A smaller observation wheel had been operational in the city, which was located at the Liverpool One leisure complex.

In October 2009, it was announced that Great City Attractions had submitted a planning application to install a giant observation wheel on the former King's Dock site of Liverpool.

[4] In 2005, The Liverpool Culture Company had unsuccessfully attempted to secure permission the build a wheel on the Canning Half Tide Dock.

[7] The attraction had the backing of the Albert Dock Tenants’ Business Association because of the overall waterfront visitor experience it would provide.

[7] The application was successful and granted permission to operate for an initial twelve months, later extended to two years.

They gave riders views of the River Mersey, the Welsh mountains and World Heritage Site waterfront at Pier Head.

[13] Each pod could carry up to eight passengers and were designed to give a 360 degree panoramic view of the surrounding area.

[18] Great City Attractions retained ownership of the wheel for two year until the company went into administration in July 2012.

[21] The Wheel of Liverpool was acquired by Dubai-based Freij Entertainment International,[22] who without public warning or explanation dismantled the attraction in November 2020.

[1] This was later explained as a planned refurbishment requiring transport of the wheel to the manufacturers facility in the Netherlands.