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One in every of my favorite components of London, it’s simple to spend a day exploring Greenwich with youngsters – actually, with some implausible family-friendly sights and its pretty setting on the Thames, you possibly can very simply spend loads longer.
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Except you’re primarily based in Greenwich itself or the Greenwich Peninsula, the easiest way to reach is by boat – in any other case Cutty Sark DLR station is the closest – and strategy from the water, as so many individuals have completed over the centuries.
And together with exploring the museums and different sights, it’s a stunning place to wander, whether or not that’s alongside the riverside or in Greenwich’s inexperienced areas. To start out you off, listed below are my 13 prime issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters.
Go to the Cutty Sark
One of many first belongings you see as you step off the boat at Greenwich pier or out of Cutty Sark DLR, a go to to the historic clipper ship is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Greenwich for teenagers.
There are kids’s trails to comply with however even with out these, you possibly can wander by means of the ship peeking inside cabins, discovering the cargo she carried, plus numerous interactive shows together with an opportunity to strive your personal hand at crusing a digital ship (tougher than it appears to be like!)
Better of all, you possibly can discover proper from the copper-bottomed hull of the Cutty Sark ship to the deck (be careful for the carved monkey). Maintain a watch out and also you typically can meet vibrant characters who would have as soon as hung out aboard, particularly at weekends and through college holidays.
There’s a reduction on tickets when you e book utilizing my hyperlink and code MUMMYTRAVELS6 – you should purchase mixed tickets when you’re visiting the Royal Observatory and Queen’s Home as properly.
Learn what we considered visiting the Cutty Sark with a preschooler.
Jump over the meridian line
One factor everybody is aware of about Greenwich is its affiliation with time – it’s right here you discover the prime meridian line used to calculate GMT.
However there’s much more to it than that: the prime meridian is the place to begin to measure each place on earth by its angle east or west from this level.
For older youngsters, it’s a good way to deliver among the science to life, and nonetheless outdated you might be, there’s one thing enjoyable about standing with one foot both aspect.
The meridian line runs throughout the courtyard of the Royal Observatory however you may as well see a part of it exterior the principle constructing totally free.
Head to the massive Shepherd clock with indicators about measures and the time ball (all value studying in themselves), then by means of the black gate across the nook, the road stretches throughout a small alleyway.
The Royal Observatory
Set on prime of the hill, the Royal Observatory comprises London’s solely planetarium in addition to the Astronomy Centre, Flamsteed Home (named after the primary Astronomer Royal) and the Meridian Courtyard.
It’s additionally residence to the time ball: the pink ball on the jap turret drops day by day at 1pm as a sign to boats on the Thames of the exact time.
That is someplace for older youngsters, who’ll be extra within the tales of the clocks that modified the world – John Harrison’s clocks, which enabled sailors to find out longitude – in addition to the telescopes and tales of the calculating the meridian.
The Planetarium has some nice exhibits geared toward totally different ages too (together with digital exhibits on-line and Q&As with the astronomers throughout lockdown). Tickets for the Peter Harrison Planetarium exhibits are restricted must be prebooked, or you possibly can e book entry to the Observatory individually, in addition to mixed Royal Museums Greenwich tickets for the Cutty Sark and Queen’s Home as properly.
Greenwich park
Greenwich Park stretches for 183 acres so there’s loads of room to run round and let off steam, plus it’s simple to mix with a go to to a museum – it’s solely round 5 minutes stroll from the Cutty Sark alongside King William Stroll, proper subsequent to the Nationwide Maritime Museum and homes the Royal Observatory.
The oldest enclosed royal park can also be residence to probably the greatest views in London. Head to the hill the place the Royal Observatory is about and you’ll gaze down throughout the Royal Naval faculty and the Thames, and out to the London Docklands.
Or you possibly can merely wander spherical and benefit from the flowers: London’s longest herbaceous border, a rose backyard, herb backyard and the Queen’s orchard are all inside the park.
Head to the south-east of the park and you’ll even spot deer within the Wilderness as properly, or from Easter to October, there’s boating on the lake close to the Queen’s Home.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for playgrounds in Greenwich, there’s one within the north-east nook too, with sandpits, swings, slides and climbing frames – or learn on for extra details about The Cove play space.
The Cove
This new play space by the Nationwide Maritime Museum places different playgrounds within the shade. The Cove is designed to deliver youngsters’s imaginations to life in addition to letting them climb, clamber and play to their coronary heart’s content material.
On the centre is a ship, the Shanty, the place you possibly can take the wheel, fireplace the cannon, discover the barrels in addition to climbing as much as the crow’s nest earlier than heading again down the enormous tentacle slide.
Or head contained in the Cutty Shark, climbing its fin and exploring by means of a maze of nets to find a secret den – then slide out by means of its fearsome jaws.
Be careful for the Kraken too, as you slide, soar and climb by means of the creatures seaweed tangles, nets and bridges – one of many enjoyable components of the playground for youthful guests. There’s no must e book and it’s utterly free: there’s additionally a restaurant and bogs contained in the Nationwide Maritime Museum subsequent door.
Nationwide Maritime Museum
The free Nationwide Maritime museum traces Britain’s maritime historical past, with an enchanting assortment that ranges from artworks and maps to mannequin ships and even the coat Nelson was carrying when he died.
Whereas toddlers are prone to be much less enthralled, there are household trails together with ones for mini mariners and the enormous map proper on the coronary heart of the museum is ideal for any age, in addition to loads of household enjoyable actions geared toward youthful guests.
And the Ahoy Gallery, is right for underneath sevens; the immersive play house enables you to do all the pieces from stoking the boiler of a steamship to promoting fish within the market, in addition to discovering extra about pirates, polar tales and adventures galore – this does have a small cost at weekends and college holidays and must be prebooked (whereas it’s free on weekdays, it’s unsurprisingly standard so nonetheless value prebooking).
There’s loads extra to maintain major age youngsters (and up) entertained too, from tales of journey and piracy in Tudor instances, the challenges of the Polar adventures, and tales of exploring the Pacific.
As there’s free entry, there’s no must prebook (though you possibly can e book free tickets on-line to get updates earlier than your go to).
Even when you don’t go in, it’s value heading down to identify the massive ship in a bottle exterior – Yinka Shonibare’s recreation of Nelson’s Victory – one other of the enjoyable free issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters.
Comply with a Treasure Path
I’m an enormous fan of those self-guided Treasure Trails to discover with youngsters, and the Greenwich path isn’t any exception. With American pals visiting, we determined to comply with the route by means of Greenwich as a method to see all the realm’s highlights whereas nonetheless entertaining our children.
You don’t must go inside any of the Greenwich museums to seek out the clues (though it’s simple so as to add visits in alongside the way in which), and the path helps you see among the little particulars on buildings as you wander, strolling from the Cutty Sark down a few of Greenwich’s little alleyways, by means of the park and previous the Royal Observatory, and right down to the river.
One of many longer trails, it lasts round two and a half hours.
Greenwich market
There’s all the time one thing enjoyable to find at Greenwich market – together with some nice meals, which makes it a enjoyable and straightforward place to cease for lunch in Greenwich with youngsters.
You’ll additionally discover quirky souvenirs, together with collectables, jewelry and classic garments, to not point out some good espresso and ice cream to assist gas a stroll round Greenwich.
In December, it additionally transforms right into a Christmas market as soon as every week, in addition to different household pleasant festive occasions beginning in November.
Painted Corridor
Reopened in 2019 after in depth restoration, the Painted Corridor on the Outdated Royal Naval School has been known as Britain’s reply to the Sistine Chapel – one of many jewels in Greenwich’s crown, serving to make the borough a Unesco World Heritage website.
For adults, you possibly can uncover how the work inform tales of politics, in addition to scientific, cultural and industrial achievements – however for any age, it’s an impressive art work to take a seat and stare at.
Or slightly, to lie and stare at. There are mirrors dotted strategically round but additionally cushioned benches so you possibly can lie again and take in the small print.
In any other case you possibly can wander by means of the buildings of the Outdated Royal Naval School, which stands on the positioning of the outdated Greenwich Palace the place Henry VIII and Elizabeth I have been born, recognizing cannon alongside the way in which.
The Painted Corridor is free for youngsters to enter, though they nonetheless want a ticket, which should be prebooked.
For extra royal locations in London to go to with youngsters, take a look at my decide of the perfect, from palaces to castles and extra
Boat journey to Greenwich
My favorite method to arrive in Greenwich, you possibly can cruise on the Thames from central London or select a sightseeing boat for a bit extra background.
Uber Boat (previously Thames Clippers) sails alongside the river from Battersea, with stops at Westminster, Waterloo, Embankment, the South Financial institution and Tower Hill alongside the way in which, earlier than heading out through the Docklands to Greenwich.
You should use Oyster playing cards/contactless or purchase tickets utilizing the Uber boat app, and the principle RB1 service travels round each half hour to Greenwich.
Or take a look at the sightseeing cruises from Metropolis Cruises, which have a commentary (reside or recorded) about what you’re seeing alongside the way in which.
There are different Thames boat excursions to select from, together with this sightseeing tour from Westminster to Greenwich in addition to a hop-on hop-off sightseeing cruise.
IFS Cloud cable automobile
If you happen to fancy one other, slightly totally different view of London, head over to North Greenwich – you possibly can hop on a ship or bus, in addition to taking a stroll alongside the riverfront (admittedly not probably the most scenic stroll alongside the Thames).
The cable automobile hyperlinks to the Docklands so it’s greatest to think about it as an expertise slightly than a way of getting from A to B as chances are high you gained’t be exploring the realm round Excel!
However there are some nice views alongside the river, because it rises 90m as much as journey the kilometre throughout to the opposite aspect.
If you happen to time your journey for sundown, it’s much more memorable – plus because it’s a part of the Tfl community, fares gained’t break the bank. Kids aged 5-15 additionally need to pay, however you need to use contactless or your Oyster card in addition to reserving household tickets.
The journey lasts round 5 minutes at peak instances, round double that at different instances together with night journeys and cabins arrive round each 30 seconds.
If you happen to e book a spherical journey, you don’t need to get off and stroll spherical to queue for the journey again, though it’ll price barely extra.
Go to the O2
House to a string of eating places, there are additionally common exhibitions on the 02, together with reside performances – to not point out Disney on Ice – on the 02 area.
However one of the crucial uncommon issues to strive on this a part of Greenwich with youngsters, is climbing onto the highest of the constructing at Up on the O2.
Youngsters must be a minimum of eight and over 1.2 metres tall (with one grownup to each two youngsters, in the event that they’re aged between eight and 11).
After a security briefing, you get a swimsuit, boots and harness, and set off to climb up the walkway which leads you 52m above floor – it takes round an hour, and when you begin, there’s no turning again.
With superb views out throughout London – as a lot as 15 miles on a transparent day – it’s implausible for extra adventurous youngsters.
For youthful youngsters, there are some simpler thrills at Oxygen freejumping trampolines, together with toddler periods, in addition to comfortable play, plus TOCA Social immersive soccer expertise and a cinema all inside the O2.
Museum of London Docklands
I’m dishonest barely by together with this in a listing of issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters however whilst you’re over in south-east London, it’s really easy to go to that it’s value holding in thoughts.
In truth, when you hop on the DLR from Cutty Sark to West India Quay, it takes across the identical time to get to the Museum of London Docklands because it does to get to North Greenwich.
And a go to here’s a enjoyable one to mix with a go to to the Nationwide Maritime Museum – whereas that follows Britain’s historical past on the water worldwide, the Museum of London Docklands traces the story of London’s river and the commerce which constructed up round it.
Beginning in Tudor instances proper by means of to the post-war interval and the constructing of town’s monetary district, the galleries cowl all the pieces from slavery and strikes to interactive shows, reminiscent of an opportunity to wander by means of sailortown.
It’s free to enter and there’s no must prebook tickets, except you’re planning to go to one of many common momentary exhibitions as properly. There’s additionally the nice Mudlarks youngsters’s gallery for teenagers aged as much as 8, with 45-minute periods introducing youthful youngsters to among the museum’s tales by means of play and hands-on enjoyable – this does have a £3 price and wishes prebooking although.
Try our go to to the Museum of London Docklands with youngsters, together with the Havering Hoard exhibition
Ice rink on the Queen’s Home
If you happen to’re visiting Greenwich within the run-up to Christmas, this London festive ice rink has been an ideal addition exterior the Queen’s Home since 2019.
The one outside ice rink in south London, you possibly can look out to the Thames as you skate, with sizzling chocolate and mulled wine to heat up once more afterwards.
For extra particulars of London’s Christmas ice rinks, together with the close by Canary Wharf rink, take a look at this publish.
Locations to remain in Greenwich with youngsters
If you wish to make Greenwich your base for a household vacation in London, there are many family-friendly locations to remain together with lodges and self-catering properties.
Try among the family-friendly lodges in Greenwich on reserving.com, or for self-catering lodging, I’m an enormous fan of the flats from PlumGuide. Every has been individually vetted, you possibly can filter for baby-friendly and family-friendly properties, plus the professionals and cons are laid out clearly.
*First revealed 2020, final up to date 2024*
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN GREENWICH WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Photographs: Painted Corridor picture courtesy VisitBritain, Nationwide Maritime Museum facade/Emirates cable automobile/sizzling chocolate courtesy Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
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