The London Eye has been serving tourists for ten years

London - Visitors to London have the city almost at their fingertips when they sit in one of the glass cabins of the so-called London Eye - a giant ferris wheel. After the announcement of its construction in close proximity to the most famous landmarks of the British capital, many residents thought that the city council must have gone mad. However, the "Russian" wheel soon celebrated significant success and today it is the most sought-after paid attraction in Britain. The tallest wheel in Europe was inaugurated ten years ago, on December 31, 1999.
    The construction on the south bank of the Thames was one of the attractions of the New Millennium celebrations (interested parties could ride the wheel for the first time only in March 2000 due to technical problems) and was originally intended to be temporary. However, it is now clear that the attraction has taken root in London. Up to 15,000 adrenaline lovers rotate on it each day. In the evenings, companies can hold parties with champagne or promotional events in individual "capsules." The wheel is the fourth tallest structure in London - the nearby Big Ben has suddenly turned into a dwarf by comparison.
    The "Wheel of the Millennium" has 32 air-conditioned cabins, each accommodating up to 25 people. The machine is constantly in motion but rotates very slowly, allowing tourists to board while it is moving. During the thirty-minute ride, they can enjoy the view of London and its surroundings. Those who are truly lucky with the weather may see the nearby Windsor Castle or even the sea. The Eye is also the only place from which all seven famous London football stadiums can be seen. Among other things, this is made possible because the cabins provide a full 360-degree view.
    The two-year realization of the 135-meter-high and 1500-ton colossus was an international project. Components were supplied from several countries, including the Czech Republic. Credit goes to the Plzeň-based Škoda, which produced the heart of the entire wheel - the central axis for anchoring the cables and the anchoring bases. The total cost of the attraction exceeded 70 million pounds, and the value of the Škoda Steel contract, a subsidiary of Škoda Plzeň, amounted to several tens of millions of crowns. The realization of the London Eye was ensured by British Airways and the office of Marks Barfield Architects.
    The entertainment wheel held the world record for size for a long time. However, this is no longer the case - the title now belongs to Asian Singapore. Since 2008, a giant nicknamed the Singapore Flyer, standing at 165 meters, has been turning there. From its highest point, it is possible to see neighboring Malaysia and Indonesia. Second in the ranking is the 160-meter Nan-Chang Star (2006) located in a park in this Chinese city. The London Eye, a symbol of the passage of time or the cycle of life, which is visited by 3.5 million people annually, is now third in the ranking.