Greenwich Park

Set aside plenty of time for a visit to Greenwich Park, which is at the heart of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.

The park overlooks the river Thames and is the oldest enclosed Royal Park. It is home to historic buildings with royal ties, magnificent gardens and a wide variety of wildlife.

What is there to see at Greenwich Park?

Explore the maritime history of Greenwich with a visit to the National Maritime Museum. The Museum’s 14 galleries host a mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions that look at the impact of ancient and modern seafaring.

The Tudors and Stuarts Seafarers gallery features stories of naval conflict, piracy, exploration and adventure. These stories reveal the lives of ordinary sailors alongside well-known names including Christopher Columbus, Francis Drake and Blackbeard. Polar Worlds examines the challenges of Arctic and Antarctic exploration with moving tales of pioneering explorers such as Captain Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton.

Items to look out for include JMW Turner’s painting, The Battle of Trafalgar and the jacket Admiral Horatio Nelson was wearing when he was shot at that very battle.

For more historic tales visit The Royal Observatory, the home of British astronomy and Greenwich Mean Time. The museum’s Great Equatorial Telescope is the largest of its kind in the UK.

Snap a selfie on the Prime Meridian Line, where you can stand with one foot in the east and the other in the west or learn more about the stars at a planetarium show.

For a more leisurely visit, stroll through the tranquil gardens. The spring and summer blooms in The Flower Garden are surrounded by magnificent trees, fine lawns, a lake and a deer park. The formal Herb Garden is planted around a central fountain and provides a peaceful retreat for visitors. There’s also an orchard containing heritage fruit trees and a rose garden which is particularly beautiful in June and July.

To enjoy the spectacular views from the park, climb the hill outside The Royal Observatory and take in the extensive landscape of the city.

Can I get food and drink in Greenwich Park?

There are two cafes, serving breakfast, lunch and snacks, and a coffee kiosk in Greenwich Park.

The Pavilion Cafe is a pretty octagonal building topped by a dove-cot. There’s indoor seating for the cold, winter days and a glorious garden to sit in when the weather is warm.

The Ignatius Sancho Cafe is named after the writer, composer and abolitionist Charles Ignatius Sancho, who spent his early years in Greenwich. Sip your coffee while admiring the community kitchen garden in this beautifully landscaped space.

Where is Greenwich Park?

Greenwich Park is in Greenwich in south-east London.

How do I get to Greenwich Park?

The closest train stations to Greenwich Park are Blackheath, Greenwich and Maze Hill (South Western Railway). They are all within a 20-minute walk.

There are plenty of bus routes with stops close to Greenwich Park.