The London Eye has been a launch site and visual centrepiece for London’s televised New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The London Eye is a giant observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames. It opened to the public in March 2000 and was originally known as the Millennium Wheel. Its height and position opposite the Palace of Westminster give it a prominent place in views of central London.
London’s annual fireworks event expanded into a major organized celebration in the 2000s. Fireworks have been launched from the London Eye and nearby barges, with the display synchronized to music and broadcast to audiences in the United Kingdom and around the world. The precise launch arrangements and event format can change between years.
The London Eye is often confused with the nearby clock tower commonly called Big Ben. Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Palace of Westminster, while the clock tower is Elizabeth Tower. Neither name identifies the observation wheel used in the fireworks display.