London Eye plans to become a permanent fixture on the capital’s landscape

London: One of the UK’s most iconic visitor attractions the London Eye – would continue to be enjoyed by many generations to come, under proposals that would see it retain its permanent residence on London’s South Bank.

Merlin Entertainments, the UK-based owner and operator of the attraction, has confirmed it is taking steps to secure the landmark’s permanent future. London Eye permanent feature plan London Eye permanent feature plan

Created in celebration of the millennium, the Eye’s planning permission includes a condition which requires the local planning authority to decide whether the attraction can be retained beyond 2028.

Now widely recognised as an iconic and established part of London’s visitor offer, the Eye has been visited by millions of Londoners and tourists alike, including celebrities and royalty, and is identified with countless cultural, community, London, and UK celebrations. Through a forthcoming application to Lambeth Council (the local planning authority), Merlin Entertainments will seek to discharge the planning condition to enable the Eye to be kept in place permanently.

Mike Vallis, Merlin’s Divisional Director for Midway Attractions in the UK – which includes the London Eye and other attractions on the South Bank – said, “The London Eye is a UK success story with a global reach. When it first opened at the turn of the century, no one could have envisaged it would become synonymous with all that is great about our capital city. As the capital’s most visited paid-for attraction, it continues to be enjoyed by millions of guests every year, it is now time for us to secure its long-term future through this application to Lambeth Council. Over the summer, we have seen a significant (post-pandemic) return of international visitors, set to rise further over the coming years. The London Eye remains one of the top “go-to” destinations for those visiting the UK, as these holidaymakers come to enjoy the pods’ unrivalled views of the capital.”