Observation wheel at the gateway to Portsmouth Harbour giving views over The Solent to the Isle of Wight and beyond
Observation wheel at the gateway to Portsmouth Harbour giving views over The Solent to the Isle of Wight and beyond
| Theme Park | Clarence Pier |
|---|---|
| Type | Big Wheel |
| Audience | All Ages |
| Opened | 2016 (for the summer season) 2018 (re-opened) |
| Manufacturer | Technical Park |
| Model | Ferris Wheel |
| Height | 105 ft |
| Cost | £750,000 |
The view from the top
The Solent Wheel is a 32 metre high ferris wheel on Clarence Pier. From the top, visitors are able to look over The Solent to the Isle of Wight, and over into Portsmouth town centre in the other direction.
The wheel consists of 24 pods, each seating up to six passengers. One of the gondolas is designated as a VIP carriage and offers champagne and chocolates.
Originally The Solent Wheel arrived at Clarence Pier in April 2016, but the owners were forced to dismantle it in October that year over fears flocks of brent geese migrating for the winter could fly into it. However, the wheel was brought back in 2018 after a comprehensive "bird survey" was carried out.
While they are small, the carriages are quite cosy and are almost fully enclosed with windows to look out of. Unfortunately, the windows quickly get covered in salt spray from the sea, which makes them a bit cloudy - it's fine to see out, but not easy to take photos through them!
As of August 2019, the wheel costs £4 for adults and £3 for children/OAPs for around 3 rotations and a stop at the top.
The Solent Wheel
The wheel towers more than 100 feet over Clarence Pier
Entrance to the Solent Wheel
The gondolas
View from the top, looking over towards Southsea
Looking down on Clarence Pier
The view over to the Isle of Wight
An Isle of Wight car ferry passes Clarence Pier
