Dorset’s newest attraction, the Weymouth Eye, is now officially opened, bbc.co.uk reports.

The Eye is a 173ft tall steel column upon which is affixed a viewing ‘gondola’. The gondola slowly revolves 360 degrees as it climbs to the top of the column, offering visitors a stunning panoramic of the Jurassic coastline below.

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The experience should last for ten minutes in total. Visitors will also be able to discern the Osmington White Horse and Victorian Nothe Fort.

Constructed to coincide with the Olympic Games

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At a cost of 3.5 million, the tower has been constructed to coincide with the Olympic Games – during which Weymouth and neighbouring Portland are hosting the sailing events – but work finished ahead of schedule. The structure represents several Olympic nations. It was designed in Germany while some of the parts were built in France and Hungry.

173ft tall steel column

The column itself is comprised of five sections, each weighing 11 tonnes, while the clear viewing gondola has been finished with shiny a blue-sprayed steel cladding base – which will be much observed by those on the ground below.

Some 200,000 people are expected to visit the attraction in the first year alone, according to weymouthpeople.co.uk, for which an adult ticket costs £8.10. The developers were keen to point out that this is good value compared with the £18.90 charged for a London Eye ticket.

Popular new attraction

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Commenting on ahead of the opening, Craig Dunkerly of Merlin Entertainment – the owner of the Weymouth Eye – said:

“The tower has had massive positive feedback and ticket sales are proving very popular.”

Author: Elizabeth Smythe   Date Written: 22 July 2012