At the end of November I went to Liverpool, more or less on the spur of the moment, as I often do. My adventurer’s spirit was well rewarded with a visit to Liverpool One Wheel. The report below was first written for NowPublic.com. The photos can all be found on Flickr, and at the end of the post is a short video I made during my ride.
This Christmas Liverpool has added a new item to the long list of city’s attractions: Liverpool One Wheel. Rising 60 metres above the ground (with vantage height of 80 metres and weight of 365 tonnes), the observation wheel is a perfect present to the residents of Liverpool and Merseyside.
Rivalling, among many, the London Eye and the big observation wheels in Blackpool (Lancashire) and Manchester (Greater Manchester), Liverpool One Wheel is supported by the city’s radio station, Radio 96.7 that provided the audio guide. The ride lasts 15 minutes, and during three rotations you are treated to spectacular panoramic views of the city and the River Mersey.
In particular, some of the landmarks noted in the audio tour include the Albert Dock with the Royal Liver Building, the Catholic and Protestant Cathedrals of the City of Liverpool, and the Radio Tower. Arguably, the most impressive sights are to be seen at dusk, when sunset begins. Yet the night watch from a gondola may be just as amazing: on Friday and Saturday the wheel rolls until 11pm.
While offering a plenty of entertainment to adults and children, Liverpool One Wheel is already an eye candy for photographers. As December progresses, there will doubtless be more and more photos of this long-overdue landmark that is only a short walk away from the Mersey banks and the city centre.
If you are planning a trip to the UK this Christmas, and have a soft spot for riverside and The Beatles, spending some time in Liverpool may be almost a natural choice. Indeed, what can be better than to travel across the universe for a magical mystery tour in the former European Capital of Culture?