The Coca Cola London Eye: Europe’s Tallest Observation Wheel
My American friends were planning Independence Day celebrations in July while I was on a week-long summer holiday in the United Kingdom with my family. At first, London reminded me of Mumbai due to its moderate oceanic climate and varying moisture levels in the air. It seemed like home with the warm wind, the architectural similarities, and the sporadic splash of Indians! Experiencing Great Britain separate from its colonial influence in India, on the other hand, was a triumph. London, in particular, offers a lot to see and do. The Coca-Cola London Eye was one such modern icon I’d heard about.
As a result, we decided to visit it and see why it is considered one of London’s top monuments. We boarded a train from Hyde Park Knightbridge Station to St Pancras International Eurostar Terminus, commonly known as Europe’s first destination station, to go to this observation wheel. It’s an eye-catching train station with Europe’s longest champagne bar and superb shopping options. We arrived at London’s most-talked-about Ferris wheel after a 20-minute trip from this endpoint.
The London Eye is not just the fourth-tallest, but also one of the most visible observation wheels on the planet. The closest tube station is Westminister, which is only a short walk away. Tony Blair formally unveiled the Millennium Wheel on December 31, 1999. The Coca-Cola London Eye, the world’s highest cantilevered observation wheel, now spins over the River Thames, the House of Parliament, and the Big Ben Clock Tower. The 35-minute ride has a spectacular 4D spinning experience with incredible 360-degree vistas.
You can see London come to life with multi-sensory special effects like bubbles, wind, and aroma for an admission cost of €22 – €40. The architects Frank Anatole, Steve Chilton, Julia Barfield, Nick Bailey, Mark Sparrowhawk, Malcolm Cook, and David Marks designed the 32 warm capsules. Each of these capsules represents one of London’s boroughs and spins at a rate of 10 inches per second, rotating once every thirty minutes. The speed at which this Ferris wheel rotates is quite incredible! You can step directly inside a capsule while the wheel is spinning, believe it or not.
We had interactive touch displays inside our allotted capsule. It’s simple to use! The interactive screen consistently displays information on significant surroundings. As the Ferris Wheel rises, the city’s skylines become increasingly visible, as do the city’s culture, people, sites, and cars. This magnificent Millenium Wheel stands 443 feet tall and 394 feet wide. Unlike its enormous contemporaries, the Nanchang and the Singapore wheels – The London Eye is supported by an A-frame on just one side, earning it the title of the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel from its operators.
The western border of Jubilee Gardens on the River Thames, which connects Westminster and Hungerford Bridge beside County Hall in the London Borough of Lambeth, is home to this elevated public observation point. It has drawn millions and billions of tourists since it launched in 2000.
The London Eye will commemorate its 20th birthday in March 2020, with memorable experiences such as a bar in a capsule, a movie pod, and a garden party with flower creations to represent London’s eight Royal Parks. Overall, riding this massive wheel was a fantastic experience, and the London Eye is definitely worth a visit while you’re in town.
