Millennium Dome

　　  The Millennium Dome is located in London, United Kingdom. It was built to celebrate the turn of the third millennium and opened in 2000. Designed by British architect Richard Rogers, it is an iconic landmark in London and has hosted many major events. Situated on the banks of the River Thames, it is the largest dome in the world and was once hailed as the UK’s most successful paid tourist attraction. It was also one of the hottest venues during the UK’s “Celebration of the Year 2000.”

　　  The Millennium Dome was built at great expense but was not well liked by many Londoners, who felt that the building did not represent the city appropriately. Few structures in the world were as disjointed in their design as the London Millennium Dome. In 2001, it was ranked first on Forbes magazine’s list of the world’s ugliest buildings. The interior of the Dome is divided into 14 different zones, including Faith, Learning, Talk, Play, Rest, Home, and Body. These zones surround a performance area. Both inside and outside the Dome, there are a variety of entertainment facilities. Inside, you’ll find the Dome Clock, the Millennium Star, and more. Outside, highlights include a 13-meter-high Dome Map, the Childhood Cube, the Greenwich Pavilion, as well as several eye-catching sculptures.

　　  In 2005, the Millennium Dome was renamed “The O2,” and since then it has become a venue for numerous large-scale events, including concerts and music performances. By the time of the 2012 Olympics, it also served as a competition venue for gymnastics, basketball finals, and handball finals.

　　  Millennium Dome Reason to Visit: The world’s largest dome Continent: Europe [Europe] Country/Region: United Kingdom [Britain] Province/State: Greater London [Greater London] City: London [London]