History and Culture

Lovers of history will be delighted with a trip to Greenwich. Home to a rich and diverse history of royalty, seafaring, science and engineering with some truly glorious architecture.

Maritime Greenwich is one of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in London, and has a prestigious royal, military and scientific past.

Greenwich Park is one of eight royal parks in London, and famously home to the Meridian Line at the Christopher Wren designed Royal Observatory and the Queen’s House - the oldest neoclassical building in Britain, designed by Inigo Jones and built in 1616. Inigo Jones also designed the beautiful National Maritime Museum next door, which was originally a Naval School.

The Park is London’s oldest enclosed royal park and also helps mark the southern boundary of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. A spectacular 183 acres of beautiful rolling landscaped parkland with brilliant views of London, it has flower and herb gardens, the Queen’s Orchard, roman remains, a boating lake and impressive children’s play area. At the south west corner of the Park is Ranger’s House, an English Heritage property and most recently known for its starring role in Netflix's popular television series, Bridgerton, as the facade of the family residence.

From here, the sight of the classical Christopher Wren domes of the Old Royal Naval College leads you down towards the river to wander among the splendid architecture and grounds of this beautiful historic site. The iconic riverside estate boasts more than 500 years of rich history linking an incredible cast of monarchs and famous British figures including King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare and Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson.

Built on the foundations of Henry VIII's Palace of Placentia, the buildings have served as a Royal Hospital, a Royal Naval College and are now open to the public as a visitor attraction as well as being and home to the University of Greenwich.

While here, make sure you visit the fabulous Painted Hall and the Chapel that reside inside these wonderful domed buildings. The spectacular Painted Hall will leave you open-mouthed in awe, as it’s the largest painted dining hall in Europe, taking commissioned artist, James Thornhill, 19 years to complete in the 18th century. It is often referred to as the ‘UK’s Sistine Chapel’.

From the naval history here at Maritime Greenwich, you can continue the military legacy at the stunning Royal Arsenal Woolwich. Historically home to military barracks and munitions productions over the centuries, which is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation into a key cultural centre for London’s arts.

The royal connections also continue across the borough with Tudor boat building for Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, in Deptford Creek and Woolwich Dockyard to the glamourous fusion of Art Deco design and part medieval royal palace at Eltham Palace & Gardens, and London’s finest standing Jacobean mansion, Charlton House.

Greenwich is renowned for pioneering, scientific and engineering achievements, from the navigation and star gazing which led to Greenwich being home to the Prime Meridian of the world, to the marvel of modern engineering that is the Thames Barrier in Charlton.

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Peter Harrison Planetarium

Address

Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich, London, SE10 8XJ

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

Fly to the heart of the Sun, go to distant galaxies, see the birth of a star or land on Mars. Take a tour of the Universe and experience the wonders of the night sky with expert commentary.
Woolwich Works

Address

The Fireworks Factory, 11 No.1 Street, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8035 8835

hello@woolwich.works

Royal Arsenal, Woolwich

Woolwich Works, also known as Woolwich Creative District, is a multi-disciplinary cultural hub on the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
5484 reviews
The O2

Address

Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0DX

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8463 2000

customerservices@theo2.co.uk

Greenwich Peninsula

World’s most popular music, entertainment and leisure venue and a full day-out destination.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
3410 reviews
Cutty Sark

Address

Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, London, SE10 9HT

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

Cutty Sark is the last surviving tea clipper and the fastest ship of its time. Now an award-winning visitor attraction in Greenwich, London.
University of Greenwich Galleries

Address

10 Stockwell Street, Greenwich, London, SE10 9BD

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8331 9954

ugg@gre.ac.uk

Greenwich

University of Greenwich Galleries consists of three exhibition spaces on the Greenwich Campus: The Stephen Lawrence Gallery; The Project Space and the Heritage Gallery; each venue has its own distinct character, both in terms of location as well as…
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
2747 reviews
Old Royal Naval College

Address

King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NN

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8269 4799

boxoffice@ornc.org

Greenwich

Sir Christopher Wren's riverside masterpiece: a British landmark encompassing some of the finest buildings in the world.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
5 reviews
Viola's Room Immersive Experience

Address

Punchdrunk, One Cartridge Place, Woolwich, London, SE18 6DJ

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8191 0100

boxoffice@punchdrunk.com

Woolwich

Explore the enchanting world of Viola's Room by Punchdrunk. Immerse yourself in a groundbreaking experience, where storytelling meets innovation.
National Maritime Museum

Address

Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

The National Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest maritime collection telling stories of Britain’s relationship with the sea.
Ranger's House - The Wernher Collection

Address

Chesterfield Walk, Blackheath, London, SE10 8QX

Telephone
+44 (0)3703 331 181

Blackheath

Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa on the boundary of Greenwich Park and Blackheath which houses The Wernher Collection, a world-class art collection amassed by the 19th-century businessman, Sir Julius Wernher.
AHOY! Children's Gallery

Address

National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

AHOY! Children's Gallery is a fun-filled children’s gallery for 0-7s.
General Gordon Square

Address

General Gordon Place, Woolwich, London, SE18 6FH

Woolwich

The square is surrounded by some historical buildings and a big screen where you can hang out and watch the news and sport.
Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass

Address

Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich, London, SE10 8XJ

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

Make the most of your day out with a Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass and get access to both Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory!
Chapel of St Peter and St Paul

Address

King William Walk, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NN

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8269 4799

boxoffice@ornc.org

Greenwich

The Chapel of St Peter and St Paul is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. Still an active place of worship, the Chapel also holds regular lunchtime recitals from the local Trinity Laban students.
The Queen's House

Address

Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

The Queen’s House is home to an internationally renowned art collection, Inigo Jones’ architectural masterpiece is the first Classical building in the UK. Free entry.
The Greenwich Bundle

Address

London

With access to the Old Royal Naval College's jaw-dropping Painted Hall, a climb up The O2, and access to the hop-on hop-off boat, your Greenwich day out is sorted!
Woolwich Town Hall

Address

Wellington Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HQ

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8854 8888

town-hall@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Woolwich

Woolwich Town Hall is the seat of Royal Greenwich's local government, but this magnificent listed building also reflects the Royal Borough's long and rich history.
Royal Arsenal

Address

No.1 Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6GH

Woolwich

The former site of one of the biggest munitions factories in the UK, the Royal Arsenal has been regenerated as an open space and place to live and will be further transformed by the development of a creative district.
Royal Observatory Greenwich

Address

Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich, London, SE10 8XJ

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8312 6608

bookings@rmg.co.uk

Greenwich

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian and one of the most important historic scientific sites in the world.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
24 reviews
NOW Gallery

Address

The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0SQ

Telephone
+44 (0)20 3770 2212

info@nowgallery.co.uk

Greenwich Peninsula

A free public exhibition space for contemporary art, fashion, photography and design.
TripAdvisor Traveller Rating
30 reviews
Charlton House & Gardens

Address

Charlton Road, Charlton, London, SE7 8RE

Telephone
+44 (0)20 8856 3951

office@rght.org.uk

Charlton

Built during the reign of James I, Charlton House is widely acknowledged to be the finest and best-preserved Jacobean mansion in London.