The Golden Carousel
London England
2012

The Golden Carousel situated on the London Southbank on the Queen's Walk in the Jubilee Park & Garden

https://www.theunfinishedcity.co.uk/2023/01/golden-carousel.html

If you take a trip down the Queen's Walk on the South Bank, you will discover a Carousel that is always running, come rain or shine. It is the only fairground ride along this stretch of pedestrianised pavement and so looks a little out of place.

You can almost certainly guarantee that whenever I am passing it, my girls will want to take a ride on it, regardless of the weather or time of day. And who am I to object?

Many people assume, wrongly, that it is just like all the other Carousels that are seen around the country and the world, throughout the warmer months.

However, the Golden Carousel is unique and is a replica of a traditional English Carousel that was at the 1951 Festival of Britain, in Battersea Park.

It was manufactured in 1999 by the Company 'Mardigras UK Limited' and is owned by English showman Tommy Matthews.

The ride travels on its own self contained transport and can be positioned, built up and ready to gallop in a few hours.

The lighting, on the Carousel, consists of over 3000 environmentally friendly LED bulbs.

Brief History
The name Carousel originates from the old Italian and Spanish words Garosello and Carosella, meaning 'little battle'. Tis was because early machines were used for cavalry training by the Arabs in the 12th century.

Carousels first became popular for entertainment in the great public parks of Europe in the 1700s.

Early Carousels had no platforms: the animals would hang on poles or chains.

These early Carousels were often powered by animals walking in a circle or by people pulling on a rope.

By the mid 19th century platform Carousels were developed and these machines were steam powered. Eventually, electric motors were installed and electric lights were added, giving the Carousel its classic look.

By the late 1800s electric powered Carousels were popular everywhere in the country. Unfortunately, with the start of World War II, they fell into decline and today there are very few original Carousels left.

Each country had its own variations on the Carousel. For instance, while English Carousels rotate clockwise, American Carousels rotate anti-clockwise.

At 135m, The London Eye is the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel. It was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects and was launched in 2000.

It has won over 85 awards for national and international tourism, outstanding architectural quality and engineering achievement. In fact, it has become the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Eye

The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over three million visitors annually. It has made many appearances in popular culture.

The London Eye adjoins the western end of Jubilee Gardens (previously the site of the former Dome of Discovery), on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge beside County Hall, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nearest tube station is Waterloo.

The London Eye was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects.

Mace was responsible for construction management, with Hollandia as the main steelwork contractor and Tilbury Douglas as the civil contractor. Consulting engineers Tony Gee & Partners designed the foundation works while Beckett Rankine designed the marine works.