Greenwich Park: London’s Oldest Royal Park with Unbeatable Views and History
When you think of Greenwich Park, a historic royal park in southeast London, known for its panoramic views, deer herds, and the Prime Meridian line. Also known as the Royal Park of Greenwich, it’s been a public space since the 15th century and remains one of the most visited green areas in the city. This isn’t just another London park—it’s where the world’s time is measured, where kings once hunted, and where you can stand with one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and the other in the Western.
Greenwich Park connects directly to the Greenwich Observatory, the home of the Prime Meridian and the historic Royal Observatory, where astronomers mapped the stars and defined global time. Walk up the hill past the deer and you’ll reach the spot where the line between east and west crosses the ground. Just below, the National Maritime Museum, the largest maritime museum in the world, telling the story of Britain’s seafaring past through ships, maps, and real artifacts. These aren’t just side attractions—they’re part of the same story. The park was designed to frame the view of the observatory, and the museum sits at its foot like a natural extension of the landscape.
People come here for the views, sure—the skyline of Canary Wharf and the River Thames stretching out below is one of the best in London. But they also come for the quiet. You’ll find locals reading under the oaks, couples picnicking near the rose garden, and kids chasing the park’s free-roaming fallow deer. It’s one of the few places in the city where you can hear birds over traffic. The park’s layout, designed by André Le Nôtre—the same mind behind Versailles—makes every path feel intentional, every turn rewarding.
And it’s free. Always. No tickets, no queues, no hidden fees. You can walk in from Greenwich town, from the Cutty Sark, or from the DLR station at Greenwich, and spend hours without spending a penny. That’s rare in London. The park hosts events too—outdoor theatre in summer, seasonal light trails in winter, and the occasional open-air concert. But most days, it’s just you, the trees, and the view.
What you’ll find in the posts below is a curated look at how Greenwich Park fits into the bigger picture of London life. From the best times to visit to avoid crowds, to how it connects to nearby cultural spots like the Old Royal Naval College and the Maritime Museum, to why it’s become a favorite for photographers, runners, and history lovers alike. You’ll see how this one green space ties together royal heritage, science, and everyday London moments—all without ever leaving the city.