The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. Also known as the Millennium Wheel, the entire structure is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When erected in 1999, it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. Supported by an A-frame on one side only, the Eye is described by its operators as “the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel”.
The London Eye was designed by architects Frank Anatole, Nic Bailey, Steve Chilton, Malcolm Cook, Mark Sparrowhawk, and the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks. The rim of the Eye is supported by tensioned steel cables and resembles a huge spooked bicycle wheel. The wheel’s 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoid passenger capsules are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. Each of the 10-tonne capsules represents one of the London Boroughs, and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided.
Students of Asian Business School were delighted when they visited The London Eye. This attraction gave them a spectacular view of the entire city including all the major monuments and buildings. It was a perfect experience to see whole city from high place and indeed a memorable moment.