Here's a picture of the London Eye from last spring:
The London Eye was built as part of the Millennium celebrations. British Airways is its sponsor, referring to all trips on the Eye as 'flights', and queuing for such as 'boarding'. Tourbooks often note this particular area of the Thames, because it provides perspective on London's past (St Paul's, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament). transport (with Waterloo and Charing Cross stations nearby), and the current state of affairs, with the London Eye and various modern buildings popping up all over the southern banks of the Thames. Not far from the London Eye is the area of the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall, a huge cultural centre that often has free outdoor concerts and festivals celebrating culture and diversity.
In the middle of this picture you can see Buckingham Palace and most of St James Park and its lake. The green to the right of Buckingham Palace is Green Park, and to the upper right of that is the corner of Hyde Park. In the foreground are some of the buildings of Whitehall, the political center, not far from No. 10 Downing Street.
To the right, more of Whitehall (see the left side of Buckingham Palace?). The Cabinet War Rooms are on this block. Slightly off-center, just behind a small space of green, featuring a blue dome, is Methodist Hall (Hi Mom!), which does not look that tall at all at street level. Oh yeah, and Parliament/Big Ben/Westminster Abbey.
P.S. Just on the bridge - teeny tiny double decker bus!
Charing Cross station, and beyond, the West End, the traditional center of theatre, clubbing, bars, throngs of tourists, etc.
The area around Waterloo train station, a major connection point for the Central London. Straight to the back is St Paul's Cathedral and the buildings of the City.
The Thames. In the foreground is the bridge that takes trains between Charing Cross Station and the south side of the river.
This is a picture of me looking so very thrilled to be there.
