in itself makes it worth a trip.

I think it looks particularly amazing at night when it is lit up and truly dominates the skyline. It totally dwarfs Big Ben and other buildings nearby that were previously considered tall!

The London Eye, previously known as the Millennium Wheel, is located in Westminster, close to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge.
It is easily accessible with the nearest tube stations being Waterloo and Westminster. Both are around five minutes away.

I have heard that it is best to book tickets well in advance because they sell out quickly. But both times I have been on it, once at night and once during the day, I got my tickets on the day just prior to the trip. However, we did not visit in peak season and if it is something you desperately want to do then it is best to bo
ok to avoid disappointment.

Tickets can be booked on-line at www.ba-londoneye.com or by calling 0870 5000 600. To buy tickets you can go to County Hall which is a two-minute walk from the wheel.

Adult tickets cost £9.50 which seemed a bit steep to me. But it is worth going on as the experience is excellent.

Flights (the name given to trips on the wheel) take place every 30 minutes and you are expected to be there half an hour before your departure time, which is printed on your ticket.

Queues are usual and move quickly as people board their capsules. You are searched while queuing and not allowed to take any large bags aboard.

When you are at the front of your queue you are shown into your capsule, each of which takes around a dozen people. They are large, so it is not crowded at all, and the sides are completely made of glass so you do not miss a thing. There is a big bench in the middle of the capsule.
The wheel moves slowly and gives you plenty of time to take everything in. From the west views of famous sights include Earl?s Court, Buckingham Palace, Downing Street, St James?s Park and Trafalgar Square.

From the north view you can see the BT Tower, the Royal Opera House, Waterloo Bridge and the Royal Courts of Justice.

The east gives views including St Paul?s Cathedral, the Tower of London and London Bridge, while views to the south include Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Apparently, you can see for up to 40km on a clear day.

You go round once, but it is very slow which gives you chance to take everything in.

When you are going back down and nearing the landing station, I suggest you go and wait by the door. If you look towards the landing station you will see a camera that takes a photo of your pod. We were the only ones that noticed it on our trip so it looked like it was just a photo of us with a few people in the background! It?s a really nice s
ouvenir to have. I don?t remember how much it was but it wasn?t took expensive otherwise I wouldn?t have a copy!

Souvenir guide books are available from County Hall for £4.50 and are worth the money as they contain descriptions of what you can see in each direction. They have colour panoramic photographs where buildings are numbered and a key states what each is so you can identify buildings during the trip.

The book also tells you about the history of the wheel and how it was built. It was constructed on temporary islands in the River Thames and them pulled up to standing position. A sight I would have loved to have seen! It is apparently the largest construction to ever be hoisted from horizontal to vertical and there are some great pictures of it in the guide book.

Planning permission was only given for the wheel to be temporary and only lasts for five years. It has been built in such a way that it can be dismantled and moved. However, with the amount of money it is bringing in from tourists I cannot see this happening at all- after all, wasn?t the Eiffel Tower only meant to be temporary?!

I have read that you can hire a private capsule for groups of 25 and can have champagne, but I don?t know anyone that has done this or how expensive it is. It sounds good though, although I don?t think you really need it as it is not crowded anyway and everyone gets to see.

I have been on the wheel twice. During the day was good because we had a clear view of the city. Going on at night was totally different and it was lovely to see the city as a mass of tiny lights. However, our night flight was in December and it was raining so the glass steamed up and had a lot of rain on it which stopped us enjoying it as much as if it had been a clear night.

Anyway, to sum it up- everyone who visits London should make this a part of their trip. It really does feel like you are on top of the world.

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