Sights from the London Eye

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

Although it is no longer the biggest, it is still a wheel visited by millions of people every year because buying a ticket for the London Eye means going up one of its glass cabins and seeing the River Thames, the London skyline and the most emblematic areas of the whole city. Here's 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're at the top of the wheel, if the day is clear, you can see up to 40 metres away. Take advantage of this panoramic view and be sure to watch 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 Thames cruises I recommend you read this post.

Oh, and you can also get tickets that combine a ride on the London Eye with a Thames river cruise and a sightseeing bus pass. With this option you will be able to discover London by land, water and air saving money and in a very comfortable way. Great!

This bridge is one of the oldest and most recognisable bridges in England and is very close to the Millennium Wheel, so it will be one of the first things you'll see as you start to soar on the Ferris wheel. The Westminster Bridge was built in 1862, it is 353 metres long 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 wheel, you'll know not only what you're looking at, 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'll see the imposing structure of this Victorian Gothic building which for years was the residence of British royalty. Destroyed by fire in 1834, it is now the seat of the British Parliament, so it is also known as the Houses of Parliament.

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

Another option is to buy 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 spots.
• You'll take the tour with a small group, so you can ask any questions you may have.
• Once you get on the Ferris wheel, you'll know exactly where to look and you 'll learn about 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 is 106 metres high and large clocks, 7 metres in diameter, are installed on each of its faces. Inside this construction there is also a bell that weighs approximately 14 tons.

From the Millennium Wheel's cabin you can see Big Ben and know the exact time in the city, another reason to go on the great London Ferris wheel. If you want to have all the information about the London Eye at hand, 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 the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was later rebuilt and its dome is an icon of the city.

From the Ferris wheel you can see the great dome from above, but if you also book a ticket to the London Eye that includes a tour of London, you will be able to make the most of your ascent because you will already have 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 you've climbed high enough, you'll be able to see one of the most modern buildings in the city. The Shard's observation deck was opened in 2012 and has since made its mark on the city with its innovative design. The building's height is an impressive 310 metres, and its 87 floors include restaurants, flats, the observation deck and a hotel.

The Shard is covered in approximately 11,000 panes of glass, so on days when the sun is strongest you may not be able to admire it in detail. Don't worry, you'll 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 per cent of the buildings in one of London' s premier neighbourhoods have been built in recent years, so from the Millennium Wheel you'll see the modern buildings, many of which are covered in glass.

The City's most iconic buildings include the Gherkin Building, Lloyd's of London, Leadenhall Building and Tower 42. Interestingly, the Financial District's futuristic-looking buildings contrast with ancient elements, such as churches, a Roman amphitheatre and Smithfield Market.

The Fenchurch Building, designed by Rafael Viñoly, has a peculiar shape in that, as its height increases, its structure widens, which is why so many Londoners and tourists nickname it the "Walkie Talkie". Although you can't see its peculiar shape from the London Eye, it is easy to distinguish it from other buildings because its shape makes it reflect more sunlight.

Inside Fenchurch is the Sky Garden botanical garden. There are also restaurants, a bar and a café in the building. When you enjoy the view from the London Eye, don't forget to check out the Walkie Talkie shaped building.

Like the London Eye, the latest bridge to be built over the River Thames was also opened at the turn of the millennium, and is therefore known as the Millennium Bridge. It is a pedestrian and suspension bridge with a length of 325 metres.

As 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.

Displaying a panoramic view at a height of 135 metres, from the London Eye you can also see Buckingham Palace. Built in 1703 and with a neoclassical design, from the heights you will also be able to appreciate the green areas that are close to it.

And as I explained before, 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 the residence of King Charles III and even admire the changing of the guard.

The question that most first time visitors to the Millennium Wheel ask themselves is: What to expect? What are the booths like? Obviously, they are safe, but not only that, but every aspect of the design contributes to the optimum experience for every person who goes up.

The cabins are air-conditioned and can seat up to 25 people and are spacious enough to allow you to move around and enjoy the view to the full. If you prefer to remain seated, seats are available and there are also touch-screen displays that tell you about the buildings you can see from the London Eye.

Most of the year the London Eye closes at 18:00, but during the summer in London, the London Eye's opening hours allow you to go on the wheel after the sun has gone down, i.e. from 10:00 to 20:30.

The buildings that are lit up at night are as follows:

• The Shard: when it gets dark, the skyscraper lights up, 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 part of its structure.
• The Houses of Parliament: the palace has lights all around it that illuminate its façade 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 faces of the clock are illuminated, helping people nearby and those climbing the London Eye to 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 ride 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 Waterloo Bridge. This is also illuminated at night and can be seen when you go up to 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 's not uncommon for the wheel to be lit up, usually in red.