This March will mark 25 years since the London Eye first opened and what better way to celebrate its time on the capital’s south bank than looking back at its early days.
Construction for the now iconic wheel which was built to celebrate the new millennium first started in 1998.
At the time, main components for the structure were built off site and later shipped to south bank the following year to be put together onsite.
It was a two stage operation to get the London Eye to how we know it today. Starting off horizontal floating on the River Thames, the wheel was hauled up at an angle to secure its supporting structure before it was fully vertical.
The wheel was upright by September in 1999 and that New Year’s Eve hosted a mesmerising fireworks display which has since become an annual event at the spot.
While it launched in the millennium, the landmark didn't actually open to the public in March 2000.
25 years on, here’s a look at how the wheel first landed on the city’s south bank:
5. While it launched in the millennium, the landmark didn't actually open to the public in March 2000.
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