In many ways they couldn't be more different, the Eye and the Dome, London's two big monuments to the new millennium.

Where one is tall and slight, towering 450ft above the capital, the other sprawls, low and sleek.

With the London Eye, nothing is hidden. What you see is what you get - a giant Ferris wheel that promises unprecedented public views of London.

The Millennium Dome however, was always meant to be a more secretive affair. For months before it opened, the pearls inside this Teflon oyster were afforded the sort of protection normally granted to a nuclear weapons base.

Many of those who have yet to shell out the entrance fee are still unsure what goes on inside the Dome.

The differences (and similarities) continue:

MILLENNIUM DOME		LONDON EYE
Price tag - £758m. Although no public money was involved, lottery players contributed several millions while corporate sponsors such as Boots, Ford and Tesco made up the rest.		Price tag -As a private project, in the hands of British Airways, the exact figure is a matter of some speculation. Initially costed at £35m, it is rumoured to have risen to £60m because of delays and technical problems.
Launch - Despite speculation to the contrary, the Dome did open on time - New Year's Eve, 1999. A good thing too, since it was the venue for Britain's most prestigious millennium party, with the Queen and Tony Blair both on the guest list.		Launch - Also due to launch on millennium eve, the Eye's first turn was put back at the last minute after safety inspectors identified a clutch problem with one of the 32 pods.
Public relations - A disaster. Queues on the opening night meant distinguished guests waited hours to get in, by which time the champagne had dried up. The long lines continued for a few days as punters flocked to see what all the fuss was about, then suddenly they dried up. The press gloated throughout.		Public relations - Almost faultless, despite several embarrassing setbacks. A snapped cable left the wheel hanging at a precarious angle over the Thames for weeks, then there was the aforementioned clutch problem and even now only 10 of the pods are in use. Stunts such as free BA flights for those who had been looking forward to the inaugural ride helped quell potential dissent.
What the papers said - "It is a deep disappointment. It doesn't work on any level," The Guardian; "The Dome is not only a disappointment, but a scandalously wasted opportunity," The Daily Mail; "Most ordinary people find it a good day out," The Mirror.		What the papers said - "Those who caught a first glimpse of what the Eye can see were held in awe," The Daily Telegraph; "In a silent cry of delight you wish: Again! Again!" The Guardian; "[Passengers] were almost uniformly disappointed with the experience," The Times.
Architect - The distinguished architect and Labour peer, Lord Rogers, whose copybook includes the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Lloyds building in the City of London.		Architect - The relatively unknown husband-and-wife team of David Marks and Julia Barfield.
Best before date - While the Dome will go on, the exhibition inside only runs for a year. Operators are currently bidding to take over the site from the start of 2001.		Best before date - It only has planning permission for five years, but fans are predicting that, like the Eiffel Tower, it will become a permanent landmark.
Ticket price - "One Amazing Day" will cost adults £20; children £16.50; OAPs £18.		Ticket price - A 30-minute spin will cost adults £7.45; children £4.95; OAPs £5.95.
Nicknames - The Monstrous Blancmange (according to Prince Charles); The Big Top		Nicknames - The Giant Bicycle Wheel; Wheel of Misfortune; the Eye-full Tower
Easy to get to? - Yes if you live in London or the South East. Otherwise, a long and costly journey to the south bank of the Thames		Easy to get to? - Yes if you live in London or the South East. Otherwise, a long and costly journey to the south bank of the Thames