Most fairgrounds offer some sort of rickety excuse for a Ferris wheel – something so ramshackle it has to be closed down after a few years for fear of some small child wriggling free of their worn safety harness as they foolishly chase their freefalling pink candyfloss. Here are some famous Ferris wheels that are nothing like that.
Wiener Riesenrad – Vienna, Austria
Currently the oldest Ferris wheel in the world still standing, as of 2013, the Riesenrad is a whopping 116 years old.
The wheel is a famous symbol of Vienna, and handily allows you to see most of the other symbols when you ride it.
Singapore Flyer – Singapore
Since it opened in 2008, the Flyer is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world at 165 metres. It’s probably also one of the only wheels ever to have changed rotation direction, a decision that was made after Feng Shui experts weighed in.
Whatever the direction, the wheel offers marvellous views over the Marina Promenade and the track for the Singapore Grand Prix.
London Eye, London, England
As it’s the largest Ferris wheel in the world that’s held up by a cantilever, you’d think that might put off the three-and-a-half million people that ride the London Eye each year.
But no, the chance to view the River Thames, the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column and all the other famous London landmarks from a bird’s eye view is too great a temptation.
(Featured image: Tom Soper Photography)
