Things to do in Greenwich Park

Stand at the centre of world time. Sit in the shade of a sweet chestnut tree from 1660. Stroll the length of London’s longest herbaceous border. 

There’s no rush. Take time to discover Greenwich Park.

The park where time was reinvented

Greenwich Park has a record-making history. It’s the place where east meets west at Longitude 0° on the Meridian Line, part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It’s the site of the city’s longest herbaceous border, and over 3,000 trees, including the Queen Elizabeth Oak, dated to 1290. It’s under this oak that Henry VIII is said to have romanced Anne Boleyn.

Celebrating the spirit of discovery, adventure and invention

Most visitors know of The Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. It’s the place where Greenwich Mean Time was born – where you can stand with one foot in the eastern hemisphere and one in the west. And if you’re here at 1pm, you can set your watch or phone the way Londoners have done since 1833 – by the dropping of the bright red Time Ball. This historical timekeeping tradition hasn’t missed a day.

Greenwich Park is also intimately connected to the sea and Britain’s naval history. The park makes a great base to explore the other attractions of Greenwich, including the Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, St Alphege Church and the Old Royal Naval College with its amazing riverside architecture.

Beside The Royal Observatory is the famous statue of General Wolfe. You can’t quite see the sea from here, but you can see across the whole of the London skyline. It’s a commanding view of the capital.

In the garden of The Maritime Museum is another must-see for art lovers. The Queen’s House is a hidden gem, with a rare collection of Royal portraits, Hogarths, Gainsboroughs and other Turners, as well as cutting edge contemporary works.

A heaven for garden lovers

England is known for its apples, but The Queen’s Orchard reminds us that you can grow peaches, apricots, and nectarines here, as well as traditional English fruits such as quinces and plums. And if you just want a quiet moment to yourself to sit in the sunshine – seek out The Herb Garden, another of Greenwich’s hidden gems.

Take time out from sightseeing – escape into nature

Greenwich Park covers 183 acres. It’s a mosaic of wildlife habitats, some quite rare, and it’s home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife and a small herd of wild deer. The park is known for the number of ancient or ‘veteran’ trees, some of which are over 400 years old and one, the Queen Elizabeth Oak, dates back 750 years. For a real escape into the wilder areas of the park, head to Croom’s Hill or One Tree Hill. In summer, the meadows and grasslands are alive with bees, butterflies and crickets.

Let the children run wild in nature’s playground for a while. In a park that’s world-renowned for timekeeping, you’ll easily lose track of time. 

The Greenwich Park Playground - a modern, natural play area

Nearly half a million children make new friends and play together here every year – so we’ve made Greenwich Park Playground even more accessible to everyone. We’ve put the different activities and equipment at ground level or in raised channels, for children who need a little more help to get around. The new playground has a maritime theme (always good for a pirate mini adventure) and it has been designed to encourage free, imaginative play and discovery.