It's twice as old as us today and if you're in the vicinity from 7pm tonight, there'll be a birthday light show and the odd glass of bubbly for lucky passengers. Over the past decade it's 'flown' over 36 million visitors above the Southbank, had a change of owner, been ridden by cheerleaders, turned helical and is still in process of a spruce up and greenwash, ready to be added to our Wifi map and made good for another 10-15 years.
Throughout March you can get 10% off the normal ticket price, making a turn on the biggest wheel in town that tad more affordable and you get to experience the 4D cinema while you wait.
In our own special tribute to one of the most recent yet best loved additions to our skyline and waterside we've picked some ace photos from the Londonist Flickrpool and here share some of your stories and memories of the London Eye, in response to our ask in about the Twittersphere:
Firstly, thanks to @tony_white_ for a link to an archive Idler write up of a trip on the fledgling Eye with Ian Sinclair and the author's attempt at an interview whilst supressing vertigo.
And for a glimpse of what could have been, thanks to @lewisq for a link to a blog containing an image of a much taller, 60 capsule wheel that got binned in development.
And some confessions:
@tartrazine First time I went on the London Eye, I clung to the little wooden bench in middle for nearly the whole ride #ashamed
@timabrahams @Londonist My mate was a Pod Host on the Eye, there in early days for safety. He would give v biased talks on city's football to tourists.
@UKTravelatAbout I saw the London Eye floating on the Thames for weeks before I sussed what it was
@sshingler I watched the London Eye being raised over the Thames for the first time - from the Royal Festival Hall's artist's bar. :)
And aw:
@hazeltsoiwiles RT: @WillWiles The London Eye is 10 today. I attended its first birthday party in 2001, and proposed to my wife atop it in 2004
@becksldrt I got engaged up there : )
Leave your memories, stories and birthday wishes for the big wheel in the comments or tweet @londonist.
