Day Trip To Greenwich From London
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Greenwich, a London borough just upriver from the heart of London, is a relaxing respite from the zipping pace of London.
Visit Greenwich from London: (Jump To)
How to Get To Greenwich from London
Start your day by boarding one of the Thames Clipper boats headed toward Greenwich. Stations are located on both river banks near all the major tourist destinations. You can pay for the trip with your Oyster Card, with their app, or (if you’re behind the times) with a regular old ticket from the ticket window. Some boats don’t go all the way to Greenwich, make sure to get on one that takes you all the way there. It’ll save you some embarrassment at Canary Wharf. It takes 30-60 minutes to get there depending on where you board.
The boat trip serves two purposes. First, it takes you up the river. Secondly, it’s a sightseeing tour. You can get some great shots of all the landmarks as you pass by; St. Paul's, The Shard, and The Tower of London. You even pass right under Tower Bridge. People are paying top dollar for a scenic tour of the river. You’ve outsmarted them. Congratulations.
What To See at The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich
Everywhere you go in London, someone is blabbering on about Sir Christopher Wren. It seems as though he designed the whole city. I don’t know how he found the time. I suppose these were the days before “work-life balance”. Nonetheless, head to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Royal Naval College. Designed by guess who?
Your two stops in the Naval College are conveniently located under the two identical domes in the center of the plaza. On the left is the Chapel at the Old Royal Naval College. Meh, it's a church, but you’re here, so give it a quick look. On the right is the real winner, the Painted Hall. People have called it the Sistine Chapel of London. That’s probably further than I would go. I’d call it a dining hall with a really, really nice ceiling.
From there head towards the Queen’s House, which is now part of the National Maritime Museum. The museum is free to visit. If you’re into ancient navigational instruments, ships in bottles, and old coats--by all means--head in. If not, keep calm and carry on.
How To Get To The Royal Observatory
From the Queen's house pick one of the paved paths up to the Royal Observatory. It’s a slow, steady climb to the top. It should take you about fifteen minutes. From the top, you’ll have a great view of the college and the river. Take notice of the layout of the buildings below. The Queen requested that the college be built in a way that would not obstruct her view of the Thames. It’s good to be queen.
There are two buildings up here. The Royal Observatory (on a site chosen by Sir Christopher Wren—who, when not building every building in London, dabbled in astronomy) and the Flamsteed House (yep, he built this one too).
The Observatory is also home to the Prime Meridian, marked with a metal bar in the pavement. You are compelled to stand over this line with one foot in each hemisphere. The desire to stand over an imaginary line is too strong. Like a sucker, you will buy a ticket to the observatory courtyard to do this. I did it, and so shall you.
Included with the money you wasted to stand over an imaginary line is entrance to the Observatory, the Flamsteed House, and a museum of timekeeping devices. If you have a time fetish, they're worth a short visit.
Head back down the hill, keeping left of the National Maritime Museum onto King William Walk. Here, including the intersecting streets, is a hefty barrage of unique and interesting tourist-oriented shops.
Finish your day by selecting the best Yelp-reviewed local pub for a pint of beer, some mushy peas, and a plate of fish & chips.
