Last visited – October 2010
During our weekend stay we took the Thames Clippers river boat from Embankment to Greenwich Pier which was great fun and much more relaxing than taking a bus or tube. It meanders slowly past many of London’s great buildings and you can take photos outside at the stern for unobstructed views or just relax inside and view through the clear deck head as you travel along. The river boat stops at various popular spots along the way so you can hop on and off if need be.
Once you get to Greenwich Pier, there are numerous buildings to see including the Greenwich Royal Observatory which sits on the hill overlooking the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich Park. It’s fairly easy to find with the large red sphere on top of the observatory being visible across the grounds from many areas.
The hill up to the observatory is fairly long and steep but manageable for most. This marvellous place combines interest for all age groups and admission is free for all areas except for a few special exhibitions and the Planetarium.
Check the show schedules if you really want to see something in particular or have young children. The recommended minimum age for all shows is 5 years and you can book tickets online via the official website.
Aside from the Planetarium there is also the National Maritime Museum where you can discover 500 years of Britain’s encounter with the world at sea and The Queen’s House which was originally the home of Charles I’s queen, Henrietta Maria.
Notes
We took a mid-morning sailing with Thames Clippers and had coffee and breakfast on board from the Costa Coffee shop instead of paying for an expensive breakfast at the hotel! The food and coffees were very nice and we couldn’t have asked for a better view.
There is plenty to see and do at Greenwich and it makes a perfect day out that the whole family will enjoy. Parts of Greenwich offer free entry and the grounds alone are worth a visit on a lovely day.
What’s Nearby?
- Greenwich Village
- Greenwich Market
- The Cutty Sark
Contact Details
National Maritime Museum
Greenwich
London
SE10 9NF
Museum switchboard: +44 (0)20 8858 4422
Recorded information line: +44 (0)20 8312 6565
Bookings: bookings@nmm.ac.uk | +44 (0)20 8312 6608
Website: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/