London: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours

Yes, it's a giant ferris wheel, and, yes, it's for tourists — but it's a worth a spin. Once you've boarded your glass-sided capsule — each capsule holds 25 people — it will be a half-hour before you get back down. Creeping along at 0.6 miles (0.9 km) per hour, it's an excruciatingly slow flight, as a trip on the London Eye is called, but from the top of the 443-foot (135-m) wheel you'll be rewarded with gloriously unimpeded views over London. At night, take one of the special "champagne flights," and you'll find yourself in one of the capital's best bars.

• 1. The London Eye
  Westminster Bridge Road, London, U.K. SE1 7PB; 44-(0)870-5000-600 51.5033-0.1197 londoneye.com