Turning 25: London's Eye
Sunday 9th March marks 25 years of the London Eye – a structure meant to be a temporary marker of the millennium, it is now the icon of the London skyline. In honour of this milestone, we've produced a short film, Turning 25: London's Eye, in partnership with Chief Productions.
Turning 25: London's Eye, is not only a celebration of our iconic landmark, but a love letter to the city we've come to represent. Watch heartfelt stories from people of different walks of life, from our architect and entrepreneur Julia Barfield, to celebrity voices like British actors David Harewood and Russell Tovey, singer/songwriter Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Unified Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk, witness the evolution of London and the London Eye alike across the last quarter of a century.
25 Years of the World’s Most Iconic Ride
Join us this year, as we celebrate 25 years of the London Eye – the world’s most iconic ride. Built for the millennium and host of London’s biggest annual showcase on New Years Eve, the London Eye has celebration in the fabric of its DNA.
From first dates to ‘I do’, Hollywood royalty to actual royalty, our 32 pods have seen it all. Standing tall on the banks of the River Thames, we're one of the UKs most popular attractions and have taken over 85 million people on a journey into London’s skyline since 2000. This year, on Sunday 9th March, we celebrate our biggest milestone yet, a quarter of a century.
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Fun Facts About the London Eye
To celebrate 25 years of the London Eye, we’re exploring the rich London Eye history with some fun facts:
- It was once the world’s tallest observation wheel at 135m
- Each rotation takes about 30 minutes
- There are 32 sealed, air-conditioned capsules, one for each London borough
- It doesn’t stop to let people on, it moves slowly enough for safe boarding
- Despite there only being 32 capsules, there is no capsule numbered 13 for superstitious reasons, so they’re numbered 1 to 33
- It took seven years and £75 million to build the London Eye
“The ingredients of the London Eye are simple – a universal desire to see the Earth and cities from a great height, and the natural fascination with scale, daring structure and beauty.”
Make Your 25th Anniversary Visit Extra Special
Elevate your experience during the London Eye 25th anniversary celebrations by booking some of our unmissable add-ons! Discover ultimate indulgence with the Eye Lounge VIP Experience and unwind in our bar, or explore the city with our Sightseeing Bus Tours. You can also see all the iconic sights on a River Cruise, which blends a mix of sightseeing with a relaxing, scenic boat trip.
Official Partner for Mayor of London's Fireworks
The London Eye kicked off its 25th anniversary celebrations as the official sponsor to the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display! The display featured a world-first use of hologauze animations, creating holographic illusions of British icons and memorable events. Missed it?! Watch the show below.
"It’s fantastic to welcome 2025 with our biggest and best-ever New Year’s Eve celebrations. Around 100,000 Londoners and visitors joined together on the banks of the Thames for an unforgettable night of fireworks, lighting and music, while millions at home were able to see our world-first use of hologram animations to celebrate the new year. From honouring the heroes of the D-Day landings to Paddington Bear celebrating our capital’s diversity, I’m proud that we sent a message of hope and love to the world, as we build a better London for everyone."
"What an incredible moment to bring in the new year and begin celebrating 25 years of the world’s most iconic ride! We are delighted and honoured to have been the official partner this year, and once again be the iconic location to host The Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks. For all those who joined us here onsite, and the millions who watched on TV at home with their friends and family both in the UK and globally, we wish you all a very Happy New Year."
FAQs About the London Eye’s 25th Anniversary
This year marks the London Eye 25th anniversary, as it opened to mark the millennium in 2000.
As part of the London Eye 25th anniversary celebrations, we've produced a short film, Turning 25: London's Eye, in partnership with Chief Productions.
No special tickets are needed, you can purchase regular tickets to celebrate the London Eye’s birthday through our website.
Yes, you can celebrate a birthday on the London Eye! Explore our VIP experiences to make your visit extra special.
