What a great place. The historic connotation, the museum and the original great telescope, and of course the prime meridian - makes this place a very interesting destination. Coupled with the great view toward London it is a must visit site. P.S. for an extra 5 BP one can take the very interesting and informative tour.

What a fantastic show I learnt a lot about the northern hemisphere, different to the stars and mythology I was brought up with

My first visit to the observatory was in 2009. At that time one just walked up the hill and into the buildings. Things sure have changed. Now, just to get to the prime meridian to take a photo, one must pay, I don’t mind paying a fee because old buildings require maintenance, but I felt that £20 per person was excessive.

I was of two minds when I was deciding whether or not to visit - it's the prime meridian, so I thought I ought to since I was already in Greenwich, but astronomy is really not my thing. I'm so glad I went!! It was very interesting to see the evolution of the observatory and how astronomers evolved the setting of the meridian line, and which ones carry through even to today. Also interesting to see their historic instruments and how the lodgings evolved with the family size and needs of the royal astronomers over time. One watchout - if you are walking up to the observatory from the Queens House or Maritime museum - Google maps says that it's a relatively flat half mile walk. IT'S NOT RELATIVELY FLAT. I'm fairly fit and I was huffing and puffing on the steep walk up to the observatory. I think there is car access - that's definitely the better way to go unless you're up for a light workout.

We traveled by tour boat to Greenwich from London on a rare sunny November day. We were lucky to arrive just in time for the 1PM “red ball” drop from the top of the observatory and then an excellent tour led by one of the volunteers. We learned a semester’s worth about the discovery of how to measure longitude at sea, the establishment of the prime meridian and the brilliance of the 17th century scientists behind these discoveries. I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in history and science. Worth the trip.

What an amazing place, with so much history and so much to see--the terrific view from the top of the hill, the beautiful and intricate clocks, the historic telescopes, cool camera obscura, and more. Of course, standing next to the prime meridian was a thrill!

I definitely recommend taking the tour of the site. You’ll feel like a VIP seeing and learning about everything that has gone on here.

It was overall an excellent visit. I am a amateur clock maker and was fascinated bothered Harrison exhibition and the use of wood in his construction of wheels. The first exhibit in the timekeeping section contained an error in the description of quartz crystal operation. Both my wife and I are physics teachers and l hold amateur radio license G0KYR; we pointed out the error to a staff member. It in no way reduced our enjoyment however in any of the areas of the experience and would pass unnoticed by the general visitor. My wife uses a wheelchair and found access acceptable and we would certainly return with our grand children

Greenwich Royal Observatory: Your Ultimate Travel Guide on Instagram-Worthy Adventures 📸✨ Hey, travel enthusiasts! 👋 Are you ready to step into the shoes of an astronomer and explore the historic Greenwich Royal Observatory? 🌌👑 This iconic destination is not just about stargazing; it's a treasure trove of history, science, and breathtaking views. Let's dive into the ultimate guide to make your visit to Greenwich Royal Observatory a slam dunk! 🏀💪 📍 Location & Getting There: Nestled in the scenic Greenwich Park overlooking the Thames River, the observatory is easily accessible via public transport. Hop on the DLR to Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich station or take a Thames Clippers boat to Greenwich Pier. 🚇🛳️ 🌌 Must-Dos at the Observatory: Prime Meridian Line 🌐 Stand with one foot in the East and the other in the West as you cross the famous Prime Meridian Line. Don't forget to snap an Instagram-worthy pic of this unique experience! 📸👣 Astronomical Exhibits 🔭 Marvel at the collection of historical astronomical and nautical instruments, including John Harrison's H4 chronometer and the 28-inch refracting telescope from 1893. It's a trip through time and space! 🕰️🌌 Time Ball & Shepherd Gate Clock ⏰ Learn about the Time Ball, which was used to synchronize clocks on ships, and the Shepherd Gate Clock, one of the first public displays of Greenwich Mean Time. 🕰️🌍 Cutty Sark & National Maritime Museum 🛳️ Just a short walk away, visit the Cutty Sark, the world's oldest clipper ship, and the National Maritime Museum, which houses a fascinating collection of maritime artifacts. 🚢🏛️ Greenwich Park 🌳 Stroll through the lush greenery of Greenwich Park, where you'll find Queen's House, a beautiful Tudor-style building, and enjoy panoramic views of London. 🏞️👑 🎟️ Tickets & Prices: Combined Ticket (includes Cutty Sark, Flamsteed House, and exhibitions): Adults: £18.50 Children (5-15): £8.50 Concessions: £15.50 Royal Observatory Only: Children: £5 Under 5s: Free 🕒 Opening Hours: May to September: 10am - 5:30pm (last entry 16:30) July & August: 10am - 6pm (last entry 17:30) Closed: December 24-26 🍽️ Food & Drink: Nearby Cafes & Bakeries: Enjoy a delicious treat at Gali's Bakery or Dark Sugars, just a short walk from the observatory. Perfect for a quick snack or a leisurely lunch. 🍰☕ 🚶‍♂️ Tips for Your Visit: Book Tickets Online: Avoid queues and save time by booking your tickets in advance on the observatory's website. Plan Your Visit: Arrive early to make the most of your visit, especially if you want to catch a glimpse of the Time Ball dropping at 1pm. Wear Comfortable Shoes: Greenwich Park and the observatory are best explored on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. Remember, Greenwich Royal Observatory is more than just a tourist attraction; it's a living, breathing part of London's heritage. So, pack your camera, lace up your walking shoes, and let the stars guide you on an adventure through time and space! 🌌👟 🏷️ #GreenwichRoyalObservatory #LondonTravel #AstronomyAdventures This post is your go-to guide for making your visit to Greenwich Royal Observatory a memorable one, filled with historical insights, breathtaking views, and Instagram-worthy moments. Happy exploring! 🛫🌍 By the way, share it with your family in English District! Recently I found out that there are 20% Railcards on Trainpal. Code: RC777E

TIME IS EVERYTHING very well done exhibit of facts finding and figuring out. I am glad I was born less than 100 years ago... This is a quicker tour but getting to this place is up hill and when you go down visit Royal Marine time building

Interesting place to learn about measuring time and to step across the Prime Meridian. We spent several hours here, but certainly didn’t read all that was available. Many people go to step across the Prime Meridian, and if that is your only goal, save yourself the admission fee and go around the corner and you’ll see the line “continue” and you can snap a pic. However the observatory itself is well worth the ticket price. We learned a lot during our visit. There is also a planetarium show, but we opted to not pay extra for that. Note: we took an Uber boat to the Greenwich Pier and walked up from the dock. Our guide book said it was a “gentle hill” but the route we took was very steep. Not sure where the gentle path was.

Definitely worth the trip (and that in and of itself was fun, a boat ride along the Thames). We loved all the displays, especially the ones about John Harrison and his clocks, used to measure longitude accurately. There’s a good bit of a climb up the hill to get to the observatory, but I have difficulty with hills and was able to manage it with plenty of rest stops and a slow, steady pace.

Excellent experience on the guided tour at the Observatory for wheelchair guest and companion. Disability aware staff member stayed with guest all the time, during parts of tour guest couldn't access the assigned staff continued the tour in another location which was just as good as main tour. Very interesting and informative tour. Credit to Paul and Mary for the excellent experience. Highly recommend for everyone and mobility restricted people.

The views from the top of the observatory are great .the staff are very friendly and very helpful at 1 o'clock every day the big red ball on top of building goes up and then comes down this was to warn sailors in the oldern days .me and my partner had a very enjoyable experience standing on the meridian line which is where the clocks of the world are set from well worth a visit.

Absolutely fantastic day!!! Biggest shout out to Mike Dp the Harrison’s Clocks Expert and raconteur! The 1:00pm red ball drop, the Greenwich Meridian, but above all the H1 - H4 clocks and the Longitude Prize stories, were beautifully told, super knowledgeable, super friendly and approachable, Mike was a delight! Make sure you get there before 1:00 pm for the time signal (red ball drop), and catch Mike’s talks - you won’t regret it 😊