Name: Royal Observatory Greenwich
Rating: 5.0

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Royal Observatory, Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich is an observatory situated on a hill in Greenwich Park in south east London, overlooking the River Thames to the north.

Visit the historic home of Greenwich Mean Time, stand on the world-famous Prime Meridian Line, and come to London's only Planetarium for out-of-this-world live astronomy shows and events.

Prices starts from £24.00 for Adults and £12.00 for Children. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Stand on the historic Prime Meridian Line: Place one foot in the west and one in the east at the Prime Meridian of the World. Since the late 19th century, the Prime Meridian at Greenwich has divided the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth - just as the equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres.
Marvel at one of the UK's largest telescopes: At over eight metres long and 71cm wide, the Great Equatorial Telescope is the largest of its kind in the UK. The telescope is round at each end but square in the middle. The reason for this strange shape is that the mount it rests on was originally made for a smaller telescope. The new design had to be 'squeezed' in the middle to fit.
See the world-famous Harrison clocks: Learn about John Harrison’s epic race to solve the 'Longitude Problem' and admire the craftsmanship of the world-famous Harrison timekeepers, including H1, H2, H3 and H4.
Enjoy live science and astronomy demonstrations: Get hands-on with a telescope and discover fascinating facts about the Universe. During weekends, a space-tastic team of Observatory Explainers will be around the site, delivering live science demonstrations and astronomy sessions for all ages.
Join a talk or tour: Learn about pioneering discoveries, the people who made them and the objects that they used with one of our knowledgeable staff and volunteers during a Royal Observatory talk or tour.
Make time for the Octagon Room: The Octagon Room is the oldest part of Royal Observatory Greenwich. It was commissioned by King Charles II, designed by famed architect Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1676.
Enjoy the best view in London: A UNESCO World Heritage Site in front, the towers of Canary Wharf behind and the snaking River Thames beyond – surely this view is worth the trip alone? Look to the left towards central London and see if you can spy the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and more.
Tell the time using the Shepherd Gate clock: This was the first clock to ever show Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to the public. The first thing you notice about the Shepherd Gate clock is that it has 24 hours on its face rather than the usual 12.
Wonder at Airy’s Transit Circle: This telescope, designed in 1850, defined the historic Prime Meridian of the world. It became known as the Airy Transit Circle and was used for over a century to make around 600,000 observations.
Visit Flamsteed House: The gracious apartments of Flamsteed House are where the leading astronomers of the day lived and worked. The position of 'Astronomer Royal' was created by King Charles II, and the role came to be hugely important to Britain's scientific progress.

Facilities

Parking: There is a secure car park at the National Maritime Museum, which is open to visitors during weekends, bank holidays and school holidays. Limited spaces may also be available Monday-Friday.
Eat and drink: You can pick up refreshments from stalls just outside the main entrance to the Observatory, or head towards the Parkside Café just down the hill at the National Maritime Museum.
Toilets: In the Historic Royal Observatory an accessible toilet and baby-change facility is located on the right-hand side after exiting the Admissions area. Additional toilets are located at the base of the external staircases in front of Flamsteed House.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult: £24.00
Child: £12.00

Pricing URL: https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open Daily: 10am-5pm (last entry 4.15pm).

Address: Royal Observatory, Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, UK

Post Code: SE10 8XJ

Council: Greenwich

County: Greater London

By Car: Driving in Greenwich - Traffic calming measures have been introduced in west and east Greenwich. Camera-controlled restrictions will be in place on weekdays during peak hours (7-10am and 3-7pm) to stop through traffic on certain roads. Other roads may be busier than usual. There are exemptions for Blue Badge holders.
By Train: The nearest National Rail stations are Greenwich and Maze Hill. Direct trains run to these stations from London Cannon Street and London Bridge. Greenwich station is closest to Cutty Sark, while Maze Hill is closer to the National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House and Royal Observatory.
By Bus: The following buses stop near the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House: 129, 177, 180, 188, 286, 386 and N1. The following buses stop near Cutty Sark: 129, 177, 180, 188, 199 and 386.
Parking: There is a secure car park at the National Maritime Museum, which is open to visitors during weekends, bank holidays and school holidays. Limited spaces may also be available Monday-Friday.