subject: London Eye, a modern miracle [print this page] London Eye, a modern miracle London Eye, a modern miracle
The London Eye is a mammoth modern Ferris wheel located in London on the shores of the River Thames. At 135 metres tall the London Eye has the distinction of being Europe's largest Ferris wheel; at the time of its inception it was the tallest such wheel on the globe. It is the United Kingdom's most popular paid tourist venue attracting in excess of 3.5 million visitors each year, giving it the distinction of being a more popular tourist destination than the Pyramids of Giza and the Taj Mahal. A proud symbol of modern Britain, the London Eye has achieved iconic status over its years of existence.
A sensational feat of engineering and design, the London Eye provides passengers with a spectacular panoramic view extending 40 km in every direction. The London Eye was conceived of by a husband and wife architectural team, Julia Barfield and David Marks. First opened to the public in March 2000 the attraction was originally called the Millennium Wheel. The design of the wheel was intended to be a metaphor for the culmination of the 20th century, and the hands of time moving into the new millennium.
The wheel rotates 32 individual passenger capsules representing the 32 London Boroughs, each weighing 10 tonnes and accommodating 25 individuals. Each capsule is air-conditioned and provides ample room for passengers to walk about. One full rotation of the wheel takes approximately half an hour, and the speed of rotation is slow enough for passengers to embark and disembark safely, although the wheel may be stopped for elderly and disabled passengers.
The total mass of steel in the London Eye amounts to 1,700 tonnes. The materials for the project were sourced from six European countries; steel provided by the United Kingdom and manufactured in the Netherlands; bearings and cables from Germany and Italy respectively; while the hub and spindle originated from the Czech Republic. A French company was responsible for construction of the capsules, and the United Kingdom supplied electrical components.
The London Eye has functioned as the focus of the British capital's New Year festivities since January 1, 2005, with sensational shows of fireworks launched from the wheel.
For the traveller seeking 4 star hotels in London, there is no better choice than the Millennium Gloucester Hotel London Kensington. This fine Kensington hotel London offers convenient accommodation for the astute traveller.
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