Oh Manchester, So Much to Answer For (The Wheel of Manchester)

Member Name: kitschkitty

Product:	The Wheel of Manchester
Date:	29/03/09 (205 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Offers fantastic, panoramic views over the city

Disadvantages: Might be too expensive for some.

If you visit the centre of Manchester, it's hard to miss the huge ferris wheel that has been occupying the city centre skyline since May 2007. Known as The Wheel of Manchester, its promoters, World Tourist Attractions, claim that the Manchester Wheel is world famous and whilst it lacks the stature of The London Eye, it's still one attraction in Manchester that's well worth a visit.

The Wheel of Manchester is located in Exchange Square, right in the centre of Manchester. Finding it isn't too difficult since it is easily visible on the city centre skyline. It's located within a stone's throw of Selfridges and overlooks the Printworks which means a ride on the Wheel can easily be combined with a day of shopping, eating or drinking, or, if you really want to make the most of your time in Manchester, all of the above.

I was treated to a journey on the Wheel by my then boyfriend on Christmas Eve 2007. Surprisingly, the queues were small, perhaps due to the sub-zero temperatures. I didn't pay when I visited but, according to the World Tourist Attractions website, prices for adults are £6.50 each. If you book online, there are some slight discounts to be had. To commandeer a whole capsule to yourself costs £48 but when I visited, my boyfriend and I were lucky enough to get the capsule to ourselves without paying any extra. I got the impression that, unless if was particularly busy, the staff would endeavour to give you your own capsule if possible, without having to specifically pay for a private trip.

As you might have noticed by now, I'm struggling to come up with the word to describe the Wheel of Manchester experience. It seems wrong to call it a ride since, despite the fact that it looks like an oversized fairground ferris wheel, it isn't a ride filled with thrills and spills. It isn't really a journey or trip either since the start and end point is the same and, asides from a 60 metre journey towards the heavens, you don't really take a journey as such. Perhaps it's best described as an experience.

My experience was during a winter evening which meant I got to see the cityscape of Manchester by night. Fortunately, it was clear and I could see the twinkling lights of Manchester sprawling for miles around me. Having spent over 5 years living in Manchester, the city may have lost some of its initial gloss, but it still hasn't lost its appeal with me. The combination of the orange and neon lights below and my childish Christmas excitement meant it was a really magical experience whilst the imposing tower of Strangeways added an eerie juxtaposition. Whilst the capsules claim to be climate controlled, it was still a little chilly and draughty. Strangely enough, this added to the appeal for me but if you're not akin with the winter climate, you'd be advised to wrap up warmly.

Fortunately, I've never been fazed by heights and the 60 metre height to which the Wheel lifts passengers provides a stunning view of the city which I'm sure is equally impressive by daylight, if perhaps a little less magical. The Wheel is solidly built which is apparent from looking at it from ground level. My experience was on a brisk and windy evening so I won't deny there was a minimal amount of rocking during the ride but it wasn't enough to make me feel unsteady or insecure.

According to the website, the journey lasts 13 minutes although I have to confess that time was the last thing on my mind as I took in the breathtaking views. The timing did seem about right, leaving me wanting more but not feeling completely dissatisfied. Certainly, I think younger children would find the experience boring were it to last any longer. It may have been nearly 18 months since I visited the Wheel of Manchester but I still have fond memories of the experience, if not for the person I shared that experience with!

The webpage that is dedicated to the Wheel of Manchester is brief but does offer plenty of pertinent information. The wheel does offer disabled access and there is a detailed pricing list available on the website at http://worldtouristattractions.co.uk/wta_wheel_man chester.php

Manchester is still a beautiful city to me and a trip on the Wheel of Manchester certainly reiterated my feelings. Regardless of whether you're a visitor to the city or a lifelong resident, the Wheel of Manchester is a great opportunity to enjoy the city from an entirely new perspective.

Summary: Oh Manchester, So Much to Answer For