Greenwich, London

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Greenwich is one of my favorite areas. It's on the south bank of the River Thames. It is really a peaceful area with nice cafes, some good museums (like Maritime Museum where we spent a lovely hour), the Greenwich park that houses the royal observatory on the top etc.

As you probably know Greenwich is famous as the location of Greenwich Mean Time. Go up to the hill for a great view above Maritime museum and visit the Royal Observatory and have your classic photo at zero point :) There's no entrance fee but sometimes there are long lines waiting for the photo. You can skip the line and enjoy the museum itself like we did of course...

One of the reasons I liked Greenwich was the ship Cutty Shark (pic 1). It was built in 1869 but was damaged in a fire on 21 May 2007 and its under renovation. My last visit there (march 2010) made me sad as I couldnt see the ship

If you are visiting Maritime Greenwich, it's worth the extra time to check out this foot tunnel that goes under the River Thames, north to the Isle of Dogs. Built in 1902, it is a third of a kilometre long and has about 100 steps at each end. Usually there are also lifts operating at both ends during the day. There is a little park on the other side where you have excellent views of the Old Royal Naval College back across the river.

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For a great view of the city, including the classical buildings of Maritime Greenwich and the high-rises of the Docklands area, head out for Greenwich Park. At the top of the hill is the famous Royal Observatory and a couple of other interesting places to check out. If you have problems going uphill, it is also possible to drive up there, coming from behind. If you keep to the right of the Observatory hill, there also is a street going upl with a somewhat gentler incline.

The park is one of the oldest royal gardens in London. Together with Maritime Greenwich, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You might well spend a whole day visiting all the sights in the park and nearby Greenwich Village!

This place is very popular both with Londoners and tourists. Expect crowds, especially when going there on a holiday and on a lovely day. The area is well served by public transportation including the DLR.

Greenwich Park is a great place to relax during a visit to Greenwich.

It is the oldest Royal Park in London.

There are excellent views across the Thames to the Docklands and Canary Wharf.

If you are here in the warmer months make sure you bring your rug and soak up some London sunshine.

Here you can get the latest on astronomy, there is a tour which is free now.

The site includes a sunrise and sunset time calculator, equinox and solstice dates, visibility predictions for the new crescent Moon, maps of forthcoming eclipses and information on UK public holidays

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The Greenwich Hospital was founded in 1694 as the Royal Naval Hospital for Seamen.

It is a Royal Charity for the benefit of seafarers and their dependents, with the Secretary of State for Defence acting as the Crown's sole Trustee.

The hospital was established as a residential home for injured sailors, on the model of Les Invalides and the Chelsea Hospital. The charity now funds sheltered housing for former Royal Navy personnel and the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook in Suffolk.
The hospital occupied its prime riverside site on the south bank of the river Thames in Greenwich, London for over 170 years, closing to pensioners in 1869.

It was subsequently occupied by the Royal Naval College until 1998 when the site was opened to the public and the main buildings transferred to academic uses. The principal occupant is now the University of Greenwich.

For more - see our Greenwich page.

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The observatory is the site of 0 meridian.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory is located in Greenwich and the Prime Meridian passes through the building. Greenwich Mean Time was at one time based on the time observations made at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, before being superseded by Coordinated Universal Time. While Greenwich no longer hosts a working astronomical observatory, a ball still drops daily to mark the exact moment of noon (UTC) 1pm (13:00)(BST), and there is a good museum of astronomical and navigational tools.

The observatory is situated in Greenwich Park, which used to be the grounds of the Royal Palace of Placentia. At the bottom of the park is the National Maritime Museum which also includes the Queen's House, designed by Inigo Jones. It is free to visit all these buildings. Greenwich also features the world's only museum dedicated to fans, the Fan Museum, in a Georgian townhouse at 10–12 Croom's Hill (fee payable). Also on Croom's Hill, on the corner of the junction with Nevada Street is Greenwich Theatre, formerly Crowder's Music Hall.

For more - see our Greenwich page.

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We got a boatride to Greenwich thrown in with our Londoneye ticket, so we decided to go and check it out as we had time to spare. Upon our arrival we were met by some medieval people who decided to have a mock fight! It was great fun and really made our trip so much more memorable.