Greenwich Park, one of London's Royal Parks, spans 183 acres and offers a captivating blend of history, natural beauty, and breathtaking views. The park runs through the Prime Meridian, which divides the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, and so it was chosen by King Charles II as the site of the Royal Observatory. Flamsteed House, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1675, was historically the home of the Astronomer Royal and is now a museum. The great green park also houses the Royal Observatory and the Peter Harrison Planetarium, where visitors can learn about and marvel at the stars above. The view below is not bad either - directly below Greenwich Park is the Queen's House and the grand university campus, and from the top there are unparalelled views of Canary Wharf and the wider London skyline.
This was the first of the Royal Parks to be enclosed, back in 1433, and as a former hunting ground it is also a great spot for a bit of deer-spotting. The history runs even further back than that, though; unbeknownst to many, amongst modern amenities like cafes, playground and sports facilities, within Greenwich Park you will also find the site of an ancient Anglo-Saxon burial ground!
Details
- Address:
- Greenwich Park
- SE10 8QY
- Transport:
- Greenwich station on the DLR or Maze Hill via Thameslink