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Royal Observatory Greenwich Entrance Ticket: Stand on the Historic Prime Meridian Line

4.1

266 Ratings

London

Stand on the historic Prime Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Discover the wonders of astronomy, space, and the stars while enjoying stunning views of London.

Duration: 2 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Royal Observatory Greenwich - Make your way to the Royal Observatory Greenwich which is located on a hill in Greenwich Royal Park. As you do, you will enjoy dramatic views of London across Greenwich Royal Park, the City of London and the River Thames. Once inside, you can pick up a complementary audio guide. There are 7 languages available.

Your visit will begin in the Meridian Courtyard where you will stand astride the Prime Meridian Line, with one foot in the east and the other in the west at the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

The tour will take you through Flamsteed House where you will walk in the footsteps of the Astronomers Royal. Visit the Octagon Room which was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and is one of the best preserved Wren interiors in London. See Harrison’s clocks, the inventions that changed the world. Discover the Shepherd Gate Clock, mounted outside, which was the first clock to show Greenwich Mean Time to the public. Learn about the discoveries of great scientists and inventors based at or associated with the Royal Observatory, including Harrison, Newton, Halley, Bradley, Maunder, Harrison, Airy, Einstein.

The bright red Time Ball on top of Flamsteed House is one of the world’s earliest public time signals and was first used in 1833 and still operates today. Don’t miss the Great Equatorial Telescope, located in the huge iconic onion dome, which gave astronomers new views of the universe over 100 years ago.

Located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House are both located within a short walking distance from the Observatory and are free to visit. Cutty Sark, the world’s sole-surviving tea clipper is now an award-winning museum and visitor experience and is a must-see when visiting Greenwich.

What's Included

Attraction admission ticket included

What's Not Included

Transportation to/from attractions

Additional Information

No trip to London can be deemed complete without a stopover at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the birthplace of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Here, you’ll have the unique experience of placing one foot in the east and the other in the west while standing on the Prime Meridian Line. Follow in the path of past Astronomers Royal, learn about their contributions, and delve into the fascinating journey of astronomy and space exploration, traversing the past, present, and future. Marvel at the breathtaking views of London cityscape, Greenwich Royal Park, and the River Thames.

Children under the age of 4 years are free to enter the attraction
Children must be accompanied by an adult

Location

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Blackheath Avenue

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.1

(266 Ratings)

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Ericm66

Mar 24, 2024

You Don’t Need to Love Science to Enjoy the Royal Observatory - For science lovers, the Royal Observatory offers a treasure trove of interesting history, exhibits, and stories about the early British astronomers, some of whom lived there with their families. My wife does not love science as much, but she is endlessly curious about the world and was fascinated by the observatory’s exhibits. One of the big draws here is that the Prime Meridian passes through the observatory, meaning at 0 degrees longitude you can put one foot in the East and one in the West. Another striking feature is the panoramic view you get here of the River Thames, Canary Wharf, Greenwich, and downtown London. Put the Royal Observatory on your short list of places to go.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Palani_n

Mar 18, 2024

The. Lock always show correct tome - It is very interesting, we always knew Greenwich time but didn’t know the meaning, lots of hated wirk make the word goes on factually

Review provided by Viator

Tabatha1998

Mar 2, 2024

So much history - Historically an incredibly significant place. So much of what we take for granted today is linked to what was discovered here. Great views back towards central London, too. I’d read previous reviews which claimed the walk was steep, but we found that to be highly exaggerated. Well worth a visit and I wouldn’t rush.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Stardoe

Jan 21, 2024

Rich Place in Time. - Greenwich is definitely a 2 day trip so we chose Cutty Sark and the Observatory for our one day adventure. Gained entry using our London Pass. A fascinating place for history buffs and astronomers alike. Standing one foot each side of the meridian line was a unique treat and great photo opportunity. So much information about the history of time, navigation, astonomy and the people/families who lived and worked at the observatory. Quality souvenirs in the shop. No cafe so make sure you have lunch and a drink before you go.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Martincs2512nk

Jan 9, 2024

Timeless - Went with our two grandchildren (aged 8 and 11). Just as good as it was 25 years ago. Not dumbed down (unlike some other museums we have revisited since our kids grew up). Superb displays with just the right amount of explanatory information for kids to take in. Superb explanation of the 'longitude problem' and display of Harrison's chronometers. Highly recommended for adults and children alike

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Eddee14

Jan 7, 2024

A must do. - We attended the Royal Observatory, attending one of their “evening with the stars” events that are run through the winter. The simple review here is just, wow. The team are so informative and know their stuff and the telescopes that they set up showed us some breathtaking things that quite frankly didn’t even look real! Would highly recommend to anyone that likes anything to do with the stars or space.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Q243wjgregoryd

Dec 20, 2023

Fun, Fascinating Day! - Wonderful adventure! I'm a career naval officer, so I knew it would appeal to me, but it was even more interesting than I expected. The tour guide was so knowledgeable , friendly, and gregarious, he really made the experience!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Pakabay

Mar 29, 2024

Why does everything with the word royal in it cost so much? - Yes, it’s historically significant and yes, it’s a ‘must do’ on a trip to Greenwich but at £20 per person it could & should be a better experience. And why wasn’t the 1:00pm ‘time ball’ not operating. No reason given. Many of the displays were difficult to read &/or see with so many lights not working, and anti reflective coatings & films on display cases is not new technology. I’m glad that we went, I hadn’t been here in more than 45 years and it is certainly an interesting place holding significant historic & cultural significance. As they say (somewhat incorrectly), it’s where time begins.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Angela_b

Feb 28, 2024

Well worth a visit and especially to admire the view - The views from the observatory over London are utterly uncomparable and well worth the walk up. An interesting museum even though I knew nothing about it before the visit apart from the meridian being there. Certainly a good place to spend a couple of hours.

Review provided by Viator

Nellie83_13

Mar 30, 2024

Signage and guide books are very poor - Not great , The signage and tour guides are very poor , Its quite a long walk up hill to the Observatory The route is blocked by works in the park . There are no refreshments available even the ice cream hut is shut . we wandered into the shop looking for some sort of sustenance ,when we tried to go back into the museum a member of staff became confrontational about our route of entry . I can only assume he has power issues , suggest he takes training .

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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up to 4 guests

1 Adult