Welcome to Greenwich Park

Discover the park’s most popular spot, at the top of its highest hill. From here, admire sweeping views over London’s skyline. How many landmarks you can spot? Spectacular views can also be enjoyed away from the crowds, at the summit of peaceful One Tree Hill. You’ll see why it’s long been a magnet for artists and writers.

Sitting in the middle of the park is the world-famous Royal Observatory, where the Greenwich Prime Meridian begins. This is the line that divides the world into Eastern and Western hemispheres – in the park, you can hop from one side of the world to the other, then buy a ticket to discover more inside the Observatory itself.

As you enjoy the shade of historic tree avenues, you might come across traces of earlier visitors to the park – from the remains of a Roman Temple in the south, to the distinctive mounds of the Anglo-Saxon cemetery to the east. Don’t forget to saunter around the picturesque Flower Garden while you’re here – its stately trees and bright beds of flowers are a sensory delight.   

Please excuse the park’s appearance during the final phase of works being delivered to restore and future-proof the park.

There will be some temporary path closures, which will be signposted with alternative routes in place, but we will do our best to keep any disturbances to a minimum.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to enjoy these spaces when works are complete in spring 2024.

To learn about specific elements of Greenwich Park Revealed,  please click on the images below.

Things to see and 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 Woolfe. 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.

The gardens of Greenwich Park 

Linger among classic English roses in full bloom. Look for inspirational ideas for your own garden. Or just lie in our meadows, watching the clouds drift by. 

Escape to the gardens of Greenwich Park.

The Flower Garden, the Rose Garden and a record-breaking herbaceous border

Greenwich Park is paradise for garden lovers, with a magnificent landscape of trees, wildernesses and formal gardens created by some of the leading garden designers of the past three centuries.

If you’re looking for inspiration and ideas for your own garden, the Flower Garden and the Rose Garden are great places to start.

The Flower Garden is an Edwardian showpiece with fine lawns and island beds framed by cedar and tulip trees, and the Rose Garden is the ‘destination garden’ for many locals. Greenwich Park has some of the best panoramic views of the London skyline, but in spring and summer, the Flower Garden steals the show. 

Our horticultural team creates two dazzling seasonal displays, using over 60,000 plants, in these gardens. Visit us in spring and you’ll be rewarded in the Flower Garden with drifts of daffodils and the heady scent of hyacinths. And come back in summer, when the Rose Garden is in full bloom, and the Flower Garden a tropical paradise with red bananas and giant tree ferns. 

At 400m long, the famous herbaceous border is hard to miss – it’s the longest in London. Combining shapely yew hedges with wave upon wave of herbaceous planting, the border was recently redesigned by award winning garden designer Chris Beardshaw. We leave it late to cut and clear the border so that wildlife can make the most of early flowering bulbs and those late autumn seed heads. 

Summer is also a great time to visit the Queen’s Orchard; a historic reminder of the amazing peaches, plums, quinces and apricots you’d find in the historic fruit gardens of Britain’s stately homes and manor houses. Visit the orchard on harvest open day, meet the volunteers who run it and discover how to get the most out of growing your own fruit, even in a small space.

And if you just want a quiet moment to yourself to sit in the sunshine – seek out the Herb Garden, close your eyes, and listen to the hum of summer.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs are welcome in Greenwich Park, apart from in the Flower Garden, the Wilderness Deer Park and the Royal Observatory Garden. You’ll need to keep your dog on a lead in the Rose Garden.

Sport and leisure in Greenwich Park

Book a tennis court or a whole cricket pitch, take a boat out, explore the Maritime Museum, head for the swings and roundabouts or play frisbee with the dog.

Make the most of every minute in Greenwich Park. 

Keeping fit for free, in the fresh air 

Whether you’re planning a game of tennis at the weekend or looking to book a cricket pitch for a work event, Greenwich Park has some of the best open air sports facilities in southeast London. As the highest Royal Park in London, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy your favourite sport or activity, surrounded by panoramic views and historic parkland. And there’s plenty of wide open space for a game of frisbee or football, or just to take a picnic, and watch the wildlife in The Wilderness.

We welcome joggers and cyclists, but if you’re on two wheels please keep to the designated paths. 

Playing tennis in Greenwich Park

Tennis is a great way to unwind, de-stress and keep fit! 

With six hard courts, a full coaching programme and summer camps, Greenwich Park has great, year-round tennis facilities, whatever your level. The courts are managed by our partners, Park Sports, who also offer coaching and private lessons. If you’re a keen player, you can also join one of the LTA local leagues here and make new friends as you improve your game. 

It’s a Pay and Play system, so you can either book in advance, or make a spur of the moment decision on a sunny day.  

Ready to play? Make a booking with Park Sports here. 

Playing cricket at Greenwich Park 

Cricket on a summer’s afternoon – an iconic sight in an iconic setting. Through the summer, we mark out the Ranger’s Field close to the Blackheath Gate entrance as a cricket pitch. It’s fully maintained to a high standard, with one square, and there’s even a cricket pavilion with changing facilities and showers, and a small kitchen. 

Are you up to bat? Get in touch here. 

Boating in Greenwich Park 

From April onwards, the brightly coloured boats for hire on the Boating Pond are a main attraction for visitors, especially families. Open April to October on weekends, Bank holidays and School holidays. Sessions are 20 minutes in length and there’s no need to pre-book. Turn up – and cast off! 

Basket swings, slides and roundabouts – Greenwich Park Playground

Who doesn’t want an adventure on the high seas, or the chance to discover pirate gold in the sandpit? We’ve given the newly restored Greenwich Park Playground a maritime theme and made all the activities fully accessible, so as many children as possible can play side by side and make new friends. Like the rest of Greenwich Park, the playground is open every day of the year.

Worked up an appetite? Head to the Coffee Cabin or the historic Pavilion Café, both located up by The Royal Observatory.

Eating and drinking in Greenwich Park

Look out over London from the octagonal Pavilion Café, treat the family to weekend pizza, or catch up with a friend over crepes and coffee.

Tea in the Pavilion Café, or breakfast bap at the Coffee Cabin – you choose!

Greenwich Park has two fantastic spots for you to eat and drink – both with stunning views across the River Thames and East London.

The distinctive and elegant Pavilion Café, up by the Royal Observatory, dates from 1906 and has a lovely period feel. You can sit both inside and outside, so you’ll stay warm and dry, no matter what the British weather’s doing. It’s a very family-friendly atmosphere. 

Check out the park information boards or the park map to see the exact locations in the park.

Picnicking in Greenwich Park

The park is a great place for a picnic! A selection of freshly cut sandwiches, artisan baguettes and drinks are available in our cafés and kiosks.

Feel free to bring your own food and drink to enjoy in the park but barbecues and any sort of fire lighting is absolutely forbidden.

Please take your litter home with you or place it in one of our bins on the way out – wildlife and litter don’t mix.

Every purchase helps us care for Greenwich Park

A proportion of anything you spend at our cafés or kiosks goes straight back to help look after the Royal Parks, and the wealth of wildlife and natural habitats they contain.

Take a step back in time in Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is known for its famous view over the city, which has been admired by visitors for centuries.  

But next time you are admiring the vista at the top of the Grand Ascent, look behind you. You will see General Wolfe – a naval hero who won a famous victory for the British at Quebec in Canada. He was a Greenwich local who would have been familiar with the view he now looks over. 

Down by the boating lake you’ll see the sundial. This marks the Greenwich Meridian Line that famously runs through the park from the site of the Royal Observatory at the top of the hill. 

To the south of the park is the Victorian bandstand. Installed by locals in the 1890s, it has hosted many acts over the years – from brass bands and rappers to jazz musicians and opera singers. If you’re lucky, you might catch a performance. 

To find out more about these landmarks and discover many more, explore the links below. 

The history and architecture of Greenwich Park

Home to the ruins of a Roman temple, a curious Anglo-Saxon cemetery and the world-famous Royal Observatory.

Greenwich Park’s early history

Greenwich Park has been settled since Roman times, and in the south of the park you can see the traces of an ancient Roman temple, excavated  in 1999. The park was also an important space for Anglo-Saxons who chose this land to bury their dead – over 30 of their distinctive circular burial mounds can still be seen to the west of the park.

But ever since the land was inherited in 1427 by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester – brother of Henry V – generations of British monarchs have taken this magnificent park into their hearts.

The creation of a Royal Park at Greenwich

Humphrey enclosed the Park in 1433 and built a tower on the site of what is now the Royal Observatory. When he died in 1447, Margaret of Anjou, the wife of King Henry VI, seized the estate and renamed it the Manor of Pleasance or Placentia.

Greenwich Park and the Tudors

King Henry VIII was born at Greenwich in 1491– and it was he who introduced deer to Greenwich Park. King Henry married his first and fourth wife at Greenwich, and his two daughters, Mary I and Elizabeth I were also born here. His only legitimate son, Edward VI, died in Greenwich, just before his sixteenth birthday.

Greenwich Park and the Stuarts

In the 1600s, the Stuarts transformed the park. King James I replaced the fence around the park with a brick wall double a man’s height – much of which still exists. 

King James gave the palace and the neighbouring park to his wife, Queen Anne – allegedly as an apology for swearing at her in public when she accidentally shot one of his favourite dogs! In 1616, Queen Anne commissioned Inigo Jones to design her a special home – the Queen's House. Today, the Queen’s House houses a rare collection of Royal portraits, including works by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Turner.

King Charles, Andre Le Notre, and The Grand Plan for Greenwich

In the 1660s, King Charles lI commissioned the famous Andre Le Notre, gardener to Louis XIV of France, to design a bold new landscape for Greenwich Park. Le Notre’s ‘Grand Plan’ created a formal layout of tree avenues framed by banked landscaping that can still be seen today, 350 years later.

We are currently in the midst of our own ‘Grand Plan’ to restore these extraordinary avenues and ‘parterre banks’. Discover more about the project Greenwich Park Revealed here – we welcome volunteers! 

Greenwich Park and the Stuarts – celebrating invention, adventure and discovery.

King Charles II was a keen supporter of scientific research, and he commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to build the Royal Observatory, naming it Flamsteed House after the first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed.

Greenwich Park’s Royal Observatory is one part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 1800s – Greenwich Park was opened to the public

Greenwich Park's royal star began to wane in the 1700s and James II was the last monarch to actually live at the Palace. The park was opened first to the veteran sailors housed at the imposing Greenwich Hospital close to the park, but by around 1830 all members of the public were welcomed too.

Greenwich in wartime

During the First World War, some of Greenwich Park was used for allotments, and people were allowed to continue growing their own even after the war ended.

The park was home to three air raid shelters during the Second World War, providing protection for hundreds of local residents. During the long hot summer of 2019, 26 Royal Parks volunteers and professional archaeologists discovered the main air raid shelter in front of the Queen’s House, almost entirely intact!

Nature and wildlife of Greenwich Park

See pipistrelle bats swooping at sunset. Walk next to sweet chestnut trees in full bloom. Spot woodpeckers, warblers and song thrushes. 

A historical home for wildlife in southeast London.

A Grade I listed landscape and a wildlife haven

Greenwich Park is the oldest of London’s deer parks – 183 acres of grassland, woodland, wilderness and ancient trees.

There are over 3,000 trees in the park, including 400-year-old sweet chestnuts, ancient oaks and cedar trees. The gnarled and crevassed trunks of these trees are perfect micro-habitats for roosting bats, fungi and many species of beetle. 

Much of the south part of Greenwich Park supports acid grassland – one of Britain’s rarer habitats – and a conservation priority. The soil is less fertile, so it’s perfectly suited to specialist native wildflowers and  fine grasses. Head to Croom Hill for a spectacular show of dark red sheep’s sorrel carpeting the hillside in spring, or delicate harebells. 

Meadowland is another key habitat in Greenwich Park, especially on One Tree Hill. And although shrub and scrubland don’t have the romantic ring of a meadow, these habitats are just as valuable for wildlife. The wooded areas and scrubland are excellent cover for nuthatches, chiffchaffs and greenfinches.

Wildlife on the wing – the birds, bats and butterflies of Greenwich Park

Some 70 species of wild birds have been recorded from Greenwich Park – including thrushes and warblers, woodpeckers and tawny owls. At sunset, you may hear the owls hooting across the park – and over the Flower Garden lake, the air comes alive with the swooping silhouettes of pipistrelles, our smallest native bat. Pipistrelles have mighty appetites – eating up to 3,000 insects per night.

One of the best places to discover butterflies and bumblebees in Greenwich Park is in the Flower Garden – a natural magnet for peacock butterflies and painted ladies. 

Letting the grass grow under our feet – putting biodiversity first

Greenwich Park is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation. We have a duty to protect and restore the historic habitats in the park, and also to create new ones that promote biodiversity. Managing all these natural environments sustainably and respectfully is a delicate balancing act.

Around the park, you’ll see some areas where we’re cutting the grass less frequently, to promote naturalisation of the grassland and boosting its biodiversity. The longer and wilder the grass, and the more wildflowers we have, and the more pollinators we help. Long grass is also excellent cover for the many other insects, small mammals and lizards. In spring and summer, head for the path leading up One Tree Hill, alive and humming with bees, crickets and meadow brown butterflies or skippers.

Wildlife and parklife – a delicate balancing act

The Royal Parks are unique urban parklands, where people and wildlife can come together. We have a responsibility to conserve the wildlife and nature in the parks. Finding – and maintaining – that balance is in the best interests of us all, and the world we live in.