11 Free Ways to Explore the London Borough of Greenwich
Greenwich is a vibrant area located at the east of London in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. A notable region way before becoming a part of London city in 1965. Greenwich contributes with its rich maritime history and by giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian, which by itself is a popular destination for London visitors. Nonetheless, the prime meridian is not the only location worthy of attention, as Greenwich can offer a wide variety of awesome and FREE spaces, culture sites and hang out spots to be explored. The Royal Borough may sound like a home of the UK elite, but surprisingly it has a many educational, fun and must-see opportunities for people with any kind of social conditioning and interests.
Fee-Free Museums in Greenwich
The Royal Observatory
The observatory was founded by Charles II in 1675, playing a major role in the history of astronomy, navigation and provided the basis of the Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian line, which the location is best known for. The observatory is situated on a hill in Greenwich park, overlooking the River Thames and is now part of the National Maritime Museum. The building is divided into three parts — two of them requiring a fee for admission and one, the Astronomy Centre in the South Building, is with free entry. Here you can touch 4.5 billion year-old meteorite, watch the creation of the Universe from the big bang to present day in just four minutes or have a go at guiding a space mission.
Opening times: Daily from 10AM — 5PM;
Free entrance in the Astronomy Centre.
National Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum was first opened to the public on April 27th, 1937 by King George VI. What you can find inside the museum are models of war ships from 16th to 19th century, various maps, weapons, flags, navigational gadgets, pirate history, history of the traders of East India Company and Asia, different products imported from different parts of the world, Nelson Trafalgar’s and other naval uniforms, history about the slavery trade in the Atlantic plus much more of the naval and seafaring history of Britain.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday from 10:00–17:00;
Free entrance.
Queen’s House
The Queen’s House at Greenwich is England’s first classical building dating back to 1616. It was given to Queen Anne of Denmark, after she shot one of the King’s favourite dogs on a hunting trip in 1614. The King was so mad, he swore at her in public, after which he gave her this mansion as a token of his apology. However, Queen Anne then died in 1619 while the house was still in construction and the King’s son, Charles I, gave it to his wife — Henrietta Maria in 1629. Today, the house is open to the public as a symbol of an epoch, perfect example of classical architecture and art combined into one. In addition, it’s been said that the house is haunted and there have been numerous attempts at catching the ghost(s) on film. Either that or they have a typical for London rat infestation and require the professional help of a Greenwich pest control company.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday from 10:00–17:00;
Free entrance.
Geffrye Museum
Named after Sir Robert Geffrye, a former Lord Mayor of London, this is a museum specialising in the history of the English domestic interior. Featuring a series of eleven displayed period rooms from 1600 to present day with emphasis on the furnishings, pictures and ornaments of the urban middle classes of London. Visitors are encouraged to sit on a replica chair in each of these displays in order to get more comfortable with each century. In Geffrye museum you can also explore the award-winning walled herb garden and the period gardens which show the changes in domestic gardens in the past four centuries.
Opening hours: Tuesday — Sunday from 10am to 5pm; The period gardens are open 28 March to 31 October. The front gardens are open all year round.
Free entrance.
The Museum of London Docklands
The Museum of London Docklands is a fairly new museum, opened in 2003 to tell the history of the River Thames and London’s docklands. Three floors to take you through all ages from the Vikings to slave trade & sugar to the war and how those things have changed the face of the docklands over the years. This may sound dead boring to your kids, but don’t fret because the Museum of London Docklands is a kid friendly attraction — a free kids playground is situated on the ground floor with a cafeteria right next to it.
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am — 6pm;
Free entrance.
Architectural Sightings in Greenwich
Old Royal Naval College
The architectural centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich, a World Heritage Site, described by UNESCO as being of “outstanding universal value” and “finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape ensemble in the British Isles”. The buildings were constructed between 1696 and 1712 and originally served as the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich. However, the hospital closed in 1869 to become the Royal Naval College between 1873 and 1998. If you do decide to visit this Greenwich attraction, be sure to check out the painted hall to really see what the fuss is all about. The Old Royal Naval College also offers the Discover Greenwich Visitor Centre with its exhibits showcasing over 500 years of maritime history.
Opening hours: Daily from 08.00 to 18.00;
Free entrance.
Painted by Sir James Thornhill.
St. Anne’s Limehouse
St. Anne’s Limehouse was Nicholas Hawksmoor’s earliest church, built in 1725, still boasting with the highest church clock in the city. In fact, the 60 meter high tower is a Trinity House mark for identifying shipping lanes on the Thames River. The church became the centre of London’s Chinese community in 1890, after a handful of sailors settled here. It also gets a mention in Oscar Wilde’s most important work — “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, when the protagonist passes by the church in his search of opium.
The O2
The O2, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, was constructed as a celebration of the millennial year 2000. Since then, the O2 has evolved into London’s top concert and entertainment venues. Today, the gigantic dome-shaped building inhabits a music club — IndigO2, the world’s busiest concert hall — the O2 Arena, 11 film screens, an exhibition space — the O2 bubble, countless cafés and restaurants, in addition to wonderful views of Greenwich and the Thames. Make sure you stop by the superb UP at this Greenwich attraction — a 624 ft walk way going all across the building’s roof, providing breathtaking landscapes for the viewers.
Free Hangout Spots in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
If you’re in the area you cannot miss the relaxing vibe of nature inhabiting Greenwich park. Chances are if you are taking a stroll down to the tourist attractions in Greenwich, the park is the best place to end up in the fresh breath of nature and calm, where you can really take a break from it all. Pack for a picnic or simply enjoy the open space and weather, Greenwich park is the destination for a day out.
St. Katharine’s Docks
St. Katharine’s Docks are a hidden gem in the bustling heart of London. Apart from containing a fascinating amount of history — trading began even before the 12th century when the Royal Hospital of St. Katherine was founded, eventually being razed to the ground to make space for the famous Telford Docks, which led to thousands of people losing their homes. If you look around carefully, you can see many different ‘treasures’ such as famous sculptures, the serene Thames Barges and other famous boats, like the Havengore which carried Winston Churchill’s body during his funeral. Many people describe this hidden spot as “feeling like another country”, so if you’re wondering what do to in Greenwich this is your queue. Certainly a lovely area to wander around, relax and watch the boats go by. On Fridays there is also a street food market at the docks, which is also worth a visit.
Other Free Places to Visit in Greenwich
Greenwich Foot Tunnel
What kid wouldn’t find the thought of walking under a river exciting? Even if you aren’t a kid, it’s still a great adventure for folks of all ages and interests. The tunnel was built in 1902 and connects Greenwich with the Isle of Dogs. It’s an impressive 1215 feet of cast iron under around 50 feet of water. The tunnel was bombed during the second world war and the repairs are pretty obvious to the naked eye. The tunnel is classed as a public highway, which obliges it by law to be kept open 24 hours a day. It’s worth walking through, so be sure to take one of the elevator lifts, because they are humongous.
Thank you for reading and have a great time visiting Greenwich!
