We arrived at Waterloo Station by train after a half day of sightseeing at Hampton Court Palace. As we were looking at our pocket map and trying to figure out how to get back to our hotel, we noticed that the London Eye is across the street from Waterloo Station. We decided to check it out before heading back to the hotel.

The London Eye (a.k.a. the Eye) is a 450-foot observation wheel whose purpose is to provide tourists with a panoramic view of the city. Instead of seats like an amusement park Ferris wheel, the Eye has glass capsules with benches that can accommodate groups of people. There is a ticket hall in front of the Eye that houses a ticket counter, a souvenir shop, and an exhibit that explains the engineering challenges that were overcome during construction of the wheel.

We were told that the lines to ride this attraction can be quite long at times. Fortunately, this was not the case for us. We arrived there around 6pm and were able to purchase our tickets and board the Eye right away. The ride (or flight experience as it is referred to in the brochure) lasts for approximately a half hour. The rotation of the wheel is slow enough that your body does not feel any severe motion effects as it might on a thrill ride. As the London Eye slowly revolves, you are able to get a nice view of London and some of its famous landmarks — especially Big Ben and the parliament buildings.

It had been raining off and on that day but by the time we were on the Eye, the rain was coming down in buckets. This was unfortunate for us because we were not able to take any good pictures of the city. Instead, we had to deal with beads and streaks of rain water on the glass of our observation capsule. While I recommend taking a ride on the London Eye, my advice is to avoid this attraction if it is raining.

I went with a friend in late January 2003, right when it reopened after its annual repairs. It’s best to order tickets online (there are tons of internet cafes in London where you can do this, if you don't book before you arrive). Then you won't have to stand in a queue for ages to get tickets and then queue again for the actual ride. It is sponsored by British Airways, so they keep calling it a "flight", though there is no free soda or peanuts. The ride lasts about 45 minutes, but it doesn't feel that long (unless you have to go to the toilet maybe). I would say an overcast day is better, as the sun creates a glare that makes it difficult to see. I knew a lot of the sights, but wish I'd bought one of those maps that helps you identify everything before I got on. I'm sure they charge something extortionate, but I'd buy it for £6 or under if I went again.

Even on the foggiest of London days, it is almost impossible NOT to see the London Eye from dozens of locations within central London. This ferris wheel, also known as the Millennium Wheel, is one of the largest observation wheels in the world towering 443 feet (135m) above the Thames River.

From the Eye (assuming a clear English day), you can get a fantastic 360 degree view of London. Many landmarks are easily recognizable such as Buckingham Palace, Parliament Building, and Big Ben. Westminster Abbey, The British Museum, the Tate Modern, and many others are also close by.

The interesting thing about the Eye is that it actually never stops moving, even when passengers are exiting or embarking. The Eye moves slow enough that one revolution takes about 30 minutes to complete. However, if there are slow passengers such as the elderly or disabled, then the Eye will stop to accommodate them.

The London Eye is very accessible and is within walking distance of many major sites. Even though it is not a highly adventurous ride, it does provide an excellent opportunity to get an overview of the London landscape.

The London eye, you can't miss it if you walked towards the end of Camden, it's a huge wheel with capsules attached to it. The big wheel was successfully brought up only the second time round as the 1st attempt failed due to weak ropes that snapped before complete erection of the wheel. A few people go into the capsule and it moves in a circular motion in order for you to view London. The view is simply spendid and a good place to go if you don't have time to see everything, see all in one go.

Where else can you see London in all its glory at 450 feet in the air? The Eye is the highest observation wheel in the world and took seven years to build (a little late, if you remember). It was built to commemorate the new Millenium and represents the turning of time: celebrating London's past and looking forward to the future.

After taking the 30 minute flight I can truly say it offers a breathtaking view of the city. You ride in one of the 32 capsules. The capsules are big enough so you can walk around and get the view in different directions.

If you are going to take the flight, book ahead at www.londoneye.com. Arrive about half an hour early and bring lots of film.