Greenwich | Greenwich
Greenwich- the historic district of London, spread out on the right bank of the Thames, just 15 minutes from the center of the capital.
The name of the area comes from the Anglo-Saxon "green village" and, I must say, it justifies itself: in summer months a large number of vegetation pleasantly pleases the eye of tourists and locals.
The region has a very rich history. It is no coincidence that Greenwich in London is officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The first settlements were formed here in the early Middle Ages: in the 15th century, Greenwich in London was a small fishing village, gradually expanding and attracting more and more inhabitants.
Already in the 16th century, royalty loved to rest here, and at the beginning of the 17th century, by order of the wife of King James I, the Queen's House was built, which today is one of the capital's attractions.
Not far from it, in the thickets of Greenwich Park, on a small hill, there is the building of the Royal Observatory, founded by Charles II in order to teach English sailors to determine longitude by the location of the stars. Now its building houses the Museum of Astronomical and Navigation Devices.
It is here that the same Prime Meridian , which is the reference point for longitude and time zones of the entire globe.
In general, in Greenwich, everything reminds us that the prime meridian passes through it. Consider the presence of the first shop or beer bar in the western hemisphere ...
It is important to note that the history of Greenwich is closely related to the history of the British Navy, which once ruled the seas. Here, on the banks of the Thames, is another landmark of London and the entire maritime Empire - the last high-speed ship that has survived in the whole world. This is the sailing ship "Cutty Sark", which has found its last resting place here. And not far from it is the National maritime museum, where you can get acquainted with the history of English navigation.
Greenwich is also full of students, because the famous University of Greenwich is located here - one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the whole world.
Greenwich - former village, and now a suburb of London, located on the right bank of the Thames. The main attraction of the city is the Greenwich Observatory, through which the prime meridian passes. Therefore, here you can find yourself with one foot in the east and the other in the west. The observatory was built in 1674 and now functions as a museum. Next to her is the former Royal Palace, from which only one large building has survived - Queen House. The Observatory and Queen House are located in the popular Greenwich Park. On the outskirts of the park, by the river, the monumental Royal Maritime Hospital (now the university) has been erected.
Greenwich has played the role of London's sea gate for many centuries, with medium-sized vessels moored here. One of them - "Cutty Sark" - is now in the eternal parking lot at the Greenwich pier. Here is the very popular National Maritime Museum. Currently Greenwich has lost the status of a transport hub, but is the center aquatic species sports, river regattas are held here every year.
Greenwich on the map
Type: Cities, towns Address: Woolwich Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich, Greenwich, London, SE18 6PW Opening hours:
- Greenwich Park is open daily from 07:00 until dark.
- Sailboat Cutty Sark is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Sir Christopher Wren Royal Observatory is open from 10:00 to 17:00. In July and August, the observatory is open until 18:00; screenings take place at 13:30, 14:30, 15:30.
- The National Maritime Museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. The entrance of the last visitors is at 16:30.
- Greenwich Park: Free.
- Sailboat Cutty Sark: adult ticket - £ 4.50; children under 16 - £ 3.20; family ticket - £ 12.00.
- Royal Observatory: Free. Ticket prices for screenings range from £ 1.50 to £ 4.
- National Maritime Museum: Free.
You need to go to Greenwich for the whole day. We knew this, because in our plan we allocated the whole Thursday for it, because on Thursday the Greenwich museums are open until 9 pm. And you can slowly go around everything, inspect. Only the weather decided otherwise, and we had to postpone the walk until Friday.
Greenwich can be reached different ways but the best one is on the water. Before heading to Westminster Pier, we decided to stop by. Unfortunately, before that it was worth checking whether it was open on that day.
Of course, we didn't check. Have Westminster Abbey there was a fence, which was crowded with onlookers. Cabs and cars came, from where gentlemen with garters and ladies in elegant dresses and hats came out.
They all went inside, and the police made sure that ordinary people did not try to get into the abbey. As it turned out, that day was the service of The Most Honorable Order of the Bath.
So advice - see the site of the attraction you are interested in. Otherwise, there is a possibility of not getting inside. After watching the procession for a bit, we went to the place from where the ships leave for Greenwich. 
Since we had, we got the ticket for free. It was only necessary to show the cards at the ticket office and get paper tickets.
The famous Cutty Sark tea clipper
Cutty Sark and Information Center
We sailed for about an hour, enjoying the views of the city and listening to the guide's comments. The first thing we saw when we descended to the ground was the famous clipper Cutty Sark. 
This ship is a symbol of the British Empire, the times of its great discoveries and being a naval power. Such clippers could quickly travel to and from China to bring the best tea for the nobles and the royal court. 
Only a couple of clippers have survived to this day, and Cutty Sark is one of them. It was launched on November 23, 1869 and was used to supply tea from China until 1922. She then became a training ship until, in 1954, she was docked forever off the coast of Greenwich. And in 197 a museum was opened on it, which, unfortunately, was destroyed by a fire in 2007. The popular attraction has been hastily restored and the Clipper Cutty Sark is now reopened to the public.
Naval College
You can love Greenwich at first sight. There are reminders everywhere that Greenwich is the heart of the sea in London. We first walked past the Royal Maritime College and dropped into what turned out to be a rather entertaining museum and gift shop.
The entrance to the information center is not in the most conspicuous place, but there are signs everywhere.
After spending about an hour to examine it, we went for a walk in Greenwich. He turned out to be a little different from what I thought at first. In addition to the magnificent white buildings of the maritime museum and hospital, as well as a beautiful park, there are many ordinary buildings with shops and cafes.
I wonder ... what it's like to live in this area.
National Maritime Museum in Greenwich
And then the beautiful Royal Hospital and the National Maritime Museum appeared ahead.
The Royal Naval Hospital was established in 1694 by Queen Mary. Previously, this site was the location of the royal palace, of which there is only a memory in the form of a small building, which was included in the ensemble of the Royal Hospital.
Such famous architects as Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones had a hand in the construction of the famous ensemble of the Maritime Hospital. Now the hospital building is used by the University of Greenwich, and there is also the Maritime Museum, where we so wanted to get.
National Maritime Museum
The exposition of this museum has up to 2 million exhibits related to sea travel and the history of the development of shipbuilding. Here it is mono to look at the real nautical charts, antique guns, collections of ship models and various navigational instruments. There are paintings by famous artists, unique authentic books and manuscripts of medieval sailors are presented ... 
We stayed here for several hours, not regretting a minute that we ended up in this wonderful museum. Read more about walking through the museum in this article - a walk through the Royal Maritime Museum.
And inside the bottle is a model of Admiral Nelson's ship.
Forward - to the prime meridian!
After we walked around the museum, which turned out to be much larger than I thought, we went to. But before that, we dropped in at Queens House.
Royal House in London
This mansion is the heart of the Royal Hospital ensemble as well as an ordinary art gallery. The interior is very empty, almost no furniture or historical interiors, only paintings on the bare walls. But there is a free toilet downstairs.
We're not big fans of art galleries, so we left quickly. But they say that for an additional fee, you can drink tea on the balcony here, as royalty once did. 
Anyway, we wanted to visit the Royal Observatory much more than to drink tea. It can be seen from any corner of the park, and it is impossible to miss it. I must say that the Observatory is a very interesting place. And not only because of the ability to take a photo, being in two hemispheres at the same time.
It has an interesting collection of clocks, various scientific gizmos, navigational instruments, and a stunning view of the city from the hill.
View of Greenwich Hospital and London business center.
We spent a lot of time here just walking around the grounds and enjoying the beauty of London. Until ... they got hungry.
Go to Greenwich Market for goodies
We went to eat at Greenwich Market, which is located not far from the park. In addition to various stalls where they cook a wide variety of food - from burgers to Indian cuisine, interesting crafts, all sorts of entertaining things and accessories are sold here. 
Greenwich is one of the most interesting suburbs of London. It is located in the southeastern part of the British capital on the banks of the Thames, just six miles from. It has the largest historic building and parkland in England. In addition, in Greenwich you will find many attractions related to scientific, astronomical and maritime history.
Here's a one-day itinerary that takes you through most of the museums, monuments and markets in Greenwich. Morning:
Clipper "Cutty Sark"
If you arrive at Docklands Light Railway (DLR), v Your first stop will be at the Cutty Sark clipper. Cutty Sark is the last of sailing ships 19th century that once transported goods between Great Britain and China. She was built in 1869 and was considered the most beautiful and fastest ship of her time. The ship became a museum piece in 1956 and has since been part of the Royal Museums of Greenwich. The exhibition at the Cutty Sark Museum also includes an interesting collection of ship figures, prints, drawings, as well as travel reports and personal records. 
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00). Tickets: adults - £ 13.50; for children (5-15 years old) - £ 7.
Next to Cutty Sark is the Discover Greenwich Visitor Center, where tourists can find all the information they need about Greenwich. 
Old Royal Naval Academy
Further along the waterfront is the Old Royal Naval College. The college stands on the territory where the palace was located, which belonged to Edward I, later Henry VII. Henry VIII was born in this palace, married Catherine of Aragon, signed the death warrant to Anne Boleyn, and married Anne of Cleves. The new palace was built by Wren in 1696 for Charles II, but soon became a hospital for disabled sailors. Be sure to visit the college's top attractions - the Chapel and the Painted Hall. 
The chapel, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was built for the Royal Seamen's Hospital. After a catastrophic fire in 1779, it was remodeled by James Stewart in the Renaissance style, and today it is a remarkable example of the perfect neoclassical interior.
The chapel is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. The large canvas of the altarpiece "The Shipwreck of St. Paul" belongs to the brush of Benjamin West.
The 1789 chapel organ is the largest work of Samuel Greene, the leading organ builder of his day. 
The Painted Hall originally served as the dining room for the Royal Mariners' Hospital. Decorated with beautiful Baroque paintings that would not have looked out of place in the Sistine Chapel, this room was considered the finest dining room in Europe.
In 2013, restoration work was completed in the western part of the hall. Part of the historic hall cost £ 335,000 to complete. The total cost of the restoration project will be 2.5 million pounds and will take several years.
Admission to the college is free, daily from 10:00 to 17:00 hours.
From the center, head down King William Walk to the Royal Observatory.
Royal Observatory
The observatory sits at the center of 183-acre Greenwich Park. It is one of the oldest of the eight. On the territory of Greenwich Park, in addition to beautiful lawns and footpaths, there is a site wildlife, which is called "Deer Park". From here, a beautiful panorama of London and the Thames opens up, especially at sunset. 
The Royal Observatory is one of the most important historical and scientific sites in the world. The Royal Observatory, founded in 1675 by Charles II to facilitate safe navigation, was housed in a building designed for it by Sir Christopher Wren. In 1967 the scientific part of the observatory moved to Herstmonceau in Sussex. A museum was established in Greenwich containing a collection of old astronomical instruments. 
The prime meridian of longitude, dividing the world into eastern and western halves, runs through the building and is marked by a steel rail. In the Observatory, visitors can simultaneously stand in both the eastern and western hemispheres at once, this is one of the most popular attractions of the Observatory. On the mast of one of the towers, a red ball is visible, it goes down every day at 13:00. This device was originally used to adjust the chronometers of ships on the Thames. A huge dome dominates the Equator building, which houses the largest telescope in Britain and a planetarium. 
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. Tickets to the Observatory: for adults - £ 7; for children (5-15 years old) - £ 2.50. Planetarium: adults - £ 6.50; for children (5-15 years old) - 4.50 £
Coffee break
Then, walk down the hill to the National Maritime Museum, this is our next stop. But first, turn the corner to the Biscuit Ceramic Café. There you can relax, treat yourself to good coffee with delicious English pies. And if the fire of creativity burns in you, you can use the provided white ceramic dishes to paint your masterpiece on it. 
Royal National Maritime Museum
After a short rest, stop by the Royal National Maritime Museum. It is housed in the famous 1635 mansion, the House of the Queen, by architect Inigo Jones. The Queen's House is a masterpiece of classical architecture and is known for its perfect proportions, beautiful marble floors, as well as wrought iron balustrades and magnificent paintings on the ceilings ..
In the museum, you will learn about the travels and the sailors who made them. It is the largest maritime museum in the world with more than two million objects related to navigation. Its main exhibition is devoted to the history of the Royal Navy, starting from the Tudor era. The museum opened in 1937 and, in addition to models of ships, cartographic materials, and other scientific objects, contains excellent paintings on the maritime theme by William Turner, as well as portraits of famous sailors by Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. For children, a huge interactive map world, used to show details of some famous events in naval history.
The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (last admission at 16:30), admission is free.
Lunch:
The Greenwich Market, dating back to 1737, is a great place to indulge in local cuisine with a cup of coffee or tea and some shopping. English marmalades and jams, Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian dishes, Danish biscuits - everything for your appetite. But the Greenwich Market is famous not only for its gastronomic variety. 
There is a vibrant arts and crafts market, with many artists and designers presenting their arts and crafts in their own stalls. And on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10: 00-17: 30, you can also buy antiques, collectibles and antiques in the market.
The market is open six days a week (from Tuesday to Sunday from 10: 00-17: 30).
Day. Fan Museum
After lunch, visit the unique Fan Museum in the world. The Greenwich Fan Museum is part of the World Heritage of Humanity and contains over four thousand antique fans and fans dating from the 11th century to the present day. Visitors can get acquainted with the design of these unique objects, which for centuries have served people not only for cooling, but also as ceremonial objects, fashion accessories, symbols of position in society. 
The museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00, and on Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. Tickets for adults - £ 4.00, for children (7-16 years old) - £ 3.00.
If you still have strength left, you can stroll through the park to the red-brick caretaker's Lodge. This historical monument architecture in the Georgian style, which now houses an art gallery. The collection features over seven hundred works, from old Dutch masters to the Renaissance
Evening in the pub
The best place to end such a busy day in Greenwich is one of the iconic pubs. The Gipsy Moth, just off Cutty Sark, is a large, three-story pub with a comfortable outdoor beer area for warm, sunny days... A great place to sample the local, cider or potato vodka with a large slice of hot English pie for an appetizer.
How to get to Greenwich
Greenwich is just 20 minutes from Central London, in Zone 2.
The most pleasant way to arrive here is by boat. River vessels commit regular flights in Greenwich from the quays, Canary Wharf and the Tower of London. 
Docklands Light Railway, DLR, a driverless automated rail system, starts at the central London terminals Tower Gateway (next to) and Bank (underground connections). Take the train to Lewisham and get off at Cutty Sark Station in downtown Greenwich. valid.
You can travel to Greenwich by train from Charing Cross, East Waterloo, Cannon Street and.
North Greenwich MRT Station is located far from downtown Greenwich and was built to access the Millennium Dome (now O2 Arena). But you can walk along the banks of the Thames in about 45 minutes.
Shopping and entertainment center "Greenwich" located in the heart of the city next to the Circus and the Arboretum. This is one of the largest shopping centers in Yekaterinburg. Greenwich can be conditionally divided into two huge parts, which are popularly called old and new Greenwich. Three of the four floors of the giant mall are occupied by clothing and footwear stores. Basically, these are standard boutiques, of which there are a lot in the city ( Incity, Mango, Ostin, Zolla) ... In our opinion, there are also shops in Greenwich that I would like to pay special attention to.: Baon , Naf Naf, Benetton. In these stores, items of fairly good quality are presented at an average price level. For example, a sweater made of Benetton or shirt from Baon n do not last a single year. Despite the fact that most of the shops in Greenwich are designed for the fair floorThe barn of humanity, the stronger sex has not been forgotten either. There is, for example, in mall men's clothing boutiqueHenderson... So, it presents clothes that are not just stylish and high-quality, but also made from natural materials. The prices here, of course, can sometimes "bite", however, firstly, these clothes are worth it, as they are durable. And secondly, do not forget about seasonal sales, which, by the way, concern not only the store Henderson, but also all the shops of the mall in principle. During the global seasonal sales, which happen twice a year, in January-February and July-August, prices fall significantly. Discounts of 70% and higher are considered the norm for this period, although even at such moments it takes a lot of luck to find the item of your size you like.
There are a couple of features of Greenwich that set it apart from other malls in the city. Firstly, the presence of 3 huge parking lots (1 underground, 2 surface). Even at rush hour, you can find a parking space here, which is important given the current saturation and fullness of Yekaterinburg's roads. Secondly, there is a huge Stockmann store in Greenwich, which is, in a way, a mall in a mall. Stockmann located on 3 floors, equipped with its own escalators. In fact, you can find everything you need there from food and clothing to souvenirs and trinkets. The price level in Stockmann is above average, but this is only natural given the certain exclusivity of the products presented.
Speaking of a large shopping center, one cannot fail to note the presence on the ground floor of a new line of Greenwich grocery store - a hypermarket "Hyperbola"... You can find almost everything in it and even more, although the price level is 20 percent higher than in other stores.
And, of course, I'd like to mention the 3rd floor of Greenwich, the entertainment floor. Most the third floor occupies cinema Titanic Cinema, represented by ten halls, incl. 3D and 5D. Cinema ticket prices are especially pleasing on Tuesdays, when the ticket price from morning to evening varies in the range of 70-100 rubles. There are entertainments and refectories in this place, there are several of them on the 3rd floor. The PIR restaurant yard is a long-liver; it opened with the opening of Greenwich. Food quality level in RD PIR average, not without a flaw, for the middle peasant, which is the PIR, the prices are somewhat overpriced. RD PIR can be classified more as a fast food cafe. As for restaurants, special attention is drawn to Hash... Eastern cuisine, without exorbitant delicacies, is prepared simply and very tasty. Prices are reasonable for a restaurant.
In general, Greenwich is that place, a day can pass completely imperceptibly and positively, while it is not necessary to have a very fat wallet, good mood and stamina are enough.
