Yorkshire Wheel

Yorkshire Wheel was the name used by two transportable Ferris wheel installations at different locations in York, England.

The first installation, at the National Railway Museum, operated from 12 April 2006 until 2 November 2008.

The second installation, at The Royal York Hotel, operated from 13 December 2011 until 30 September 2013. It was also known as the Wheel of York or York Wheel.

During 2014, the official website carried the message "Now Closed - Reopening 2014".

The Yorkshire Wheel was originally intended to be placed in the Tower Gardens on the other side of the River Ouse, opposite Cliffords Tower; however, because of residents' protests, the National Railway Museum site was preferred by the City of York Council. Planning permission was for three years.

In its first six months, the wheel carried 200,000 passengers.

It was the first wheel of its kind in North Yorkshire, and was inspired by the London Eye which opened a few years earlier. At 54 metres (177 ft), it was somewhat smaller than the 135 metres (443 ft) of the London Eye, but could be no higher than York Minster, York's skyline height limit.

The operation of the wheel differed from that of the London Eye: visitors were allowed several rotations, and the wheel stopped to load and unload passengers. It had 42 passenger gondolas, including a VIP gondola with glass floor, screen, radio, and leather interior. Like the rest of the National Railway Museum, it was licensed as a venue for weddings, and weddings did indeed take place there. Speed dating on St. Valentine's Day in 2007 also took place.

Norwich Union, which has its headquarters in York, were the sponsors of the wheel, but that ended in late July 2007, after which the White Rose of York was added to the wheel's centre.

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