City News

Birmingham City Council announced today that the wheel will be returning to the city centre over the Christmas and winter season.

The 60 ft observation wheel will be located in Centenary Square and will open before the end of November until the end of February 2010.  It will be of a similar design to the last wheel of Birmingham in 2006, which was transported to Australia.

The new structure will be brought to Birmingham by Great City Attractions Ltd, formerly World Tourist Attractions and will consist of 42 covered and fully heated gondolas, allowing the public to get stunning bird’s eye views of the city in plenty of comfort.

Great City Attractions are very excited about returning to Birmingham with a wheel, as the company was formed in Birmingham and opened its first wheel here for Christmas 2003.  The company has since gone on to own and operate 10 wheels around the world and now owns the largest wheel in the world, the Singapore Flyer, at 165 meters.  Despite its global operation, being a local company, the opening of the wheel in Birmingham will be its highlight of the year and the company is sure the Wheel of Birmingham will be a huge success.

Cllr Martin Mullaney, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport & Culture said, “This is another great attraction for the city and a great addition to our Christmas events programme, which is one of the UK’s biggest and best.  We hope it will be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”

Birmingham’s Christmas events start on Thursday 12 November with the launch of the Frankfurt Market, followed by the free Christmas Lights Switch On concert on Saturday 14 and the Reindeer & Lantern Parade on Sunday 15 November.

For more information on Christmas events in Birmingham, call 303 3008 or go to www.birmingham.gov.uk/christmas