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Royal Observatory Greenwich

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Highlight • Historical Site

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Recommended by 194 hikers out of 197

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Maritime Greenwich

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Location: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

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Best Hikes to Royal Observatory Greenwich

4.7

(3)

hikers

1. Greenwich Park, Shooters Hill & Eltham Palace loop from Blackheath - Maritime Greenwich

24.7km

06:27

180m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

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2. Royal Observatory Greenwich & Cutty Sark loop from Greenwich Church Street

3.37km

00:54

40m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

4.8

(8)

124

hikers

3. Old Royal Naval College – Cutty Sark loop from East Greenwich

10.4km

02:43

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Dan Hobson

July 31, 2019

The Royal Observatory stands high on a hill in Greenwich Park. It has played an important role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known for the fact that the prime meridian passes through it, and thereby gave its name to Greenwich Mean Time. From the observatory, you are afforded a magnificent view over central London and the Thames.

For more information, visit: rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory.

Söhni 🏃

January 9, 2018

The Royal Greenwich Observatory, which was built as a workplace for the royal court astronomers, was originally located on a hill in Greenwich Park in Greenwich, London, from where you can see the Thames. The observatory, or rather the center of the telescope in the observatory, was used as a reference for the determination of the zero meridian and thus the longitudes. It is marked in the courtyard by a brass strip. Since December 16, 1999, the line illuminates a powerful green laser shining north through London and Essex at night.
Source: Wikipedia

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Kate

April 11, 2021

Stunning view over Christopher Wren's Royal Naval College to Canary Wharf

JakobusPilger

July 10, 2023

The Royal Observatory, and especially its location in Greenwich, are known worldwide for the "invention" of the Prime Meridian – more precisely, the division of the globe into longitude and latitude, with the Prime Meridian (sometimes referred to as the "Greenwich Line") running through it as the central reference point. This was an epochal masterpiece in the field of cartography and navigation, particularly important for seafaring at the time. Even today's satellite technology with GPS essentially continues to use the coordinate principle developed here.

The Prime Meridian can be found here as a hiking highlight =>> komoot.com/de-de/highlight/739895

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Bumble-Bee

January 1, 2024

Surely the observatory in itself is nice and they make a good attempt to put an an interesting exhibition, but you will get more for your time&money in another observatory. Most people will come here to stand on the 'zero line' (which you can also do in other places of London where it is marked as well, e.g. on the North bank of the Thames). Thus the best to do on a nice day is to first get supplies in the village (Gail's Bakery is recommended), walk up here and enjoy the view from the grass during a picknick.

Green-Walker🌳🎒

March 24, 2021

It was at the top of my list and I saved myself for the last day there is really a lot to see in London for me it was definitely the highlight

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Kika

October 24, 2014

Best on sunny days... the view is great even from outside of the Royal Observatory, so no need to pay the entrance fee.

Gimli

August 6, 2023

Beautiful view and you learn a lot of interesting things about astronomy.

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Thomas

October 3, 2023

Wonderful view of the Canary Warf skyline👍

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Wolf Beyenburg

April 7, 2024

When visiting the observatory, you should also take time to admire the Harrison clocks on display there, which changed the history of timekeeping and navigation and thus contributed significantly to England's maritime dominance. Their ingenious creator, Gorge Harrison, was not only a highly ingenious engineer (and self-taught) but also a highly appealing designer who created aesthetic works of art. The importance of precise timekeeping can still be seen today in the large red ball, which is hoisted up a mast above the observatory shortly before 12 o'clock and dropped at exactly 12 o'clock so that ships can set their chronometers by it. Also beautiful is the camera obscura installed in a side building, which projects an image onto a white table.

While the historical prime meridian ran through the dome of the main telescope, today's prime meridian runs about 100 meters west through the park. It's worth using the GPS on your smartphone here. It is very exciting for the youngsters to have a tug-of-war between East and West across the Prime Meridian.

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𝐺𝑖𝑙𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑡 & 𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒 🍁🍄

April 22, 2025

We went there specifically for the 0 Meridian (and not for the observatory) and were shocked to discover that you only get in to see this line with an entrance fee of 26 pounds per person. Thanks, but we passed!

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Mark 🚶‍♂️

September 21, 2024

Here you can find everything exciting about the history of the observatory.

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𝐺𝑖𝑙𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑡 & 𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑒 🍁🍄

April 22, 2025

For those interested: Up at the Royal Observatory is the Zero Meridian. You can stand there with one foot on either side of the line.
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Unfortunately, and we really don't like this, you actually have to pay £26 per person to enter. We'd understand that for access to the observatory, but not for this line!!!

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Elevation 50 m

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Location: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom

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Royal Observatory Greenwich

1. Greenwich Park, Shooters Hill & Eltham Palace loop from Blackheath - Maritime Greenwich

2. Royal Observatory Greenwich & Cutty Sark loop from Greenwich Church Street

3. Old Royal Naval College – Cutty Sark loop from East Greenwich

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