🎡 October 10, 1996 — The London Eye Gets the Green Light

If you’ve ever walked along the River Thames in London, chances are you’ve seen it:
A huge glass wheel, slowly turning above the skyline.

It’s called the London Eye, and it wasn’t always a sure thing.

In fact, when it was first proposed, people thought it was too expensive, too ambitious — and too weird.

But on October 10, 1996, London gave it the green light. And this bold idea became one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.

Let’s take a spin into how the Eye came to life. 👇

🛠️ From Napkin Sketch to Skyline Icon

The idea came from husband-and-wife architects David Marks and Julia Barfield.
After London held a competition for a “landmark for the millennium” — and then canceled it — the couple decided to go for it anyway.

They sketched out a vision of a giant Ferris wheel, 135 meters tall (443 feet!), with 32 glass pods offering 360° views of the city.

No one had ever built anything like it before.

They got engineers. They got builders. They got bold.

And then… they needed permission.

🏗️ A Giant Challenge

On October 10, 1996, London officials approved the build.
But it wasn’t easy.

The Eye would stretch over two soccer fields wide. It had to be built flat on the ground and lifted into place piece by piece — like assembling a spaceship in slow motion.

It officially opened to the public in March 2000.
People lined up in droves.

👁️ What Makes It So Special?

• It was the world’s tallest observation wheel when it opened

• Each capsule fits up to 25 people and weighs as much as 20 elephants

• It turns so slowly (about 0.6 mph), you don’t even feel it moving

• It’s had over 85 million riders from all over the world

• It was meant to be temporary — but it's still standing 25+ years later

🧠 What We Can Learn

• Big ideas start small (sometimes as a sketch on a napkin)

• People may doubt your vision — build it anyway

• The best landmarks don’t just tell a city’s story… they become part of it

So the next time you see a giant spinning wheel, remember:
The London Eye isn’t just a ride — it’s a reminder that imagination can reshape a skyline.