Our capsule – number eight and off we go.

The wheel's 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoidal passenger capsules, designed and supplied by Poma, are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. Each of the 10-tonne (11-short-ton) capsules represents one of the London Boroughs, and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided. The wheel rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second (about 0.9 kph or 0.6 mph) so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes. It does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is, however, stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely.

In 2009 the first stage of a £12.5 million capsule upgrade began. Each capsule was taken down and floated down the river to Tilbury Docks in Essex.

Half way up.

At the top.

The London Eye was pegged as the highlight of the beginning of Our London Week and the experience for Harley delivered in spades, he chose eight o’clock as he wanted to see the lights come on. Seventeen years since we were here and it was a thrill for us too. We all enjoyed the scenery, the walk across the river and the journey back to our digs, a long, fun-filled day.