A World Heritage Site marking the site of the Greenwich Meridian (the base point for World Time and the location of Longitude 0) Greenwich is most famous for being associated with time and with space. As you walk across her spectacular park you get a potent sense of both. With its hillside location on the edge of the city, the oldest enclosed Royal Park stretches out over 183 acres, offering a strong sense of space and some truly spectacular, expansive views. The top of the hill, near the Observatory, affords amazing vistas across the River Thames to St Paul's Cathedral and beyond; head for the Henry Moore statue ‘Standing Figure Knife Edge’ for the best vantage point. The many historic buildings that surround the park tell a story that dates back over hundreds of years. While its history stretches back to Roman times (look out for the remains hidden among the grass), the park was first enclosed in 1433. It went on to entertain a host of royal residents, for whom the park became their back garden. Henry VIII, Mary I and Elizabeth I were all born here, while Queen Anne’s royal house (Queen’s House) still remains to this day. The park’s various trees also tell a tale of time – some date back to the 1600s, while the truncated shape of others reveals a period during World War II when the tips were cut off to broaden the field of fire for guns positioned in the park. An ancient oak tree, known as 'Queen’s Oak because of its associations with Queen Elizabeth I, still stands firm and proud in the park. Having evolved over time the park now contains a number of more modern attractions - a boating lake, cricket pitch, tennis courts and a bandstand sit comfortably alongside a herb garden, duck pond, rose garden, and “secret garden” behind the Observatory. This is probably the most historically significant of all London’s parks. It’s also amazingly beautiful. Make a day of it by taking in Greenwich’s other attractions – the Cutty Sark, Royal Observatory, Queen’s House, the Royal Naval College and Greenwich Market all warrant a trip. End the day on a riverside table outside the historic Trafalgar Tavern.
Best for:
Ancient oaks, views, Elizabeth I and Henry VIII, time and space.
Did you know?
In 2012, Greenwich Park will host the equestrian and show jumping events, and the cross country disciplines of the modern pentathlon, during the London Summer Olympics.
NOTE: the Cutty Sark is closed for refurbishment until 2009.
Blackheath to Greenwich
Distance & Difficulty - 2.5 miles. One big hill to climb.
Highlights - The heath, view from Greenwich Park lake, Prime Meridian.
Overview... More
Greenwich Park
Romney Road, SE10 9NF
Old, enclosed Royal Park.
A World Heritage Site marking the site of the Greenwich Meridian (the base point for World Time and... More
Flora London Marathon 2009
Starts - Greenwich Park,
26th April 2009
Every April, 30,000 runners flood the streets of the capital to do battle with themselves and... More
Greenwich Market
Greenwich High Road, SE10 9HZ
Often dismissed for being too far out of town or for its association with the architectural monstrosity that was/is the... More
National Maritime Museum | Queen's House | Royal Observatory
Romney Road Greenwich, SE10 9NF
National Maritime Museum
Located in the heart of historic Greenwich, the National... More
Nunhead Cemetery is a 52 acre Victorian burial ground situated on a hill four miles south of Central London. A ruined Gothic chapel overlooks a ... More
Buddhist garden in the grounds of the Imperial War Museum.
Located in the ground of the Imperial War Museum, lies this fitting tribute to peace and ... More
Located in the heart of Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum has a monumental mission: to showcase mankind's association with the sea. The collection dates back ... More
With its narrow cobbled streets, historic old pubs, waterfront walkways and maritime history Greenwich is a wonderful place to escape to. This particular hotel is ... More
The exhibition of winning entries from the first ever Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition takes place, appropriately, at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich - home ...More
Greenwich boasts a number of glorious markets offering a variety of traditional, hand-crafted goods, antiques, clothing and food stalls. The craft market is held at ...More
In spite of its name, its Victorian pub exterior and an interesting collection of Greenwich memorabilia, the Spread Eagle is not a pub, or even ... More
King Charles Court,
Old Royal Naval College,Greenwich,
SE10Map
10 minutes walk from Greenwich Park
The many beautiful rooms and halls of Sir Christopher Wren's Old Royal Naval College play host to a regular program of concerts, recitals and masterclasses ...More
Based in Greenwich town centre, Greenwich Dance Agency is a meeting place for dancers, with rehearsal and performance spaces for professionals and members of the ...More
The pub achieved notoriety selling whitebait (still on the menu) but now it’s a refreshment point for the capital’s many visitors. It’s hardly surprising with ... More
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Old, enclosed Royal Park.
