London
Town Guide


Greenwich District

SE10
Nearest station: Greenwich BR station


Greenwich is situated to the south-east of central London on the south bank of the River Thames, just south of the Isle of Dogs. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon for 'Green Port'. Greenwich is a great part of London to explore as it retains a distinctly small-town atmosphere and is easy to get around by foot.

One thing that everyone agrees on is that the best way to approach Greenwich is by boat for you can get excellent views of the area from the Thames. Some of the places that you can get boat trips from are Westminster and the Tower of London.

Otherwise you can take the Docklands Light Railway to Island Gardens where you can go by foot along a walk-way that takes you beneath the Thames and emerges next to the Cutty Sark.

Greenwich has a long association with royalty, at least as far back as the reign of Edward I (1272-1307). It's royal heyday was in the Tudor period when it was a favourite place for hunting, jousting, banquets and celebrations. Henry VIII (1509-47), Mary I (1553-58) and Elizabeth I (1558-1603) were all born in Greenwich and Henry VIII's favourite palace was Greenwich Palace.

Today, however, the area is better known for its nautical, astrological and scientific connections. Here you will find the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark and Gipsy Moth IV.

There is also Christopher Wren's Old Royal Observatory that dates from 1675 where, as well as seeing all many of historical astrological instruments, you can step over the Greenwich Meridian Line.

And Greenwich also has lots of bookshops, antique stores and a weekend market where you can while the afternoon away browsing to your heart's content. Further eastwards you can visit the Thames Barrier.


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