Home to London’s only planetarium and the Meridian Line, the Royal Observatory is a special attraction.
A mix of time and space and panoramic views of London stretching from the O2 to the City and beyond makes the Royal Observatory a great place to visit.
You can see the Great Equatorial Telescope which has been used by many famous astronomers. Between September and February, the Royal Observatory also houses the annual Astronomy Photographers of the Year exhibition which exhibits the winners’ and runners ups’ photos.
There is even a kids’ category and so be prepared to be wowed by talented twelve-year-olds. Your kids may even be inspired to take part next year.
In the planetarium you can watch a number of guided tours through space, shows are ticketed and so it is best to buy in advance online, especially at peak times like holidays and half-term.
While you are in Greenwich, visit the Cutty Sark or Old Royal Naval College.
I’d never been to a planetarium before and it was so so cool. I didn’t even know there was one in London. I had a really fun time visiting the Royal Observatory. I learnt about the Meridian Line which I knew nothing about before and straddled the line. Also, the park has amazing views of London so we stayed for sunset and little snack. Highly recommend.
You can find loads more information by Laura Porter at aboutlondonlaura.com
Greenwich Park is massive, but the Observatory is at the top end of the park, farthest from Greenwich, so you might consider parking at the top (if you drive). It’s an awesome piece of history where you can straddle the famous Prime Meridian line and visit the planetarium, which is a hit with all ages. It is not free to enter, but if you happen to be at the park and want to see the Prime Meridian you can actually walk along the outside of the gate until you come behind the buidling. There’s a small line showing the PM line and which side lies to the East and which side of it is to the West. You can pair it with a picnic in the park and a lovely walk on a sunny day.
We love the planetarium. The hill on the way up is a bit steep though be warned!