Sights from the London Eye

Among the most famous attractions in London is an observation wheel known as the London Eye or Millennium Wheel. It was inaugurated in 2000 and for several years was the largest Ferris wheel in the world.

Although today it is no longer the largest, it is still a wheel visited by millions of people every year because buying a ticket for the London Eye involves climbing into one of its glass booths and see the Thames River, the London skyline and the most emblematic areas of the city. Here I will tell you about what you can see from this great Ferris wheel.

When the wheel starts to turn, the first thing you see is the great river Thames, the most important river in England. And when you are at the top of the wheel, if the day is clear, you can see up to 40 meters away. Take advantage of this panoramic view and be sure to observe some of the more than 90 species of wild birds whose habitat is the Thames or how the different kinds of boats navigate the river. If you want to know more about cruises on the Thames I recommend you to read this post.

Oh, and you can also get tickets that combine the ascent to the London Eye with a cruise on the Thames and a pass for the tourist bus. With this option you can discover London by land, water and air saving money and in a super comfortable way. Great!

This bridge is one of the oldest and most recognized in England and is very close to the Millennium Wheel, so it will be one of the first things you will see when you start to rise inside the Ferris wheel. The construction of the Westminster Bridge took place in 1862, its length is 353 meters and has 7 iron arches and from the London Eye you get an excellent view of it.

But if you also want to know more about its history and relevance, I recommend you to book a tour of Westminster and tickets for the London Eye. This way, when you get on the Ferris wheel you will know perfectly not only what you are seeing, but also its history and curiosities.

Very close to Westminster Bridge and the River Thames is the Palace of Westminster. As you soar on the London Eye you will see the imposing structure of this Victorian Gothic style building that for years was the residence of British royalty. Destroyed in 1834 by fire, it is now the seat of the British Parliament, so it is also known as the Houses of Parliament.

Next to the Palace is the Westminster Abbey, which can also be seen inside. In this post you have all the info you need to visit the Abbey, combined or not with the Palace.

Another option is to purchase a combined ticket that includes access to the London Eye and a tour of Westminster, an alternative that has many advantages:

• You will walk around the main monuments of central London, such as Westminster Abbey itself, but also Big Ben or Trafalgar Square, among others.
• A professional guide will tell you all the secrets of these emblematic places.
• You will do the tour with a small group, so you can ask all the questions you have.
• Once you get on the Ferris wheel, you will know exactly where to look and you will learn the history and curiosities of the monuments you see.

Right next to the Palace of Westminster stands Big Ben, one of the most famous symbols not only of the City of London, but of the whole of England. This great tower has a height of 106 meters and on all its faces are installed large clocks, 7 meters in diameter. Inside this construction there is also a bell that weighs approximately 14 tons.

From the Millennium Wheel cabin you can see Big Ben and know the exact time of the city, another reason to go up to the great London Ferris wheel. If you want to have at hand all the information about the London Eye, in this post you will find everything you need to know.

St. Paul's Cathedral, located in St. Paul's Churchyard, was built between 1087 and 1314 and destroyed in 1666 by the Great Fire of London. It was later rebuilt and its dome is an icon of the city.

From the Ferris wheel you can appreciate the great dome from the heights, but if you also book a ticket to the London Eye that includes a tour of London, you can optimize your ascent to the maximum because you will have already visited St. Paul's Cathedral:

• Visited St. Paul's Cathedral from the inside.
• Watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
• Entered the Tower of London.
• Taken a cruise on the Thames.
• Known Greenwich.

Once the cabin has climbed high enough, you will be able to see one of the most modern buildings in the city. The observation deck at The Shard was opened in 2012 and has since managed to stand out in the city for its innovative design. The building's height is an impressive 310 meters, and its 87 floors include restaurants, apartments, the observation deck and a hotel.

The Shard is covered by approximately 11,000 panes of glass, so on days when the sun is strongest, it is likely that the reflection of light will not allow you to admire it in detail. Don't worry, you will still be able to see its pointed shape in the London cityscape.

Among the sights from the London Eye is London's Financial District, better known as The City. Thirty percent of the buildings in one of London' s main neighborhoods were built in recent years, so from the Millennium Wheel you will see the modern buildings, many of which are covered with glass.

The most emblematic buildings in The City are: the Gherkin Building, Lloyd's of London, Leadenhall Building and Tower 42. Something interesting about the Financial District is that its futuristic-looking buildings contrast with ancient elements, such as churches, a Roman amphitheater and Smithfield Market.

The Fenchurch Building, designed by Rafael Viñoly, has a peculiar shape because, as its height increases, its structure widens, so many Londoners and tourists nicknamed it "Walkie Talkie". Although from the London Eye can not distinguish its peculiar shape, it is easy to differentiate it from other buildings since its shape makes it reflect more sunlight.

Inside Fenchurch is located the botanical garden: Sky Garden. In addition, there are restaurants, a bar and a cafeteria in the building. When you enjoy the view from the London Eye, do not forget to look at the Walkie Talkie shaped building.

Like the London Eye, the last bridge built over the River Thames was also inaugurated at the beginning of the millennium, and is therefore called the Millennium Bridge. It is a pedestrian and suspension bridge with a length of 325 meters.

Since its location is close to the Millennium Wheel, you will have the opportunity to see the Millennium Bridge even when the day is not clear.

Showing a panoramic view at a height of 135 meters, from the London Eye you can also see Buckingham Palace. Built in 1703 and neoclassical design, from the heights you can also appreciate the green areas that are near it.

And as I explained above, if you buy a ticket for the London Eye combined with a tour of London, before going up to the big wheel you will have already been able to see up close the residence of King Charles III and even admire the changing of the guard.

The doubts that most people who go for the first time to the Millennium Wheel have are: What to expect from it? How are the cabins? Obviously, they are safe, but not only that, but every point of their design contributes to an optimal experience for each person who goes up.

The cabins are acclimatized and have a capacity for 25 people and are spacious enough so that it is possible to move around without problems and enjoy the view to the fullest. If you prefer to remain seated, there are seats and they also have touch screens that inform you about the buildings visible from the London Eye.

Most of the year the London Eye closes at 18:00, but during the summer in London, the London Eye schedule allows you to go on the wheel when the sun has already gone down, i.e. from 10:00 to 20:30.

The buildings whose lighting allows them to be seen at night are the following:

• The Shard: when it gets dark, the skyscraper is illuminated, one of the things that stands out most in the views from the London Eye at night is the tip of this building, as it is the most illuminated of its structure.
• The Houses of Parliament: the palace has lights around it that illuminate its facade and allow it to be visible from above.
• Big Ben: like the Houses of Parliament, the tower structure is illuminated at night, but not only that. All the faces of the clock are illuminated so that people nearby and those who climb the London Eye can see the time clearly.
• The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral: although its illumination is not as outstanding as the previous buildings, it is still possible to see this dome if you go up to the London Ferris wheel at night.
• Waterloo Bridge: another of the bridges that crosses the River Thames and is close to the London Eye is the Waterloo Bridge. This is also illuminated at night and is visible when you climb into a London Eye booth.

The buildings named above are not the only ones that stand out in the London nightscape. The London Eye is one of the brightest spots in the capital, so if you go up at night, it is normal that the Ferris wheel is illuminated, usually red.