London

Although I only live a 90 minute drive from London, I dont visit this City as often as I could do. The London Eye has been sponsored by British Airways since 1996 but it wasnt until last year that I actually got the chance to take a ‘flight on the London Eye.

The London Eye took six years to be built and is often referred to as The Millennium Wheel because it was built to mark a new millennium. The London Eye is fairly central in the City of London and can be easily reached by public transport as both Westminster and Waterloo stations are only a 5 minute walk away. The London Eye looks just like a Ferris wheel and it has 32 capsules on in which fit about 25 people in them. This attraction is one of Londons more popular ones and you will soon see why if you take a ride on it, you can get some stunning views across the City of London.

Tickets
You can book tickets for the London Eye on-line, by an automated phone-line, or at The County Hall which is opposite the entrance for the London Eye. You are advised to arrive 30 minutes before your ‘flight time.
We bought our tickets online and collected them from the County Hall about half an hour before our flight time.
An adult ticket costs £11 and a childrens ticket is £5.50.
You can choose from a selection of ticket options which include a river cruise or a private capsule as well as other options.

The Capsules
As I already mentioned, the London Eye consists of a large wheel with 32 capsules. Each capsule has a steel frame with the whole outside being made from glass which provides visitors with unspoilt views across London. The capsules travel really slowly, so slow in fact that you cant even feel that you are moving. Once inside the capsule, you are free to walk around meaning you can get 360 degree views. There is a bench and seating area inside the capsule so you can also sit if you wish to.
Each capsule holds roughly 25 people so you will be in the capsule with other people unless you are with a group of 25 people. The capsules are often hired out for things such as birthday celebrations and even wedding ceremonies.

The Ride
Once you go through the entrance to the London Eye, you will find yourself on the boarding platform. As you move down the queue nearer to entrance of the capsule, you will be searched by security which only took 30 seconds to a minute. They just run a scanner over you and check in your bags and to be honest, it was reassuring to know that security measures were in place.
The London Eye was busy on the day we visited and we ended up with 20 odd people in our capsule which was a pleasant number as everyone has more then enough room to move around without getting in each others way.
The complete journey takes around 35 minutes which I felt was plenty of time to view all the famous landmarks.
The panoramic views across London are magnificent. One thing I really enjoyed about my journey on the London Eye was that fact that because you are always moving in the capsule, you get views that are constantly changing.
Once you reach the halfway point of your journey on the Eye you begin to see all the famous landmarks which include Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St Thomas Hospital, Westminster Abbey, The River Thames, St Pauls Cathedral, The Gherkin Office block, County Hall and the Serpentine River among others. There are some great opportunities for photos so make sure you remember your camera!
At the very end of the flight a photograph is taken of everyone in the capsule, an announcement comes on to make all passengers aware of that fact that their photo is about to be taken. As you get off the London Eye you will see there is a small photo area where you can by the photograph for the cost of £8.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I was really impressed with my experience of the London Eye. I felt that the prices were reasonable and the views across the City really were enjoyable. I can understand why this remains one of Londons most popular attractions.