For great views of Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the Thames, and much more...take a "flight" on the London Eye, sponsored by British Airways. Allow plenty of time--lines are long. In 2000, the lines were closed right in front of us. This year, we managed to get on the last "flight" of the day. You walk on and walk off while the Eye is moving, so be alert. For more information, see ba-londoneye.com.

I was hesitant - not being all that thrilled with heights, to step into our glass capsule, one of a series that makes up the London Eye. I was happy to see that the floor was not glass and that there would be a guide in each capsule. After a brief welcome, the guide suggested we all remove our jackets as it tends to get very hot inside. The Eye moved slowly and it was hard to tell you were moving at all. The view from the stop however was spectacular. The cost is 8.50 pounds per adult and 5 pounds for those under 16. It is possible to buy advance tickets which I would suggest, as there is usually quite a waiting list. Tickets can be purchased online at londoneye.com

If you have seven pound fifty, and time to wait (or the foresight to book a week ahead) get on the wheel. It is fairly reasonable for the 40 or so minutes you circle viewing the Thames, Westminster and a great view of London. Apparently there is a reason this is the only one of the millennium projects that is paying off for Tony Blair.

First point: The Eye is not cheap. It's about 14.50 in pounds, or a little over 29 American dollars.

Second point: It's totally, totally worth it.

It's more worth it than many of the other city tours (take this with a grain of salt- there are many fantastic tours, too). And it's more worth it than other tourist attractions like Madamn Tussands, which, while worth doing once, is too commercialized for its own near 50 dollar price tag. The views are spectacular- about 25 mile on a clear day and even those on our group with a fear of hights had a great time. Lines look daunting but moving quickly, and if you have an idea of what you're looking for you can easily spot landmarks like Charing Cross Station and the Houses of Parliment with Big Ben.

The London Eye is a feat of modern engineering - it is beautiful to look, at and the views when you are on board are stunning. It is located on the banks of the River Thames and was voted the world's most popular tourist attraction in spring 2005. It is 135 metres above London and is the world's tallest observation wheel.

The capsules, or pods are made of glass and are sleek, modern, and totally see through. You get a 360 degree view of the city and beyond. Apparently on a clear day you can see 25 miles in each direction. I have been on it twice - both times on cloudy days, but you still get good views.

The pods are air-conditioned (and heated in winter), have a large bench seat in the middle and each one can accommodate 25 people. They feel very spacious, never cramped with lots of space for everyone to enjoy the view. The wheel constantly moves, but very slowly, so you do not feel any movement at all - it is a really great experience.

The trip takes about 20-25 minutes. You can see many famous landmarks including Buckingham Palace and St Paul's Cathedral. The view of the Thames and the Houses of Parliament is fantastic and unsurpassed.

The London Eye is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK and has the capacity to handle 1,500 visitors per hour. As it is so popular there are huge queues to buy tickets. We booked on-line before our visit and saved 10% on the quoted price, but more importantly saved at least one hour of queuing just to buy the tickets. If you pre-book, you just put your credit card in the machine and the tickets are generated immediately.

You do however still have to queue to get onto the wheel. We stood in line for just over an hour. This was on a cold March morning - I dread to think how long you must have to wait in summertime when the crowds are at their peak.

The London Eye is open in winter from 10am to 8pm and in summer from 10am to 9pm. It costs £14.50 for adults, £7.25 for age 5-15 years, and under 5's are free.

The closest tube stop is Westminster. If you time your arrival right, when you come out of the tube stop you are right next to Big Ben and can hear it chime the hour. We arrived just before 11 o'clock, which was really good timing. Big Ben is really impressive - designed by AW Pugin, Big Ben is actually not the name of the clock, but the name of the bell in the clock tower. The largest bell in the chime weighs close to 14 tons. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are the ultimate symbols of London, and as such really are a must-see.