The giant London Eye wheel on the Thames riverbank is a magnet for visitors to the capital. A ride provides panoramic views over the river, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral and even the distant countryside. Booking ahead is strongly advised.
On clear days, passengers can see over 25 miles in each direction from the 135-metre wheel's enclosed capsules. Millions have enjoyed the unrivalled views.
The London Eye was conceived and designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, the husband-and-wife team who responded to calls for a landmark to celebrate the arrival of the new millennium. The concept of a wheel was devised to represent the turning of the century, and as a universally recognisable symbol of regeneration and time.
A perfect setting for a James Bond scene, the London Eye is almost three times as high as Tower Bridge and four times wider than the dome of St Paul's Cathedral.