Wheel of Liverpool
| Wheel of Liverpool | |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Ferris wheel |
| Location | Keel Wharf waterfront on the River Mersey, Liverpool, UK |
| Coordinates | 53°23′54″N 2°59′27″W / 53.39824°N 2.99083°WCoordinates: 53°23′54″N 2°59′27″W / 53.39824°N 2.99083°W |
| Completed | 11 February 2010 |
| Opened | 25 March 2010 |
| Cost | £6 million |
| Height | 196 feet (60 m) |
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.
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.
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.
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