Greenwich Meridian Greenwich London

Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich, London

The Greenwich Meridian is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Greenwich, south east London. Tourists queue to have their photos taken astride the red line that makes the division between the eastern and western hemispheres.

The red line marks the meridian

Greenwich Meridian is also central to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), a world standard for time zones since 1884.

History

The Royal Observatory Greenwich in Flamsteed House was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It contains a rare 24-hour clock, a planetarium, the John Harrison collection of marine timekeepers, the UK’s largest refracting telescope and an exhibition about Greenwich Mean Time. Flamsteed House was constructed in quick time on a limited budget. It was a home for the Astronomer Royal and also for entertaining guests. The house gets its name from the first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is now part of the Royal Museums Greenwich along with the National Maritime Museum, historic ship Cutty Sark, and the Queen’s House.

Other attractions in Greenwich include the Cutty Sark, the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, Greenwich Market, Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Naval College and Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle.

24 hour clock made in London

Access – Getting There

The Avenue, London SE10 8XJ

Presently (2023) it costs £18 to visit the Royal Observatory Greenwich. It is open daily from 10 am to 5pm (last entry at 4.15 pm).

Take the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Cutty Sark Station or train from London Bridge to Greenwich Station (8 minutes). There are regular 188 buses to Greenwich from Euston Station. Buses 177, 180, 199, 286 and 386 all go to Greenwich. Closed Mondays.