Why you should add a day trip to Greenwich to your London itinerary

An area of London which lies just south of the financial district and famous Isle of Dogs which is connected to London by Canary Wharf and the plethora of office buildings and flats, Greenwich may seem like any other borough – home to residents, London hotels with special offers, eateries and restaurants, and a few vibrant green spaces which bring the whole district to life.

However, Greenwich is much more than just another place name in the centre of London – and is well worth adding to your itinerary as the ideal location for a day trip. In this blog, we’re going to tell you why, with just a handful of the best things to see and do in Greenwich.

Getting to Greenwich

Before we get into the details of Greenwich and some of the things you should see and do as part of your visit to this particular area of London, it’s important to note that Greenwich is best accessed via overground train or the DLR as it does not have an underground station of its own.

Having said that, once you’re in Greenwich most of the things worth seeing and doing are located within close proximity of each other and so the need for travel is minimal.

Greenwich Market

Our first stop in Greenwich is Greenwich market, which boasts some of the best street food stalls in London with tasters and cuisines to rival even the best meal at The Grand Restaurant Paddington. The simple fact is that by combining exquisite flavours with the vast access to choice and different delicacies and cuisines, Greenwich market invites visitors to try new things – making it a great choice for any meal regardless of the season or occasion.

And it’s not just food that comes into its own in Greenwich market. The market is also home to a versatile array of stalls which sell antiques, accessories, clothes, jewellery, homeware goods, gifts, and so much more – you can literally browse to your hearts content.

Greenwich Park

The Royal Parks are among some of London’s most prized destinations, with great attention paid to the presentation and experiences which are open and available across this series of green spaces which separate and intersperse among the streets and industrial buildings of the city centre.

Greenwich Park offers that same access to green space and nature but without the Royal Parks link, combining excellent views over the city from the Royal Observatory, with the selection of paths, tree lined avenues, and vast grassy expanses perfect for picnics, walks, date days, and time spent with friends and family.

As for the Royal Observatory itself, this building situated on a hill in the centre of the park is designed to not only present an excellent view of the river Thames and London beyond, but also to support local astronomy and navigation. Interestingly, this observatory played a major part in the formation of the prime meridian, which is why British and London time is now referred to as GMT – Greenwich Mean Time.

The Cutty Sark

This attraction in Greenwich is picture perfect from the outside and offers visitors access to a little bit of history. This particular ship is arguably the most famous tea transporter in British history, not least because Brits and Londoners love to drink tea but also because during its time on the water it visited sixteen different countries and carried ten million pounds in weight of tea.

A paid experience, this attraction unites its incredible history with an immersive experience and an opportunity for visitors to learn about the ship while stood on its decks – making it one of the most popular historical attractions in the city.

And moving onto another nautical historical attraction…

National Maritime Museum

This is the kind of inner city location which feels like you could well be somewhere else, perhaps one of the coastal ports down on the south coast of England rather than right inside the centre of London. Nonetheless, the grandeur of the National Maritime Museum from the outside is elaborate enough to rival some of the top Paddington hotels in London, while the exhibits and historical information inside offers an excellent experience away from the hordes of tourists in the Westminster-based museums and galleries.

The Meantime Brewery

A popular and highly drinkable collection of beers, Meantime is one of the better known London local breweries – with the site itself located in Greenwich and open for public visits and tours. The brewery offers guests a guided tour experience which lasts for around 90 minutes and includes a tasting – making it a great experience to enjoy with your friends or a loved one.

Up at the O2

If you’ve ever gotten off the tube at North Greenwich, then you will be familiar with the O2 and the vast arena which is home to one of the biggest and most prominent stages in London. As one of the most visited venues in London, the O2 plays host to huge shows and stars – with regular taxis available for those heading to the O2 from the Park Grand Paddington Court Hotel as part of their London stay.

However, it’s not all shows and concerts at the O2. The arena structure itself forms a dome, and this dome is open to a very specific and memorable experience known as Up at the O2 – inviting guests and paying visitors to clip in and walk their way up and over the top of the vast white structure to enjoy the views at the top. From this location in North Greenwich, on a level with Canary Wharf just across the river, you can see as far the city of London in the distance, with the sunset and twilight tours among some of the most popular and coveted slots all year round.

Greenwich is a district which is often underrated, but which offers a wide selection of things to do for solo travellers, couples, and groups. Add it to your itinerary next time you head to London, and enjoy some of these experiences.