Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

London Eye

Posted by James Turnbull, Tuesday, 21st June 2005

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The London Eye is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames. You can see for 25 miles in each direction when the capsule is at its highest - an amazing height of 135 meteres. The wheel can carry in excess of 15,000 passengers each day, and is one of London’s biggest attractions.

According to the official site it is not a Ferris Wheel, ‘… for three reasons, firstly that its capsules are enclosed, secondly that they are positioned on the outside of the wheel and thirdly that the whole structure is supported by an A-Frame from one side only.’

London Eye

Thanks: Bill Kendrick, Ben Scott, Michael Davis, Jen & many others

14 Responses to 'London Eye'

  1. 1. Jake says:

    And right across the river is the British Parliment. Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

  2. 2. seph says:

    down a bit jake

    Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth

    the orange line along the river edge at the bottom of the frame is a really ugly awning but i guess it’s ok to put a moderm awning on a famous gothic building so long as the MPs get their nice shaded river view :)

  3. 3. Louise says:

    If its not a Ferris Wheel, then what is it? *confusion!*

  4. 4. James says:

    Louise,

    It’s an [observation wheel][1]. In fact it’s the world’s largest observation wheel (but not for long).

    [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observation_wheel

  5. 5. Tim says:

    Well, the capsules of the first Ferris Wheel (at the Chicago World’s Fair) were enclosed, and those were designed by Ferris himself! Now, you can’t tell me that isn’t a Ferris wheel! But then, James just mentioned an observation wheel, and several sites that I googled called it just that.

  6. 6. Gaz (UK) says:

    Apparently is movable. I don’t mean they crank up the speed and release it down the Thames but it does come to bits if they decide to take it on tour.

    Every TV interview in London for that year was done in a pod.

  7. 7. MattHew says:

    Look down at the south bridge. that is what I call Rush hour

  8. 8. SpedAngel says:

    Having been on the London Eye, I can say that it is owned by British Airways and that it talks about your “flight” and to prepare for “departure” and “landing.” Everyone calls it the Millenium Wheel and a lot of people have no idea what you mean when you call it the London Eye. So yeah ;P

  9. 9. L0uSE says:

    The Jellied Eel ov’r the Dirty Daughter, G’or Blimey!

  10. 10. steve says:

    i think its sponsored by British Airways, and not owned by them

  11. 11. Mike says:

    This site uses Google Maps to show the London Eye.

  12. 12. praveen says:

    Why is london eye so called ?

  13. 13. cindy says:

    this is stupid. either way you look at it, the london eye IS a ferris wheel. and observation wheel is just the technical name for a ferris wheel,so who the hell do they think they are fooling

  14. 14. cindy says:

    plain and simple, it is what it is, they are not fooling anyone

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