11 Facts About London Eye

London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.

London Eye used to offer the highest public viewing point in London until it was superseded by the 245-metre-high observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard, which opened to the public on 1 February 2013.

London Eye was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects.

Rim of the London Eye is supported by tensioned steel cables and resembles a huge spoked bicycle wheel.

London Eye was formally opened by the Prime Minister Tony Blair on 31 December 1999, but did not open to the paying public until 9 March 2000 because of a capsule clutch problem.

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London Eye was originally intended as a temporary attraction, with a five-year lease.

In March 2020, the London Eye celebrated its 20th birthday by turning several of its pods into experiences themed around London.

In May 2007, the Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group which was then the owner of the London Eye; Tussauds was merged with Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments and disappeared as an entity.

On 12 August 2009, the London Eye saw another rebrand, this time being called "The Merlin Entertainments London Eye" to showcase Merlin Entertainments' ownership.

London Eye pledged that if the dispute was not resolved he would use his powers to ask the London Development Agency to issue a compulsory purchase order.

South Bank Centre and the British Airways London Eye agreed on a 25-year lease on 8 February 2006 after a judicial review over the rent dispute.