Merlin Entertainments is to launch a London Eye-style observation wheel in New Jersey, US.

The Pepsi Globe, which is due to open at the Garden State’s new Meadowlands Xanadu complex in November, will be the first observation wheel of its kind in the country.

The attraction will be 287ft (87m) high and offer views of the Manhattan skyline and northern New Jersey.

Merlin will also open a Legoland Discovery Centre at the complex, which will be the company’s second in the US after it opens a site in Schaumburg, Illinois, later this summer.

Merlin chief executive Nick Varney said: “This is a very exciting time for Merlin, and developing the US market is a very important part of our strategy going forward.

“We are delighted to be involved in projects like Meadowlands Xanadu, which promises to be a very exciting and diverse leisure destination, with broad appeal.”

The Meadowlands Xanadu will also feature an indoor skiing centre, a concert venue and a cinema.

Merlin operates brands including Madame Tussauds and Sea Life as well as the London Eye.