Hidden Gems and Unusual Experiences in Greenwich

Trust a Greenwich local to know everything this special corner of London has to offer. Take a wander through this insider’s guide to the borough’s undiscovered delights and unique experiences.

Hidden Houses and Secret Gardens

Greenwich is synonymous with stately gardens and extraordinary architecture. Whilst Greenwich Park, the Royal Observatory and The O2 are must-see London tourist attractions, there are plenty of lesser-known jewels just waiting to be discovered. Eltham Palace and Gardens, for example, combines 19 acres of award-winning gardens with a unique blend of medieval, Tudor and art deco architecture. While in the neighbourhood, be sure to drop into Well Hall Pleasaunce, a delightfully varied garden connected with the Tudors in the times they lived at Eltham Palace. 

Charlton House and Gardens, acclaimed as the finest Jacobean mansion and landscape in London, is another off-the-beaten-track must. Built in the early seventeenth century, Charlton House has been home to aristocrats, prime ministers and other luminaries. A day spent wandering its walled gardens, Jacobean interiors and artefacts is a favourite of many knowledgeable locals.

The breadth of Greenwich’s quirkier architectural offerings is encompassed by Eltham’s Tudor Barn, the only one of its kind surviving in the UK capital, and Severndroog Castle, a towering Georgian-gothic folly on Shooter’s Hill. Both the Barn and the ‘Castle’ are set amongst delightful parks and woodlands and offer tearooms or bistros serving great food.

Fans of art and Georgian architecture will love the Ranger’s House, an elegant villa housing the copious collection of 19th-century businessman, Sir Julius Wernher. The stately exterior of the villa appears in Netflix smash-hit Bridgerton, as does Inigo Jones’s classical Queen’s House.

The Queen’s House can hardly claim to be undiscovered, yet there are plenty of unexpected delights within. Take, for instance, the blue wrought-iron Tulip Stairs, the first self-supporting spiral staircase in Britain.

Another on the list of Greenwich’s ‘secret’ spaces is the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, a manmade haven for insects, birds and other wildlife. An unusual oasis in the urban bustle of Greenwich Peninsula, this peaceful place lies just moments from The O2, the world’s most popular entertainment venue.

Unsurprisingly, given its nautical and industrial heritage, Greenwich also boasts plenty of engineering highlights. The Greenwich Foot Tunnel and its downstream sibling in Woolwich are twin marvels of Edwardian construction, allowing thousands of people per day to pass beneath the Thames on foot. Walking north through the Greenwich tunnel to emerge in Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs, you’ll be rewarded by the ‘Canaletto view’ of Greenwich, the great London vista immortalised by the Italian landscape painter.

While in Woolwich, the Royal Arsenal is an absolute must. This sprawling, beautifully-preserved riverside precinct comprises 22 Heritage-listed buildings, walks by the Thames, cutting-edge cultural spaces and plenty of pubs and restaurants. Saturdays welcome a thriving Farmer’s Market selling produce and world foods, while the fabulous Sicilian rosticceria and deli, Acater, is open every day.

Life by the river is also responsible for a more recent engineering marvel – the magnificent Thames Barrier and its fascinating Information Centre. Operating since 1982, the mighty movable barrier plays an essential part in protecting London from tidal surge flooding.

Last (but not least) on your engineer’s checklist should be Abbey Wood’s Crossness Engines, the wonderfully ornate, Grade I-listed pumping station built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and known as the ‘Cathedral in the Marshes’.

Unusual Experiences for Those in the Know

Locals also know that Greenwich is full of unique and quirky experiences. First amongst these is St Alfege Church, offering offbeat tours of its galleries and crypt - fascinating spaces that are not normally open to the public.

Nearby lies The Fan Museum: dedicated to the art of fans and fan making, it’s the only one of its kind in the UK. Not only are rare and exquisite fans and boxes from around the world on display, but it’s also the place to go for a Fan Making Workshop.

The Old Royal Naval College, in many ways the centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, also has a few unique experiences up its sleeve. Blockbuster Film Tours talk visitors through the many movie locations on the site, while Secret Tours of Sir Christopher Wren’s dome atop the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul can be booked for up to six people.

Finally, there are plenty of more active offerings amongst Greenwich’s offbeat activities. Those seeking something more challenging could attempt the Rig Climb Experience at the Cutty Sark or join a birding tour of Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park.

So why not make like a local and step off the beaten track to experience so many truly exquisite gems that make up the Royal Greenwich crown.