This now has a semi-permanent home in between the Albert Dock complex and the Echo Arena, giving spectacular views over the Mersey and Liverpool on a clear day. I would recommend waiting until the weather is good as it can be a wonderful experience seeing all around, but would be rather pointless otherwise.
We had been waiting for a clear day for a few months, having bought a special Groupon offer of £6 for two people an absolute bargain and well worth looking out for. This gave us four fairly slow revolutions of the Wheel with the first turn stopping for at least two minutes at the very top! I spent the entire time swapping cameras (I still use my trusty Nikon 35mm for special occasions, but took a few others as back-up).
The guys operating the Wheel asked us if we were sure we knew what we were doing as they had been up to test it earlier and the cabin was rocking like a good 'un! it was a rather windy day, I have to say.
For anyone nervous about heights and/or technology they do have a panic button which will let them bring you back down very quickly. If you don't mind heights, it is a wonderful experience feeling the whole thing swaying in the wind and being able to see for miles, although it means you do have to time your photos carefully I did get a couple with various bits of the mechanism masking what I wanted to see!
After the trip, it is very handy for a look around the Albert Dock itself or cross the road for a bus into the City Centre (only about ten minutes walk for the fitter ones).
All-in-all, I would recommend this to anyone, but especially families with children who are not nervous about heights; they will have a truly unforgettable experience. read more