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Event Information:
The
London Eye is a 135-metre (443 ft)
tall giant Ferris wheel situated on
the banks of the River Thames, in
London, England. It is the tallest
Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most
popular paid tourist attraction in
the United Kingdom, visited by over
3.5 million people annually. When
erected in 1999, it was the tallest
Ferris wheel in the world, until
surpassed first by the 160 m (520
ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, and
then the 165 m (541 ft) Singapore
Flyer in 2008. It is still described
by its operators as "the world's
tallest cantilevered observation
wheel" (as the wheel is supported by
an A-frame on one side only, unlike
the Nanchang and Singapore wheels).
Commonly known as the London Eye, or
Millennium Wheel, formerly the
Merlin Entertainments London Eye and
before that, the British Airways
London Eye. Since 20 January ,
it has been officially known as the
EDF Energy London Eye following a
three-year sponsorship deal.Clocks
symbolize the transition that occurs
at the stroke of midnight on New
Year's Eve, with the celebration in
London focusing on the clock housed
in the clock tower at the Palace of
Westminster, recognised worldwide as
"Big Ben". The celebrations are
televised from London by the BBC in
England and Wales. Parties are held
up and down the country, in pubs,
clubs and private houses. At the
stroke of midnight people gather in
a ring with hands joined as they
sing Auld Lang Syne.
On New
Year's Eve 2010, an estimated
250,000 people gathered to view an
eight-minute fireworks display
around and above the London Eye
which, on that occasion, was set for
the first time to a musical
soundtrack, including some of the
greatest songs by British artists
such as Blur, The Beatles and Queen.
The celebrations in London continued
into January 1, with the New Year's
Day Parade, which has been held
annually since 1987 and in
marked its 25th year, involving more
than 10,000 musicians, cheerleaders
and performers.
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