Keeping an Eye on the River Thames

As I leave Westminster Bridge behind and head down the steps toward the London Eye, I am reminded of the Doctor Who episode “Rose.”  When Doctor Who returned to TV screens in 2005, we found the ninth doctor battling some familiar foes.  It seems that this time, the Nestene Consciousness (who first threatened Earth in the third Doctor story “Spearhead From Space”) has taken up residence beneath this world-famous Ferris wheel.  Formally opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair on December 31, 1999, this engineering marvel then represented the tallest example of its kind in the world.  Rising over four hundred feet in height, one can easily imagine this alien entity using such a large, circular device to beam its controlling influence to the Autons it is using to take over London. 

Walking under it now, I find myself dwarfed by its sheer size.  While I cannot say that I have ever had a special affinity for Ferris wheels (How can you get excited about a ride that merely transports you up, down, and around at a snail's pace?), I understand why so many opt to ride this ultimate expression of an amusement park staple.  Taking thirty minutes to complete a revolution, the passenger is afforded enviable views of the London skyline.  Of course, for the price of a ticket, one could nearly afford a day at Disneyland (or a non-worship visit to Westminster Abbey), so the ride should be spectacular.


Originally planned for a five-year-run to celebrate the Millennium, many objected to how the giant wheel altered the area’s aesthetics.  Its detractors, who dubbed it the London Eyesore, no doubt cheered in “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” when the movie’s namesake foe created a crater in the Thames riverbed that nearly destroyed the structure.  But as it has become one of England’s most popular attractions, the London Eye’s continued presence on the South Bank seems assured.

London Eye, or Eyesore?

To me it represents the juxtapositions this city continually hurls in one’s face.  The horde encamped next to the Palace of Westminster to protest the government’s foreign policy.  The free museums one can lose entire days in versus the churches that charge steep admission prices.  The architectural styles, from Gothic to Post-Modern (and everything in between), that highlight how very long London has played host to humanity. 

With my wallet ensconced in my back pocket, I smile at this example of audacity, excess, and engineering excellence, and continue my exploration of London.