Happy 20th Birthday London Eye

One of the most iconic tourist attractions turns 20 on Monday 9th March. It is London’s most visited attraction and one of the places I photograph a lot. I remember watching it being erected and all the controversy at the time about white elephants and no one was going to go on it. It certainly has proved those people wrong.

Built-in 1999 and at that time it was the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. At 135 meters high, with 32 pods and a diameter of 120m. It is also at an angle of 65 degrees which means that part of it is over the water. Originally it was called the Millennium wheel when it was opened to the public on 9th March 2000. It was supposed to be dismantled after 5 years but became so popular that it stayed. With 2.25 million paid visitors per year, it makes it the UK’s most popular paid attraction.

The architect of the London Eye is David Marks and Julia Barfield of Marks Barfield Architects they were mostly funded by British Airways, it took a year to build and assemble. It is still the highest Ferris wheel in Europe, in 2006 LED lights were added and this was the time I started taking more photos of the structure as I love night photography. Since 2016 it has been known as the Coco cola London Eye.

To celebrate the London Eye have decked out various pods in different themes for only £10 per ride (half an hour). With the money going to charity, five immersive ‘WOW’ experiences delivering all unique aspects of London. The remaining fifteen pods will play host to a variety of one-off experiences that celebrate culture, the arts and entertainment of London. Grab a ticket quick!

Facts about the London Eye

  • 32 capsules around the eye which correspond to the 32 London boroughs.
  • Spins 2 revolutions per hour, slow enough so that it doesn’t need to stop for people to board unless you have a disability.
  • 120 meters in diameter and 135 meters tall, it hangs out over the water at a 65 degree angle.
  • Original owners were British Airways, Marks Barfield, and the Tussauds Group.
  • UK’s most popular attraction with 2.25 million paid customers per year
  • British Prime Minister Tony Blair set the wheel in motion in 1999.
  • It was originally called the Millennium Wheel
  • London Eye has welcomed over 76 million visitors since it opened

London Eye Photos

Here are some London eye photos that I have taken over the years, surprisingly I have only been on the London Eye twice and the first time was in 2018 during the Chinese New Year celebrations (see pic below)

Fireworks in London
Fireworks in London 2019
Lions and pig gather to celebrate the Chinese New year 2018
London Eye with love
Valentine’s eye with love
London Eye & the tour bus
Summers day at the London Eye
Pink eye
Pride Eye

Lots more photos can be found on my Flickr account with the link below.

Links

London Eye – https://www.londoneye.com/whats-on/occasions-anniversaries/the-london-eye-20th-birthday/
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/alalchan
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/alalchan
Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/alalchan/albums/72157713356016696

Recommended

November Events 2024

Welcome to my November newsletter! I hope you are well and looking forward to the winter months. This month will have lots of colourful lights, with fireworks and Christmas lights switched on.

London Fashion Week Portraits

October Events 2024

Welcome to my October newsletter! Autumn is in full swing, and the vibrant colors of the season are everywhere. The leaves are falling, and it’s the perfect time to grab your camera and capture the beauty all around you. Let’s dive into this colorful month together!

Notting Hill Carnival - Day 2,

September Events 2024

Welcome to my September newsletter. It’s the first month of autumn, and the nights are slowly drawing in. Hopefully, the summer warmth will continue. This will be a busy month of events; check out the list below.

Advertising

  • Sale! Andrew Lalchan Calendar 2025 - front

    Calendar 2025 – Photographer Andrew Lalchan

    Original price was: £19.99.Current price is: £15.99.

    Calendar 2025 – Photographer Andrew Lalchan

    Original price was: £19.99.Current price is: £15.99.

    A Year of Photography: Each month features a dynamic and visually striking photograph, from press photocalls to model shoots in 2024. Perfect for photography lovers and those with an eye for elegance, the 2025 Andrew Lalchan Calendar brings the excitement of the spotlight right to your wall.

    Eco-Friendly Production: Committed to sustainability, the calendar uses eco-friendly inks and materials, ensuring your purchase supports environmental responsibility.

    This 2025 calendar is out on the 10th of October, 2024. There will only be a short run, so grab them while you can.

    An A4 portrait calendar hangs on the wall, printed on  300gsm gloss Eco Premium paper with front cover gloss laminate.

    Size : 210mm x 297mm

    FREE POST UK

     

    50 in stock

    Quick View
  • Sale! Digital Downloads

    Digital Download

    Original price was: £15.00.Current price is: £5.50.

    Digital Download

    Original price was: £15.00.Current price is: £5.50.

    Digital download of one of my photographs.

    Quick View
  • Cassiobury Park Fireworks

    Cassiobury Park Fireworks 2017

    £14.99£95.99

    Cassiobury Park Fireworks 2017

    £14.99£95.99

    The stunning display of fireworks this year would make an ideal gift from Watford.

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View
  • Lord Mayor Show Fireworks

    Lord Mayors Fireworks Show

    £14.99£95.99

    Lord Mayors Fireworks Show

    £14.99£95.99

    Looking towards St Paul’s Cathedral along the Thames when the Lord Mayors Show Fireworks took place.

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View
  • London Eye with love

    London Eye with love

    £14.99£95.99

    London Eye with love

    £14.99£95.99

    An iconic feature of the London skyline it especially looks good when the colour changes as it does during valentines week.

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View
  • Rose drop

    Rose drop

    £14.99£95.99

    Rose drop

    £14.99£95.99

    Rain drops on roses

    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
    Quick View