Greenwich Park - Sightseeing, Monuments, Parks & Gardens, London Parks

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Greenwich Park

Charlton Way, London, SE10 9LZ

Greenwich Park is one of those wonderful open spaces that have survived in London despite all the pressures put upon them. But Greenwich is special with its wide views over the maritime heart of the capital and its great sense of history.

Greenwich was enclosed as a Royal Park in 1433, the first to be so. Greenwich Palace, birthplace of King Henry VIII and the first Queen Elizabeth stood on the site of what was until recently the Royal Naval College, and is now Greenwich University, with its pair of handsome towers designed by Christopher Wren, architect of the new London that rose from the ashes of the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The natural beauty of the Park is played out against the classical background of Queen's House, the National Maritime Museum and the more recent Canary Wharf complex. But it is the constantly moving panorama of maritime life on the River Thames that brings the whole landscape to life.

A varied programme of special events runs throughout the summer

Nor is the Park just sweeping views. On sunny days brass bands thump happily away on the elegant bandstand, there are donkey rides down at Blackheath Gate, children paddle their canoes on the boating lake and a café offers sustenance not far from the Greenwich Royal Observatory.

Nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Cutty Sark - for Maritime Greenwich DLR