The British Airways London Eye

The British Airways London Eye, the world's largest Ferris wheel, is London's newest tourist attraction. It sits on the South Bank of the Thames, adjacent to Jubilee Gardens and County Hall, and is expected to remain in place for five years.

Conceived by architects Davis Marks and Julia Barfield, built by British Airways and run by the Tussauds group, the Eye has been open to the public from March 2000. A simple yet beautiful construction, it stands some 450ft high (135 metres) and is the sixth tallest structure in London. The glass gondolas are carried on the outside of the wheel, enabling unobstructed views of 25 miles or more. A ride on the Eye lasts just over 30 minutes.

The Eye is an awesome and inspiring stucture simply to look at, not just to ride on. I hope these photographs of it speak for themselves.

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December 1999 - the Eye is winched into place


 


 

January 2000 - the gondolas have been fitted and the Eye will shortly open to the public

View from Westminster Bridge

Various views from the Thames embankment and from Jubilee Gardens

March 2000 - a ride on the Eye

County Hall

Inside a capsule

Back to Borough of Lambeth index page


Links:

   British Airways London Eye website, including a live webcam
Marks Barfield architects
   Mike Brown's London Eye gallery
   Map of the South Bank and aerial photos by Streetmap.co.uk

This page last updated 24th October 2002