15 interesting facts about the London Eye

The London Eye, at 443 feet tall, is the fourth-largest Ferris wheel. The wheel's circumference is around 1,237 feet, and it would be taller than the Shard if it were not a wheel. London is a fairly flat city, and the London Eye is a prominent part of the skyline.

The London Eye is one of the most popular paid tourist attractions in the UK, with over 3.5 million visitors per year. This puts the London Eye ahead of ancient global wonders like Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza.

The London Eye can hold 800 people per revolution, which is the equivalent of the capacity of 11 red double-decker buses in London. With a maximum capacity of 25 people per pod, the London Eye is truly a great way to see the city.

The London Eye's height lets you see far on a clear day, up to 40 kilometers or 25 miles. That means seeing attractions including Buckingham Palace, Wembley Stadium, the Tower of London, and even Windsor Castle.

Each round takes about 30 minutes, travelling at a leisurely 26 cm per second or 0.9 km (0.6 miles) per hour - twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting. This allows guests to jump on and off without waiting for the wheel to come to a halt.

The London Eye's height of 135 metres (443 feet) equals 64 red telephone boxes stacked on each other. This also means that the London Eye has a huge circumference, which circles 7668 times a year, covering 2300 miles from London to Cairo.

In response to a 1993 competition inviting Londoners to build a new landmark to commemorate the century, husband-and-wife David Marks and Julia Barfield proposed the London Eye. The competition was a flop, but their idea was a success.

The structure was assembled flat on eight artificial islands on the River Thames, then hoisted into an upright position over several days in September and October 1999. Each of the 32 capsules weighs about 10 tonnes, adding up to roughly 320 tonnes for the capsules alone.

There are 32 capsules, one for each of London's boroughs, numbered from 1 to 33 for superstitious reasons, with capsule 13 left out for good luck. These capsules accommodate up to 800 guests as well as their selfie sticks.

The fact that the Eye is cantilevered, or supported on only one side, sets it apart from most other Ferris wheels. It's officially the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, a structural feat that hadn't been attempted at this scale before.

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, a passenger capsule was dubbed the Coronation Capsule on June 2, 2013, easily recognisable by its red colour. To date, this is the only one of the 32 capsules that looks different

The London Eye, like the Eiffel Tower, was intended to be temporary. Lambeth Council granted the Eye a permanent license in July 2002. A 25-year lease was signed on February 8, 2006, following a disagreement between the Southbank Centre and the London Eye.

Like the Sydney Harbour Fireworks, the London Eye New Year's Eve fireworks are highly anticipated by locals and visitors alike. The nearby viewing areas host as many as 150,000 visitors and many more on TV screens globally.

The London Eye is one of the most famous destinations among those who want to propose to their partners. The observation wheel has witnessed over 5000 proposals. It has been voted one of the most romantic spots in the UK and the world, along with the Eiffel Tower.

Using sustainable oil for the observation wheel and environmentally friendly grease for its moving parts ensures that the ecological balance of the River Thames remains unharmed. Moreover, using biodegradable cleaning products contributes to a greener environment.