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The London Eye is best known for being Britain and Europe’s tallest ferris wheel, standing 135 meters tall. It is built on the South Bank of the River Thames and contributes significantly to its tourism. It has become a symbol of modern capital and a world architectural icon. The “London Eye” was named after the fact that it provides a panoramic view of the city from a distance of 25 kilometers in all directions, allowing passengers to see other top attractions in London, such as Big Ben, the House of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace.
See the fact file below for more information on the London Eye, or you can download our 24-page London Eye worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
London Eye
- It was the world’s highest Ferris wheel when it opened for the general public in 2000, but it was surpassed six years later by the Star of Nanchang. Other taller Ferris wheels include the 165-meter Singapore Flyer, which opened in 2008, and the 167-meter High Roller, which opened in Las Vegas in 2014.
- Despite being surpassed in height, it is still considered the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world because, unlike other Ferris wheels, it is supported by an A-frame only on one side.
- It used to be the highest public viewing point in London, but on February 1, 2013, a higher observation deck was built on the 72nd floor of The Shard, which is 245 meters high.
- The ride costs between £21 and £50 per person in standard entries and between £391 and £780 per capsule when rented as a private capsule.
- It accommodates over 4 million people per year, which is more than the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramids of Giza, both of which are tourist attractions in India and Egypt, respectively.
- It changes colors and lights in response to events in London, such as when Prince William and Kate Middleton were married, when it was lit in red, white, and blue.
History
Construction
- Julia Barfield and David Marks, a husband-and-wife team from Marks Barfield Architects, designed it.
- Mace Group Ltd., or simply Mace, is a global consultancy and construction firm based in London that was in charge of the project’s construction management.
- Hollandia was the main steelwork contractor, and Tilbury Douglas, a British construction company, was the civil contractor.
- Tony Gee & Partners and Beckett Rankine designed the foundation and marine works, respectively.
- Its rim is supported by tensioned steel cables shaped like a massive spoked bicycle wheel, and its lighting was originally Color Kinetics before being replaced with LED lighting in December 2006.
- Its wheel was built in sections that floated up the Thames on barges and were later assembled lying flat on piled platforms.
- The constructed wheel was lifted into an upright position using an Enerpac strand jack system. It was initially raised at a rate of 2 degrees per hour until it made a 65-degree angle with the ground. It was then left in that position for a week while engineers prepared for the second phase of the lift.
- Its main components came from six different countries. The steel was originally from the United Kingdom, but it was manufactured in the Netherlands by Hollandia. Italy and Germany supplied the cables and bearings, respectively. The spindle and hub were made in the Czech Republic, while the capsules were made in France with glass from Italy.
Opening
- Prime Minister Tony Blair formally opened it on December 31, 1999, but the operation was halted on March 9, 2000, due to a capsule clutch problem.
- It was initially intended to be a temporary attraction with a five-year contract, but the operators applied for permanent status, which Lambeth Council granted in July 2002.
- Records showed that 30 million people had ridden it by June 5, 2008.
Passenger Capsules
- Its 32 passenger capsules are sealed and air-conditioned and are attached to the wheel’s outer circumference. These were numbered 1 through 33, with 13 being excluded for superstitious reasons.
- Each capsule weighs 10,000 kilograms and can hold up to 25 people walking around inside.
- One revolution takes about 30 minutes and runs continuously because it is slow enough for passengers to walk on and off even while it is moving, except for disabled and elderly passengers.
- In 2009, the capsules were upgraded through a £12.5 million fund.
- To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation on June 2, 2013, one of the capsules was named the Coronation Capsule.
Operation
Financial Difficulties
- On May 20, 2005, a letter was reported to have shown a notice to quit the attraction as the South Bank Center (SBC) demanded an increase in rent for the portion of the land on which the Eye’s struts are located. The previous rent of £64,000 was demanded to be increased to £2.5 million, which the operators refused because it was not affordable.
- On May 25, London Mayor Ken Livingstone promised that if the owner and the SBC could not reach an arrangement, he would seek a mandatory purchase order from the London Development Agency.
- On February 8, 2006, SBC and British Airways agreed to a 25-year lease that guaranteed SBC at least £500,000 per year from the attraction.
- Tussauds also announced the purchase of British Airways and Marks Barfield’s full one-third shareholding in the Ferris wheel. These deals granted Tussauds full ownership and settled the debt from the Eye’s construction funded by British Airways, which stood at more than £150 million by mid-2005 and had a 25% annual interest rate.
Ownership
- Tussauds became the company’s sole owner in 2006 when it purchased the stakes of its previous co-owners, Marks Barfield and British Airways.
- After purchasing the Tussauds Group in May 2007, the ownership was transferred to the Blackstone Group.
- British Airways retained its brand association even after losing ownership, but the company was removed from the logo in 2008.
- After Merlin Entertainments purchased it, it was renamed “The Merlin Entertainments London Eye” on August 21, 2009. The new logo was presented in the shape of an eye made of London’s famous landmarks.
- A lighting ceremony was held in January 2011 to commemorate EDF Energy and Merlin Entertainments’ three-year partnership.
- After reverting to the previous logo, it was officially renamed The London Eye on August 1, 2014.
- Coca-Cola began its sponsorship in January 2015 when the Ferris wheel was lit in red. However, after five years, Coca-Cola was replaced by lastminute.com.
- In March 2020, it took part in the Clap for Our Carers Campaign in support of the National Health Service (NHS) during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it was illuminated blue every Thursday at 8 PM.
London Eye Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about London Eye across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use London Eye worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the London Eye is the world’s fourth biggest ferris wheel. It is built in London along the South Bank of the River Thames. It is 443 feet high and can carry 800 people at a time. It is also called the Millennium Wheel.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- London Eye Facts
- London Eye Sketch
- Building The Wheel
- Figure Match
- Capsule Correction
- Yes or No
- Changing Lights
- Wheels of the World
- Not Just A Wheel
- London Attractions
- My Own Rhyme
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do they call it London Eye?
The “London Eye” was named after the fact that it provides a panoramic view of the city from a distance of 25 kilometers in all directions, allowing passengers to see other top attractions in London, such as Big Ben, the House of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace.
What is London Eye famous for?
The London Eye is best known for being Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, standing 135 meters tall.
How much does it cost to ride the eye of London?
The ride costs between £21 and £50 per person in standard entries and between £391 and £780 per capsule when rented as a private capsule.
How long is the London Eye ride?
One revolution takes about 30 minutes and runs continuously because it is slow enough for passengers to walk on and off even while it is moving, except for disabled and elderly passengers.
Where is the London Eye located?
The London Eye is best known for being Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, standing 135 meters tall. It is built on the South Bank of the River Thames and contributes significantly to its tourism.
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Link will appear as London Eye Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 20, 2018
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.