Status Complete Completed 11 February 2010 Opened 25 March 2010 Phone +44 151 709 8651 | Type Ferris wheel Height 60 m Cost 6 million GBP | |
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Location Keel Wharf waterfront on the River Mersey, Liverpool, UK Address Keel Wharf, Liverpool L3 4FN, UK Hours Open today · 9AM–11PMSaturday9AM–11PMSunday10AM–9PMMonday10AM–9PMTuesday10AM–9PMWednesday10AM–9PMThursday10AM–9PMFriday10AM–11PMSuggest an edit Similar Radio City Tower, Albert Dock, International Slavery Museum, King's Dock - Port of Liverpo, Merseyside Maritime Museum | ||
The wheel of liverpool ride
The Wheel of Liverpool is a transportable Ferris wheel installation on the Keel Wharf waterfront of the River Mersey in Liverpool. Also known as the Echo Wheel of Liverpool due to its close proximity to the Echo Arena Liverpool, the wheel was opened on 25 March 2010. The structure is 196 feet (60 m) tall, weighs 365 tonnes and has 42 fully enclosed capsules attached. The wheel had been planned for three years by the company Great City Attractions. They submitted a planning application which explained that it would increase tourism in Liverpool. A smaller observation wheel had been operational in the city, which was located at the Liverpool One leisure complex. This was dismantled because of the plans to open the Wheel of Liverpool. Construction was completed on 11 February 2010 at a cost of £6 million.
Contents
- The wheel of liverpool ride
- The wheel of liverpool night
- Planning and opening
- Design and ownership
- References
The wheel was closed for a short time following Great City Attractions going into administration. Freij Entertainment International purchased the attraction and it is currently operated by their subsidisary Wheels Entertainments Ltd. In October 2013, the Wheel of Liverpool was struck by lightning but did not sustain any damage.
The wheel of liverpool night
Planning and opening
In October 2009, it was announced that Great City Attractions had submitted a planning application to install a giant observation wheel on the former King's Dock site of Liverpool. They stated that with the wheel tourism would be increased and it would compliment the city's skyline. The company had been negotiating a deal for three years prior. In 2005, The Liverpool Culture Company had unsuccessfully attempted to secure permission the build a wheel on the Canning Half Tide Dock. While a temporary predecessor had already existed in Liverpool, located on the Liverpool One shopping centre complex. This was closed on 31 January 2010. That wheel had always been acknowledged as a temporary structure because of the city council's aspirations for the Wheel of Liverpool. The attraction had the backing of the Albert Dock Tenants’ Business Association because of the overall waterfront visitor experience it would provide. The application was successful and granted permission to operate for an initial twelve months, later extended to two years. Installation began in the days that followed the closure of the Liverpool One Wheel. Its construction was completed on 11 February 2010.
The attraction was opened on 25 March 2010 and had its own launch party. It is located on the piazza of Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool. The official name of the attraction is the "Wheel of Liverpool", though it is also known as the "Echo Wheel of Liverpool". In its first year of operation it played host charity event, in which participants remained inside pods while the ride was operated for 24 hours. Despite the initial year contract, the wheel has remained ever since. The Liverpool Echo have claimed that the attraction has been successful and has become a known landmark in Liverpool. In October 2013, the structure was struck by lightning but no damage was confirmed following safety checks.
Design and ownership
The wheel cost came a cost of six million pounds to manufacture and construct. The structure is 196 feet (60 m) tall and 5 m taller than the Liverpool One Wheel. It weighs 365 tonnes and it is supported by six 30 meter columns. 75,000 LED lights were installed to light it during the night. The structure is supported on three-hundred tonnes of water. It was designed to have almost silent operation.
The wheel has 42 fully enclosed capsules attached. They give riders views of the River Mersey, the Welsh mountains and World Heritage Site waterfront at Pier Head. One of the capsules is stylised as a luxury capsule complete with a glass floor. Each pod can carry up to eight passengers and were designed to give a 360 degree panoramic view of the surrounding area. The ride operates in three cycles which takes approximately ten to twelve minutes.
Great City Attractions retained ownership of the wheel for two year until the company went into administration in July 2012. The attraction had to be closed down during August 2012 until a new investor was found. Land owners ACC Liverpool remained in contact with administrators during the closure. The Wheel of Liverpool was acquired by Dubai-based Freij Entertainment International. It is currently operated by their Staffordshire based UK operations subsidisary Wheels Entertainments Ltd.