The London Eye has been the centerpiece of London's televised New Year's Eve fireworks since 2000.
The giant observation wheel stands on the South Bank of the River Thames, opposite the Palace of Westminster. Its illuminated structure provides a recognizable visual frame for the annual display.
London's midnight fireworks are launched from locations along the Thames and are watched by a large live audience as well as television viewers. Big Ben is also strongly associated with the countdown because its clock marks midnight, but the wheel is the landmark most identified with the fireworks spectacle.
The London Eye opened to the public in March 2000. It was initially known as the Millennium Wheel, a name that remains a common source of confusion in descriptions of the attraction.