By David Curtis-Brignell MBE
When restrictions are lifted we will all be looking for places to visit again, places we have missed and others we’re discovering for the first time.
Just over an hour by road from Mid Sussex or 1¼ by train is the home of the Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College including the fabulous Painted Hall, London’s cable car, Greenwich Market, Greenwich Park and The O2 Arena.
All packed on to Greenwich Peninsula it makes for a great day out or short break. If you need to keep children entertained you can download an activity trail in advance from the Visit Greenwich website and they will love the wide range of activities especially designed for them at the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory.
It’s very much a walking destination. Take in the spectacular Painted Hall and then walk up the hill in Greenwich Park for breath-taking panoramic views of London. Take a look around Christopher Wren’s Royal Observatory and straddle the hemispheres on the Prime Meridian Line with one foot in the west and one in the east! Stroll through Greenwich Market and then head off to the famous clipper, Cutty Sark, one of only three of her kind surviving in the world.
Adventurers can become urban mountaineers by climbing to the top of The O2 via a walkway, suspended 52m above ground level. The 90 minute experience provides your climb suit, boots and harness. Less physical but also providing great views is the Emirates Air Line, the UK’s only urban cable car running between North Greenwich and the Royal Docks.
An alternative way of getting there is by river; cruises operate from central London or you can hop on a Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. TfL can get you there by Underground, DLR and bus and rail services are operated by Thameslink and South Eastern.
For an overnight stay there’s a wide choice, from pubs and B&Bs to budget hotels and the full-serviced De Vere Devonport. You can stay on the water too; nearby Royal Victoria Dock is home to the Sunborn London Yacht Hotel and the Good Hotel - a social business providing the long-term unemployed with the opportunity to build a career in hospitality.
All in all, Greenwich really is a good place to go. Always check opening times and Covid-19 restrictions before travelling.