Posted by An excursion to the Greewich district is almost obligatory for London travellers. There are many interesting top sights.
Overview of Greewich
Greenwich is a district of London south of the Thames. It is only a few kilometres from the centre. Greenwich is a rich and green part of the city. Greenwich is world famous for the standards that have been set here. Today, Greenwich Mean Time and the zero meridian that runs right through Greenwich are global standards. A trip to Greenwich is especially worthwhile on a day with good weather.
Greenwich Park is one of the largest and most beautiful parks in London. Every year the world famous London Marathon starts here. Greenwich Park is only a few hundred metres from the Thames. In between there is the National Maritime Museum, probably the largest and most interesting maritime museum in the world. The opening hours of the National Maritime Museum are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (as at the beginning of 2017). Only at Christmas the National Maritime Museum London is closed (24th to 26th December). Admission to the Maritime Museum in Greenwich is free!
The most popular excursion by boat on the ThamesMeanwhile, a large part of London tourists take a boat trip on the Thames. Of course, everyone wants to see the center of London from the ship. Thus, the most popular boat tour is from Westminster to Greenwich, that is, across the city center of London. Very often booked tour, you should book online in advance: >>> At Getyourguide.com you can buy tickets for the ships on the river Thames |
The Royal Greenwich Observatory
However, most visitors come to Greenwich because of the longitude 0 (zero meridian). London was once the hub of the world. The Royal Greenwich Observatory (the Royal British Observatory) was commissioned in 1884 to divide the world into latitudes and longitudes. The observatory stands on a hill in the middle of Greenwich Park. The zero meridian has been running through the telescope inside the Royal Greenwich Observatory since 1884.
Thus, if you are in the Greenwich Observatory, you are exactly at the 0° 0′ 00” longitude. On the ground in the courtyard of the observatory, the zero meridian is marked by a metal strip. You can stand here with one leg on the eastern hemisphere of the earth, with the other leg on the western hemisphere. So many people want to do this and have themselves photographed that sometimes you have to stand in line for a few minutes.
Our excursion tip: Harry Potter tour from London to the film studios outside the city. It is currently the most popular day trip from London >>> More information
Also interesting is the large red ball on the roof of the Greenwich Observatory. It falls daily at exactly 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time (British winter time) a few meters downwards. After that, everyone in the English capital used to be able to set their watches. In the Royal Greenwich Observatory the time valid today worldwide was determined. All local times worldwide are based on the system.
Tip: Harry Potter excursion (Warner Brothers Studio Tour)One of the popular excursions in London is to the film studios, On this page you can find more info and book the tour. |
Opening hours Royal Greenwich Observatory: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm (in beginning 2018).
Entrance fee Royal Greenwich Observatory: Entrance is free!
Approach Greenwich
Problem with public transport ticket: Greenwich is in zone 3 of London public transport. The best way to get to the sights described above is from Greenwich underground station or by train from DLR (Docklands Light Railway) stop “Cutty Sark”
Solution: However, if you, like most tourists, have only one ticket for zones 1 and 2, you can get off at the DLR station “Island Gardens” and do the following:
From here you can reach Greenwich through an old pedestrian tunnel, which runs under the Thames and is worth seeing. To the north of the Thames, the entrance to the tunnel is only about 100 metres from DLR’s Island Gardens station. The southern exit is not far from Greenwich Park (about 300 metres). The 400 metre long pedestrian tunnel can be reached by elevators on both sides. Use is free of charge.
Tunnel Hamburg under the Elbe river.
Ship Cutty Sark
Another attraction in Greenwich is the famous historic ship Cutty Sark. It was one of the fastest sailing ships of Great Britain at the end of the 19th century (it was a so-called tea clipper). Today it is a very popular museum ship and is located in Greenwich on the Thames. Like much of Greenwich, the Cutty Sark has opening hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. In contrast to other attractions, however, the Cutty Sark sailing ship costs admission (entrance fee adults 13.50 pounds, children £7, as of 2017). As is so often the case in London, you either pays a high entrance fee for sights or the entrance is free.
Greenwich Top 10 Sights and Activities
Visit the Royal Observatory
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is home to the prime meridian line that separates the Earth’s eastern and western hemispheres. Visitors can stand on the line and place one foot in each hemisphere. The observatory also houses a collection of telescopes, clocks and other astronomical instruments, as well as a planetarium.
Explore the National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is the largest museum of its kind in the world and houses an extensive collection of artefacts related to the history of British shipping. Highlights include a collection of figureheads of old ships, a gallery on the history of the Royal Navy and an exhibition on British exploration of the world’s oceans.
Walk through Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park is a large open space that is home to a variety of gardens, monuments and historic buildings. It is also one of the highest points in London and offers stunning views of the city skyline. Visitors can walk through the park, have a picnic or join a guided tour of the park’s historic buildings.
Visit the Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is a famous tea clipper ship built in 1869. Today it is a museum where visitors can learn about the ship’s history and explore its decks. The ship is housed in a special dry dock where visitors can go under the hull and see the ship’s massive iron frame.
Tour of the Painted Hall
The Painted Hall is part of the Old Royal Naval College, designed by Christopher Wren in the late 17th century. The hall is decorated with an impressive ceiling and murals depicting scenes from British maritime history. Visitors can take a guided tour of the hall and the rest of the college’s historic buildings.
Take a boat trip on the Thames
Greenwich is located on the south bank of the Thames, and one of the best ways to explore the district is by taking a boat trip on the Thames. There are a number of tour operators offering boat trips that depart from Greenwich and pass some of London’s most famous landmarks.
The most popular excursion by boat on the ThamesMeanwhile, a large part of London tourists take a boat trip on the Thames. Of course, everyone wants to see the center of London from the ship. Thus, the most popular boat tour is from Westminster to Greenwich, that is, across the city center of London. Very often booked tour, you should book online in advance: >>> At Getyourguide.com you can buy tickets for the ships on the river Thames |
Shop at Greenwich Market
Greenwich Market is a popular shopping destination with over 150 stalls selling everything from handmade crafts to vintage clothing. The market is open every day and is a great place to find unique souvenirs and gifts.
Eat at one of Greenwich’s many restaurantsIn Greenwich
there are a variety of restaurants and cafes serving everything from traditional British pub fare to international cuisine. Some of the neighbourhood’s most popular restaurants include The Gipsy Moth, a historic pub serving classic British dishes, and Inside, a vegetarian restaurant offering a variety of healthy and delicious options.
Visit the Queen’s House
The Queen’s House is a historic building built in the early 17th century for Anne of Denmark, the wife of King James I. The Queen’s House was built in the 17th century. Today it is part of the National Maritime Museum and houses a collection of artworks and artefacts relating to British naval history.
Attend a show at the O2 Arena
The O2 Arena is a large indoor venue in Greenwich. It is one of the largest venues in the world and hosts a variety of concerts, sporting events and other shows throughout the year. Visitors can check the O2 Arena schedule to see what events are taking place during their visit to Greenwich.
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