- It's not technically a Ferris wheel: The London Eye is actually a cantilevered observation wheel. This means it's supported by a frame on one side only, unlike traditional Ferris wheels where the wheel hangs between two supports.
- It was almost temporary: Like the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye was initially intended to be a temporary structure. However, it became so popular that it was granted a permanent license.
- It has a royal capsule: One of the 32 capsules is named the Coronation Capsule in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 60th anniversary on the throne.
- It's a global effort: While designed by a British team, the London Eye's components come from all over Europe. The wheel was made in the Netherlands, the cables are from Italy, the bearings are from Germany, and the glass for the capsules is from Venice!
-
It skips a number: The capsules are numbered from 1 to 33, but there's no capsule number 13.
This is due to superstition, as 13 is considered an unlucky number.
