Greenwich

Royal Observatory

It takes about 15 minutes from Greenwich Pier to walk up the hill to the Royal Observatory through Greenwich Park. You are rewarded for this effort by the fantastic views over London which are truly spectacular.

Founded by King Charles II in 1675 to establish accurate navigation at sea, the unusual buildings that constitute the Royal Observatory define the time differences and longitude measurement for the whole world.

The Greenwich Meridian, Longitude 0°, is marked on the courtyard and is a favourite place for a photo call with people placing one foot in each hemisphere! This is the World's Prime Meridian known the whole world over as Longtitude Zero. At night the line of the prime meridian is picked out in a green laser light.

Inside the Royal Observatory are displays about time and navigation, a giant 28” refracting telescope, Harrison’s famous marine timekeepers and many strange clocks.

In February 2006 the new Time galleries opened telling the story of 'Greenwich Time', displaying the accurate regulators and clocks that established a standard time for Britain and the world. See the latest methods of time measurement and how we are all subjected to the pressures of time in our lives.

Admission free except to the Peter Harrison Planetarium.  

Open daily 10.00-17.00.

Closed 24-26 December. Wheelchair accessible.

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