Whether you’re interested in the maritime history of the city, or just looking for a good place to go shopping, have dinner or hang around in the park, it’s all possible in Greenwich London. Many activities are suitable for kids as well and this area makes a perfect day visit if you’ve been to London before and would like to expand your view.
In this mega-roundup I’d like to share 10 things I can recommend you to do in Greenwich, and I’m sure there are a couple of surprises in the list for you
ONE DAY IN GREENWICH, LONDON ITINERARY
1. Royal Observatory Greenwich
The highlight of a visit to Greenwich is of course visiting the Royal Observatory and their Meridian Line. A highlight in the true sense of the word, because this historical attraction can be found on top of a hill in Greenwich Park.
The Meridian Line in Greenwich splits the Eastern and Western hemisphere in two (just like the equator does for the Northern and Southern hemisphere), so if you stand with one foot on either side of the line, you’re in two parts of the world at the same time!
The use of this ‘Prime Meridian’ is that it shows the 0 degree longitude, so if calculate how far away from this line you are and how far away from the equator (latitude) you are, you can pinpoint your exact location on earth. Just like that!
The line in Greenwich has been there since 1884 and has always been very popular with visitors. So if you want to take a photo here, I can recommend starting your ascent early in the morning!
Besides the Meridian, you can visit the observatory and get a close-up look at the giant telescopes they’re using here. There is also a small museum where you can take a trip through the history of the British astronomy (also fun for kids) and they’ve got shows in their planetarium, which is also the only one of its kind in London.
2. Cutty Sark
While we still haven’t gotten around to visit this maritime museum, every time we’re in Greenwich we’re amazed by it’s beauty. According to the brochure, inside this old ship, you can find an interactive exhibition where you can take a look on board of this legendary sailing ship from 1869. It’s the only surviving ‘tea clipper’ (they used it to import tea from China) AND it used to be the fastest ship of its era.
3. National Maritime Museum
The Greenwich Maritime museum is one of the biggest in the world and definitely worth a visit. You will hear exciting stories about the maritime adventures of the British and you will learn more about the British Hero Admiral Horatio Nelson, who you will recognize from his statue at Trafalgar Square. Here he went down during the Battle of Trafalgar
The interesting thing about this museum is not just the exhibition itself, but also the fact that you can visit it for free!
4. Old Royal Naval College
This building was designed by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren and it’s one of the world’s most famous buildings. If you really want to dive into Britain’s maritime past, I can recommend starting here. The museum gives you a good overview of the more than 500 years of maritime history of the country.
There are daily tours for a small fee. The rest of the museum is free, although donations are very much appreciated!
5. Discover Greenwich’ Hotspots
While it might not be your first choice of neighbourhood to visit when you come to London, Greenwich really is a nice area to spend (half) a day walking around. Here are some tips (links to their websites at the bottom of this article) of nice shops and restaurants to check out:
The Old Brewery, the cafe in the Old Royal Naval College that we just mentioned looked amazing and they serve real British classics like fish & chips.
I also spotted a Jamie’s Italian restaurant, quite a few good-looking Asian restaurants and Bill’s is always a nice place to go for lunch. We chose to go for a burger at Honest Burger and were definitely happy with our choice.
As far as shopping is concerned, Greenwhich has many small independent shops where you can find original (home decor) items and clothing. Better than another magnet or keychain, for sure! Here are some shops that caught our eye:
Rustic Chic – Gift shop that was founded in Greenwich. Specialised in humourous products, homeware, personalised items and retro gifts.
Hardys Sweets – An authentic looking candy store (you can find this all around London) with a tasty selection of sweets. We love the Nerds candy!
Things British – A shop full with handmade products from designers and creative brands from all around the UK. You can find ceramics to furniture and from jewelry to glass, metal and textile here.
Oliver Bonas -The first shop of this brand opened in Fulham in 1993, but now you can find this shop at more than 60 places in London and the rest of the UK. Beautifully designed items for your interior, jewelry, fashion and other gifts. Not very cheap, but definitely originals and well made!
JOY – The window looked a bit boring, but the inside of this shop was a lot more hip than expected. It’s a fashion and accessory shop, but they also have nice gifts for sale. Reminded me a bit of Urban Outfitters.
6. Greenwich Market
While I’d been to Greenwich a couple times before, I only recently discovered that there is an amazing market in the center. It features every thing you can imagine: street food, handmade products en also secondhand goodies. If you’re on the hunt for a good souvenir from London, this might be the place to find it!
It depends on the day of your visit what kind of things you can find here, but in general there is a good mix of antiques, vintage, collector’s items, food and crafts. The market is covered and around its edges, there are many more independ shopt worth checking out
A short walk away, there is also the Greenwich Vintage Market, where you can find a real jumble of secondhand items. If you’re into that, it’s great here!
7. Queen’s House
You’ll find another free entrance at the Queen’s House, designed by architect Inigo Jones. This building is considered one of the most important buildings of the country, because of the architectuur, the art collection and the fact that many Royals lived here over the years. Oh – and there is a ghost, too. Apparently.
One of the most impressive parts of the building (at least I think) is the winding staircase that they call the ‘Tulip Stairs’. It was the first geometric iron and free standing spiral staircase of England and it’s still standing proud!
8. Greenwich Park
On a nice day, I can recommend getting a snack at the supermarkt and go out for a picknick in the Royal Greenwich Park. This is a lovely old park where you’ve got an amazing view over the city of London from the top of the hill. There is also a deer park in the back!
In Summer, you can find live music and entertainment around the kids’ playground. There are also three cafes in the park, but I haven’t tested these myself yet.
9. Climb the O2
Ok, this is something we also haven’t done ourselves, but it must be incredibly exciting to climb over the roof of this MEGA entertainment, or not?
In the O2, you can find concerts of the biggest bands around, watch several sports gigs, visit the cinema or go bowling at one of the 12 lanes. You can also taste great food in one of the 130 restaurants, or go for an interactive experience at the Sky Studios or the Nissan Innovation Station.
With ‘Up at the O2’, you step into a protective suit and climb at more than 50 meter along a path going straight over the roof of the O2. If you feel like it!
10. Emirates Air Line Cable Car
When you think of Lonodn, you probably think of red doubledecker buses and the underground, right? But did you know that the city also has cable carts going over the river Thames? The Emirates Air Line is a kind of ski lift going from the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Victoria Docks.
It’s handy that you can use your Oyster Card here, so don’t worry about tickets. It’s £4.50 for a single ride. You can also book a 360° tour at the ticket office, that will give you a return ticket. It’s about 7 pounds, but with your Oyster, it’s always cheaper.
It takes you about 10 minutes for a trip during the day, but during morning rush hour (mon-fri) between 7 and 9, it takes you about 5 minutes. In the evening (after 7) is a better time to go, because they have night flights that will show you the city lit up in about 12-13 minutes, with an accompanying music and movie in the cart.
Definitely fun to try one time!
I hope you find the tips in this article useful and that they help you plan your next trip to Greenwich! Here is a list of all mentioned activities and hotspots. Any questions, let me know!
GREENWICH LONDON RESOURCES
Tourism Office Websites
- Visit Greenwich – www.visitgreenwich.org.uk
- Royal Borough of Greenwich – www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
How to Get to Greenwich London?
- DLR – tfl.gov.uk/…/cutty-sark-for-maritime-greenwich-dlr-station
- Other Travel Options (Bus/Boat) – www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/how-to-get-here
Where to Eat in Greenwich London?
- Honest Burgers – www.honestburgers.co.uk
- The Old Brewery – www.oldbrewerygreenwich.com
- Jamie’s Italian – www.jamieoliver.com/…/greenwich
- Bill’s – bills-website.co.uk/…/london-greenwich
What to Do in Greenwich London?
- Sail Royal Greenwich – www.sailroyalgreenwich.co.uk
- Royal Museums Greenwich – www.rmg.co.uk
- Old Royal Naval College Greenwich – www.ornc.org
- Up at The O2 – www.theo2.co.uk/…/up-at-the-o2
Where to go Shopping in Greenwich London?
- Rustic Chic – www.rusticandchic.co.uk
- Hardys Sweets – www.hardyssweets.co.uk
- Things British – www.thingsbritish.co.uk
- JOY – www.joythestore.com
- Oliver Bonas – www.oliverbonas.com
- Postmark Online – postmarkonline.co.uk
- The Greenwich Vintage Market – www.greenwich.market
- Greenwich Market – www.greenwichmarketlondon.com
Map of Greenwich
More fun things to see and do in London:
- One Day In London, England? Complete Bloomsbury Neighbourhood Guide
- This is Where to Find the Best London Souvenirs That You’ll Love!
- Best 7+ London Christmas Markets and Winter Festivals
- 5 Out-of-this-World Space, Technology & Science Activities in London
- See Wisteria in London in Spring with this Walking Route!
Best tours in London:
- Tower Of London Tour Review – Meeting The Ravenmaster & Ceremony Of The Keys
- Amazing Camden Street Art London Urban Adventures Tour Review
- Afternoon Tea on a London Bus You Need to Know About: B Bakery Bus Tour
Best activities in the rest of Great Britain:
- Discover Royal London And Experience Changing The Guard At Windsor Castle
- Great Britain Bucket List: 40 Places Not To Miss In England, Scotland And Wales
Looking for more ‘One Day in…’ City Guides?
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- One Day in Stuttgart, Germany
- One Day in The Hague, Netherlands
- One Day in Vienna, Austria
- One Day in Zamora, Spain
BOOKMARK ON PINTEREST:
The Jetset Boyz
Friday 1st of October 2021
While you're in Greenwich, do yourself a favour and pop in for a look at the magnificent ceiling of the "Sistine Chapel of the UK"?
It's the largest painted ceiling in London, the impressive baroque hall, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, took artist Sir James Thornhill nearly 20 years to paint in the early 1700s. If you've not seen it then get on down to the Painted Hall in Greenwich... it's well worth it!
An £8.5m restoration to clean and conserve the magnificent 17th Century paintings was completed in 2019. The Painted Hall has been brought vividly back to life - you’re in for a treat when you visit!
Nienke
Thursday 16th of December 2021
Thanks for the tip! The last time I visited Greenwich, the hall was under construction, so I wasn't able to see it and include it in the article, but I should definitely go back for it!!
The Superior Contractors
Monday 1st of October 2018
Greenwich looks simply awesome!
All about it. The observatory, the pictures you uploaded. It looks like a charming town that must be visited by anyone who visits London.
What are some other places you´d recommend in London????
Jo
Wednesday 14th of June 2017
It's been a long time since I was in Greenwich (certainly not since the Cutty Sark went up in flames) and this makes me want to go back. Thanks for the 'next trip to London' inspiration.
Nienke Krook
Friday 16th of June 2017
Went up in flames? Wow, didn't even know that!
Nitin Khanna
Tuesday 16th of May 2017
Impressive Pictures! It's really great to visit at Greenwich. Great tips!
Thanks for Sharing.
Nienke Krook
Friday 19th of May 2017
Thanks!