The London Eye has now become one of the iconic sights of London. Opened in March 2000 the wheel is a metaphor for the turning of the century. From January 2011, it's official name was changed to the EDF Energy London Eye. The London Eye is 135m/443ft high and there are 32 capsules attached to the wheel which travels gently at a speed of 26cm per second. Each rotation takes 30 minutes in which time you can marvel at the views that span up to 40km in all directions (depending on the weather). This is the UK's most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year. The London Eye is within walking distance from several underground stations including Waterloo and Westminster.