It will likely be no surprise to you that the London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid tourist attraction; with its towering 135-metre height and 360-degree views, you’re pretty much spoilt for choice when it comes to soaking up the city’s iconic landmarks – and that is exactly why it deserves a spot on your weekend itinerary.
If you’re planning a London city break and fancy playing tourist for the day, you can cross off plenty of sights in one 30-minute rotation, all without having to navigate busy streets or fight for a view. It’s not just Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace that you can gaze out at; the London Eye also provides a unique window to hidden history, architectural underdogs and secret gardens. After all, the real gems are often found when you delve a little bit deeper. Intrigued? Here are a few of our favourite lesser-known sights to look out for…
Centuries-old obelisk Cleopatra’s Needle
Once you’re high enough above the treetops, you will be able to spot this centuries-old monument from pretty much any point in your 30-minute rotation, but you’ll get a better view on the ascent. Just take a look north-east, downstream along the River Thames, and you should be able to spot the sky-piercing obelisk where it sits on the embankment wall.
This dramatic monument is actually one of a pair, with the other one now located in New York City. Recovered from the ruins of an ancient temple in Alexandria, they were a diplomatic gift from the ruler of Egypt in 1819 and feature inscriptions from the pharaohs Thutmose III and Ramesses II, with the latter using two sides to commemorate his military victories – as one of the most powerful pharaohs in history, modesty was clearly not in his nature.
The hidden rooftop gardens of Queen Elizabeth Hall and The OWO
One thing you definitely can’t see from the city streets is what lies above on London’s many cloud-brushing rooftops. Wonder no longer. At least, for a few of them. If you look straight down from your pod in the South Bank, you can feast your eyes on the lush oasis of nearby Queen Elizabeth Hall. The idyllic roof garden first opened in 2011, and has since become a popular spot for peaceful sun-soaking and nature-wrapped views of the city. From the London Eye, you can appreciate the verdant haven (it’s home to over 200 wild native plants) in all its leafy, green glory.
It’s not the only garden you can enjoy a birds-eye view of. On your ascent, once you rise above the rooftops, look across the river to the Ministry of Defence and just behind that to the right, you will set eyes on the exclusive rooftop of The OWO, aka the Old War Office, where Winston Churchill once commanded the military. Now, the grand Edwardian baroque building is a swanky hotel where you might spot affluent crowds sipping cocktails amid manicured greenery.
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The storied SIS Building
Any Bond fans will likely be familiar with this next one, as it has had a starring role in a number of the 007 films, with a particularly dramatic scene-stealing moment in Skyfall. The SIS Building is actually the real-life home of the Secret Intelligence Service, not just in the world of cinema, and you can see the striking fortress during your descent on the wheel. The downward arc gives you a view down the river to the not-so-covert headquarters, allowing you to take in the heavily fortified, ziggurat-style architecture and ponder over what secret operations might be unfolding behind those bomb-proof windows and cascading terraces.
The National Theatre Terraces
Speaking of spying – and terraces. Theatre enthusiasts might want to keep an eye out for the staggered terraces of the National Theatre on their ascent. Hidden from pedestrians on ground level, this is a chance to take in the almost Tetris-like architecture of the interlocking layers, which pop up at different levels, resulting in a scattering of secret spots that are tucked away.
There are often art installations or summer events unfolding here, adding a splash of colour to the exposed concrete exteriors. This is where you might want to dig out the binoculars, who knows, you might even see an actor rehearsing their lines and gesturing to the sky with dramatic aplomb.
Two Castles in One
Ok, so this one requires a nice, clear day, a keen eye and good timing. You probably already know to look out for Buckingham Palace, but you can reportedly actually double up on royal residences and spot Windsor Castle in the distance at the same time.
Said to be called the ‘Two-Castle Trick’, you wait until you reach the peak, look west across the river towards the sprawling green expanse of St. James Park, follow that to the East facade of Buckingham Palace and then look directly past that towards the horizon to lock in on the silhouetted battlements and towers of Windsor Castle. That’s two iconic sights ticked off your sightseeing list in one fell swoop.
Fancy seeing if you can spot all these lesser-known landmarks? Book in a day of discovery with tickets for the London Eye.
The post The London Eye is the ultimate cheat code for a day trip to the capital – you can spot both iconic landmarks and these lesser-known gems in less than 30 minutes appeared first on Secret Bristol.
