Admittedly, Greenwich is a little way out of central London and if time is tight you may have to skip her, but if you possibly can fit in just one day in this historic area, you’ll reap rich rewards. Greenwich has certainly been one of the highlights of our time in London and I wish we’d had more time to explore and appreciate her fully. Two days wasn’t nearly enough.
Things to Do in Greenwich and How to Get There
How to Get to Greenwich
Greenwich is in South London and there are many ways to get there from Central London. Railway, bus, or boat. Greenwich is well worth your time.
Get to Greenwich by rail
Greenwich is on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), your Oyster card will cover you for this part of London’s awesome transport system. You’ll want to get off at Cutty Sark DLR station for the attractions mentioned here.
The nearest mainline train stations are Greenwich and Maze Hill.
Find current information on getting to Greenwich by rail here.
By bus
Details on bus services to Greenwich can be found at the official Greenwich Royal Museums Website.
By water
Pleasure cruises and river buses can take you to Greenwich Pier, just a few minutes walk from Greenwich’s historic attractions.
If you are looking for a hotel in London, start your search here.
Things to Do in Greenwich – Greenwich’s Main Attractions
The Cutty Sark
This magnificently restored clipper dominates the banks of the Thames at Greenwich.
She’s a beautiful ship with a rich history and her interior boasts fabulous modern displays of educational and general interest.
We highly recommend a visit for the kids, we posted about her already at Reasons to visit the Cutty Sark at Greenwich.
The National Maritime Museum
Another of London’s fantastic free museums, this one is a must for anyone with an interest in geography or sea-going history.
Kids will love the Great Map and the ship navigation simulator along with the children’s gallery where they can learn morse code and fire a cannon at pesky pirates.
One of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpieces, The Old Royal Naval College, takes prime position on the banks of the Thames at Greenwich.
The Discover Greenwich Visitor centre, part of the college buildings, is a great, free, starting point for visitors with some hands-on exhibits that children will love.
You can get all the information you need from the help desk here.
Traditional Pie, Mash, Eels and Liquor
Want to try traditional London food?
It doesn’t get more London than this, try Goddard’s of Greenwich, click-through for more information on this London institution.
International Food and a Great Market
Greenwich has an under-cover market boasting some sensational food stalls from all over the globe along with local crafts, antiques and collectables.
It’s a great spot to grab some lunch if you’re not in the mood for a pie.
The Royal Observatory at Greenwich
The Royal Observatory sits on top of the hill behind the Maritime Museum and Queen’s House.
The Prime Meridian Line and Marker is here, outside the observatory. You can see the line for free, but there are charges for parts of the observatory.
Greenwich Hill and Park
It’s well worth climbing the hill to the Observatory for one of the best views in London.
You can see all the way from the O2 centre ( The Dome), along the Thames to The Shard and beyond. It really is something special.
Walk Under the Thames
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel opened in 1902 and allows east access to the Isle of Dogs from the Greenwich side of the river. It is 1217 feet long and runs around 50 feet under the Thames.
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I liked Greenwich the most of the places I visited in London 🙂
Thank you for this info, we are staying overnight in Greenwich next week – very well timed!
Sounds great for our next “short break”! I surely would like to stand with one foot in the east and the other in the west. We did a similar thing with north and south in Pontianak!