Many happy turns as London Eye to celebrate 20 years

IN its time it has been graced by Royals, politicians, Olympic champions and even a fictional supernanny.

The London Eye is this year marking its 20th anniversary of towering over the capital and a number of events and surprises – which are still under wraps – are planned to celebrate the milestone.

The landmark was opened by then Prime Minister Tony Blair on December 31, 1999, but because of a capsule clutch problem it did not open to the paying public until March 2020. Since then it has attracted over 76 million visitors.

The Coca-Cola London Eye has 32 capsules, which are said to represent London’s 32 boroughs.

It has seen a number of Royal visits including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the

Duke of Sussex taking a ride to mark World Mental Health Day in 2016.

Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah stood atop the 450-foot landmark in 2017 as he bid a final farewell to British track athletics after winning gold in the 10,000m and silver in the 5,000m at the IAAF World Championships in his home city.

A Mary Poppins stunt double also rode atop of the attraction ahead of the European premiere of Mary Poppins Returns at the Royal Albert Hall in 2018.

It has also been a backdrop for the firework displays at the capital’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, lit up green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, and been flown over by the Red Arrows in formation with four Typhoon aircraft celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.

EYE-CATCHING HISTORY: Above, fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye during New Year celebrations in the capital; above left, Sir Mo Farah standing on top of a capsule on the 450ft-high landmark as he bid a final farewell to British track athletics in the summer of 2017.