British Airways London Eye Overview
At 135m (443ft) tall, the British Airways London Eye is the world's largest observation wheel and the fourth tallest structure in London. Designed by Marks Barfield Architects and managed by the Tussaud's Group, the wheel was erected in 1999. It differs from a ferris wheel in that it has an A-frame support structure on only one side, while the pods are located on the exterior. These are stabilized by internal motors that keep them horizontal as the wheel slowly moves around. The structure has 32 separate capsules that rotate and can carry up to 25 people at any one time, taking passengers on a 30-minute trip high above London's skyline. Designed to be visually appealing from the exterior, the wheel provides staggering views of central London to a distance as far away as 40km (25 miles) on clear days. The London Eye continues to be one of the UK's most visited paid for attractions.
Contact Addresses British Airways London Eye, Customer Services, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB, UK Tel: (0870) 500 0600 or (0870) 990 8883 Website: www.ba-londoneye.com
Transportation Air: London Heathrow Airport or London Gatwick Airport. Water: The Tate Boat runs along the Thames between Tate Britain, the London Eye and Tate Modern. Rail: Train: London Waterloo Station or London Charing Cross Station. Underground: Westminster (Circle and District lines), Waterloo (Bakerloo, Jubilee or Northern lines), Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District or Northern lines). Road: Bus: Public services for the South Bank.
