London Eye celebrates its 25th anniversary

Floating high above the London skyline aboard her most famous creation, architect Julia Barfield is still giddy that the London Eye ferris wheel has become a symbol of the city.

Built to mark the turn of the millennium in 2000, it has since established itself as one of the country's most visited paid attractions. Each year around 3.5 million tourists take in its panoramic views on half-hour trips.

Stamped on souvenirs, sketched by street artists and snapped in an endless stream of selfies, the Eye has become nearly as big a landmark as Big Ben. Barfield said she and co-architect David Marks, her late husband, and spent years scrambling to get funding for the ambitious project, while several nail-biting construction hitches threatened to derail their vision.