Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is one of the eight Royal Parks of London and the first of them to be enclosed. Covering 74 hectares on a hill in the south-east of the city, it is a former hunting park and part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site.

Why visit Greenwich Park?

It is one of the largest single green spaces in south-east London. The park combines flower gardens, open grassy areas and wooded stretches with elevated views that the flatter parts of the city cannot offer. It is an easy place to rest after a day of museums and historic sights nearby.

What is there to see?

The hilltop is home to the Royal Observatory. It was commissioned by Charles II, and its foundation stone was laid on 10 August 1675. The site was chosen on the advice of Christopher Wren, and the building was meant for determining longitude, which mattered for navigation and astronomy.

The Prime Meridian runs through the park. In the observatory courtyard it is marked by a stainless steel strip, and further markers sit on a path north of the building and on nearby streets: Chesterfield Walk to the south and Park Vista to the north. You can stand with one foot in the eastern hemisphere and the other in the western.

Elsewhere in the park you will find:

• flower gardens,
• a children's playground,
• cafés,
• a bandstand,
• a boating lake and a pond,
• woodland and "The Wilderness", a wildlife habitat.

What are the views like?

From the higher parts of the park you can see the River Thames, the Isle of Dogs and the City of London. It is a classic spot for skyline photos, especially with the towers of the City in the distance.

Why is the Prime Meridian at Greenwich?

At a conference in Washington D.C. in October 1884, Greenwich was chosen as the location of the Prime Meridian. All but three of the 41 delegates voted in favour. As a result, the park and observatory became a reference point for maps and time zones around the world.

Frequently asked questions

How big is Greenwich Park? The park covers 74 hectares.

Is Greenwich Park a Royal Park? Yes, it is one of the eight Royal Parks of London and the first to be enclosed.

Where is the Prime Meridian in the park? It passes near the Royal Observatory. A stainless steel strip marks it in the courtyard, with further markers on a path north of the observatory and on nearby streets.

Is it suitable for visiting with children? Yes. The park has a playground, cafés and a boating lake, and a walk through the flower gardens and woodland easily fills a few hours.

Can you see central London from the park? Yes. From the hill you can see the Thames, the Isle of Dogs and the City of London.

Planning your visit

Set aside a few hours. A good route is to climb the hill to the observatory, take a photo on the meridian line, then wander through the flower gardens and wooded areas, stopping at a café or by the lake. The park pairs well with a day exploring the other Greenwich sights, which together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site.