Royal Observatory Greenwich
Royal Observatory Greenwich features on the Gingerguide audio walk through London. Give it roughly ~90 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~90 min
- London London guide
About Royal Observatory Greenwich
The home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, where you can stand with one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and one in the Western.
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park was founded by Charles II in 1675 to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea. It is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian, the line of 0° longitude from which all time zones on Earth are measured.
The famous Prime Meridian line, marked in the courtyard, allows visitors to stand with one foot in the Eastern Hemisphere and one in the Western. The Shepherd Gate Clock, mounted on the observatory wall, was one of the first clocks to display GMT to the public.
The observatory sits atop a hill in Greenwich Park offering spectacular views across the Thames to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, the Millennium Dome, and the whole of London stretching into the distance.
Did you know? The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) runs through the observatory courtyard, every time zone on Earth is measured from this line.
How long is a visit to Royal Observatory Greenwich?
Set aside roughly ~90 min for Royal Observatory Greenwich. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Royal Observatory Greenwich worth your time?
Royal Observatory Greenwich is among the 41 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for London, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in London
Hear the story of Royal Observatory Greenwich
Preview the London tour free in the Gingerguide app.