Fan Museum
The Fan Museum, housed in two beautiful Grade II* listed buildings dating from 1721, is the world’s only fan and fan making museum. Displaying a selection of its collection of more than 3,500 fans from around the world, dating from the 11th century, it has a permanent exhibition introducing the history and manufacture of fans, and a temporary exhibition that changes three times a year. Its Orangery (open Tues, Fri-Sun, noon to 4.30pm), a unique garden room with beautifully detailed murals, and overlooking a ‘secret’ garden in the Japanese style, serves afternoon tea.
12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8ER; 020 8305 1441/020 8293 1889; thefanmuseum.org.uk; open Tues-Sat 11am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm; adults £5.00, children 7-16 and concessions £3.00, children under 7 free, free entry for OAP and disabled visitors on Tuesdays (not groups)
Greenwich Foot Tunnel
Opening in 1902 to enable south London residents to easily access employment at the docks on the Isle of Dogs, his 1,217 feet long pedestrian tunnel runs about 50 feet under the River Thames. At Island Gardens on the other side there are splendid views of Maritime Greenwich, a view that has changed little since Sir Christopher Wren declared it the finest view in Europe, in 1752. Around 1.2m million people use the tunnel annually. There is a lift and stairs at each end. Virtually every UK band that has ever formed has had a photoshoot in this tunnel at some point. Children love to descend the hundred or so steps underground (or take the lift) and walk the echoey, atmospheric tunnel, which is lined by 200,000 glazed white tiles. If the kids do get bored, you could always ask them to count them.
Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, SE10 9HT; royalgreenwich.gov.uk; open 24 hours a day; admission free; during peak travel periods, cyclists may be denied access
Greenwich Market
A Royal Charter Market was assigned to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital in 1700 and its wares have changed greatly over the years, from goods like fresh foods, china, glass and earthenware, to its transformation in 1985 into an arts and crafts market, inspired by the success of the market at Camden Lock. There is a food area with takeaway meals and deli items from around the world plus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Sundays there are arts and crafts, and Tuesdays and Thursdays antiques. There is also a small bric-a-brac market on Greenwich High Road by Greenwich Picturehouse and opposite the Post Office, at weekends.
Nelson Road, Greenwich SE10; 020 8269 5096; greenwichmarket.london; open daily 10am-5.30pm
Greenwich Park
London’s oldest enclosed Royal Park, Greenwich Park is situated on a hilltop with panoramic views of the River Thames, Canary Wharf, The O2, the City of London and beyond. The land on which the park sits was inherited in 1427 by the Duke of Gloucester, brother of Henry V. A favourite spot for Henry VIII (who introduced deer to the park), his daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I, and son Edward VI. Some trees from that time remain today. Queen Anne was given the park by her husband, James I, and she commissioned Inigo Jones to design the stunning building at the bottom of the hill in the park that became known as the Queen’s House. During World War II anti-aircraft guns were placed in the Flower Garden. The park hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events and elements of the Modern Pentathlon during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The park is home to the Royal Observatory, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and the Meridian line (and therefore time itself, Greenwich Mean Time), and the Georgian villa Ranger’s House. Features of the park include a children’s playground and boating lake, bandstand with Sunday concerts during the summer, rose and flower gardens, and a 13-acre wilderness with a herd of red and fallow deer. When sufficient snow falls, hundreds of people toboggan down hills in the park. There are six tennis courts and a rugby and cricket pitch. There are two cafes, The Pavilion Cafe, at the top of the hill close to the Royal Observatory, and the White House Cafe, by the central Greenwich main entrance. There is also a coffee stall, The Park View Coffee Cabin, near the General Wolfe statue.
Greenwich Park Office, Blackheath Gate, Charlton Way, SE10 8QY; 020 8858 2608;
www.royalparks.org.uk; open (pedestrians) Nov-Feb 6am-6pm; Mar, Oct 6am-7pm; April, Sept 6am-8pm; May, Aug 6am-9pm; June/July 6am-9.30pm; open (vehicles) daily 7am, but no through traffic 10am-4pm each day and the at weekends and bank holidays. Parking facilities available during pedestrian opening hours via Blackheath Gate
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is made up of three sites: the Maritime Galleries, the Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory. The Royal Observatory is situated at the top of the hill within Greenwich Park, while the Maritime Galleries and the Queen’s House are situated together by Greenwich town centre at the bottom of the hill through the park. Together they work to illustrate the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. While entrance is free for the Maritime Galleries and the Queen’s House, there may be admission charges for certain exhibitions.
Maritime Galleries
The Maritime Galleries cover the world at sea from the 16th to the early 20th centuries, from Britain’s viewpoint. The wide range of traditional and interactive exhibits include Nelson’s Trafalgar uniform, Prince Frederick’s barge, maritime artworks, swords, globes, compasses and many other maritime artefacts. All Hands and The Bridge are family-friendly interactive galleries where younger visitors can explore their maritime skills, whether deep-sea diving, sending a semaphore signal, loading a cargo ship or steering a ship into port.
Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF; 020 8858 4422; www.nmm.ac.uk; open daily 10am-5pm; admission free
Queen’s House
Designed by Inigo Jones in 1616 by King James I’s wife, Anne of Denmark, and completed in 1638, the Queen’s House was England’s first fully Classical building. Highlights include its Great Hall and elegant Tulip Stairs, named after the flowers in the wrought-iron balustrade. Today the Queen’s House displays examples from the Museum’s fine-art collection, many by internationally significant artists, including Hogarth, Gainsborough, Hodges, Reynolds and the van de Veldes.
Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF; 020 8858 4422; www.nmm.ac.uk; open daily 10am-5pm; admission free
Royal Observatory
The Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the World, Longitude 0º. It is therefore the official starting point for each new day and year. Artefacts in the Astronomy Galleries include the oldest thing you’ll ever touch, a 4.5 billion year-old meteorite, and there is a state-of-the-art projection wall showing how the Universe formed, from the Big Bang to today in 4 minutes. The Time Galleries contain astrolabes, sextants, chronometers and many other fascinating historic items. Highlights of the Royal Observatory include London’s only planetarium and public camera obscura and the UK’s largest refracting telescope. Visitors can stand on the Meridian line itself. The line divides the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth, just as the Equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres. There is a cafe serving hot and cold drinks, soups, savouries, sandwiches, salads, cakes and pastries.
Blackheath Avenue, Greenwich SE10 8XJ; 020 8858 4422; www.nmm.ac.uk; open daily 10am-5pm; adult £16, child £8
Old Royal Naval College
A classical masterpiece of English architecture, work started on Sir Christopher Wren’s creation in 1696, with completion in 1712. It was originally Greenwich Hospital, which closed in 1869. Between 1873 and 1998 it was the Royal Naval College. Now the majority of the site is used by the University of Greenwich and Trinity College of Music, but the elegant grounds are ideal for a stroll, and the spectacular Painted Hall, decorated by James Thornhill from 1708-27, and Chapel are a visitor’s highlight of Greenwich. There’s also two shops and a cafe in the new King William Undercroft.
King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9LW; 020 8269 4747; www.ornc.org; grounds open daily 8am-6pm (admission free); visitor centre open daily 10am-5pm (admission free); chapel open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun open for public worship 11am and to visitors 12.30-5pm (free); Painted Hall (admission £13.50 plus concessions) open daily 10am-5pm
Ranger’s House
The wood-panelled rooms of this elegant Georgian villa – an English Heritage property – set on the edge of Greenwich Park contain The Wernher Collection, nearly 700 medieval and Renaissance pieces of art amassed by diamond magnate Sir Julius Wernher (1850-1912). There are Dutch old masters, jewels, silver, bronzes, carved Gothic ivories and porcelain.
Chesterfield Walk, SE10 8QX; 020 8853 0035; www.english-heritage.org.uk; opening times vary; adults £9.50, children 5-17 years £5.70, concessions: £8.60
St Alfege Church
A church has stood here, the traditional site of the martyrdom of St Alfege, since 1012. St Alfege, then Archbishop of Canterbury, was taken hostage by marauding Vikings and then murdered. Another church followed in around 1290, collapsing after a great storm in 1710. The current church was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, who trained under Sir Christopher Wren, and they both worked on the Old Royal Naval College. The first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed, worshipped at the church, while General Wolfe, hero of Quebec, whose statue can be seen by the Royal Observatory, was buried at the church. General Gordon was baptised at St Alfege.
Services are normally held Sundays 8am, 10am, last Sunday in the month 6.30pm; Tues 8.30am Morning Prayer, 5.30pm Evening Prayer, Wed 8.30am Morning Prayer, 5.30pm Evening Prayer, Thurs (8am Holy Communion, 5.30pm Evening Prayer, Sat 9.30am Morning Prayer.
Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, SE10 9BJ; 020 8853 0687; www.st-alfege.org; open Sat 11.30am-4pm, Sun noon-4pm, other times by appointment
