TOP 10: Amazing photographs of the London Eye

Images of one of the UK's most famous landmarks, the London Eye.

Approximately 45 million people have visited the Eye since its opening in 2000 -- but for the first time in 13 years the monument is getting a deep clean. The clean, which started in the end of March, will take 3 weeks to complete with abseiling cleaners working at night to remove more than a decade's worth of grime.

Here, the London Eye is seen on the South Bank of the River Thames during early morning in central London.

The early morning sun lights buildings in an aerial photograph from The View gallery at the Shard, western Europe's tallest building, in London. The View, the public viewing deck accessible by high speed elevators on the 309 metre (1,013 feet) Shard building, opened on February 1.

Fireworks explode around the London Eye during New Year celebrations in central London January 1, 2013.

Thrill seekers ride a fairground attraction overlooking the London Eye (L) and Houses of Parliament, next to the Thames river in London.

Visitors look out from a pod on the London Eye towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in central London.

The London Eye is seen as it rotates in front of the River Thames in London.

Passengers in pods on the London Eye pass the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, in central London. Britons angered by their MPs' lavish expense claims say they will exact revenge at the ballot box next month, with Labour set to be the prime target.

The London Eye and the London Aquarium seen on the South Bank of the River Thames in central London.

Passengers in a pod on the London Eye are silhouetted by a full moon in London.

A tourist looks up at the London Eye ferris wheel in London.