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.