History.
An often forgotten about little gem of a borough that sits right next to the Thames is a personal favorite for many reasons. Greenwich is full of history, perfect scenery, hearty food and interestingly once home to royalties.
Much of the history in Greenwich is recognised by UNESCO, and rightfully so. Every time we visit we always say we must come more often. It is a fabulous part of London and not commonly overcrowded with tourists.
Start your day at Greenwich Markets
Greenwich Markets proudly presents as one of the best looking markets in London. Established in 1737, Greenwich has had some time to perfect the market gig over the years and it is safe to say they have done a bloody great job.
A brief history of Greenwich Markets..
The market as you would suspect has an interesting history of produce sold over the years. Back in 1737 when Greenwich market first opened 60 stalls stood with local butchers, bakers and grocers. The main produce sold at this time were general goods, meats and livestock. In the early 1800's a gradual implementation of fresh fruit and vegetables begun to also be sold from local farmers, which continued through to the 1900's.
In 1944 during London's World War II bombings, the market's roof and interior was sadly damaged and sales diminished for many decades. In the 1980's after roof restorations (now glass) sales picked back up with a notable shift to the selling art and craft. This begun to increase traffic back through the market, and still continues to today. Now, the market is a combination of arts, crafts, fresh food, drinks, jewelry and clothing - no livestock.
Grab a coffee or a fresh juice and take a wander. There are plenty of stools to catch your eye and a nice variety of street food options. Have a bite to eat here before taking on the history of Greenwich.
Visit the Queens House, for free
The Queens House was completed in 1636 and was occupied by Royal family members until 1805. It is now open to the public as a museum featuring a impressive art collection of Royal history and famous artists.
You may also notice the Queen's house featured in many scenes of the new Netflix series, Bridgeton.
*2020/2021 update
Currently, in COVID times, you need to book a ticket online to visit the museum for tracking purposes and to avoid overcrowding. The building itself is pretty remarkable being nearly 600 years old, so spend some time outside as well.
Take a walk around the Old Royal Naval College and be awed by the architecture.
A short walk from the Queens House is the Old Royal Naval College. This is worth a visit purely for it's breathtaking buildings. You can visit the Painted Hall which includes a guided tour for £11 (book online), otherwise if you are interested but don't want to pay then you can check out the online virtual tour from your own home.
The chapel is open for viewing most days if you fancy a visit, otherwise a walk through the grounds is just as spectacular.
Take a pit stop at Goddard's Pie and Mash and fill your bellies.
A very popular restaurant that knows how to stick to what it does best, pie and mash. For a very affordable price you can fill up on a pie (or two if you fancy) accompanied by mash and gravy or liquor. This liquor is a type of light gravy that is traditionally the left over sauce from stewed eels - how brave are you?
Goddard's is a must when you are in Greenwich. Just make sure you have some space in your belly it is a generous portion.
Go take a seat in Greenwich Park and enjoy the views
I continually am amazed at how flat London is. Anytime you climb a small hill or incline in London you know you are likely to have a good view of something at the top. Greenwich is no exception.
This fantastic spot is only a short walk from the Queen's House within Greenwich Park with a steady incline to reach the hill top where you will find the Royal Observatory and the viewpoint in front of the statue of General Wolfe. The views are totally worth the visit as you get a spectacular view of the city of London, the famous curve of the 215 mile long River Thames as well as the Royal Greenwich Museums and beyond that Canary Wharf. Have a picnic up here or spend some time taking in the scenery. Whichever it is, you won't be able to help but take a few snaps.
How to get to Greenwich from central London
Take the DLR East; 11 stops from Central London (Bank station)
Take the South Eastern Overground train from London Bridge to Greenwich; 2 stops
Multiple buses will take you to Greenwich from wherever you are. If in Central London look for the 453 or 188 bus.
There is so much more to do and explore in Greenwich. Let us know your favorite thing to do is after spending a day in Greenwich.