Greenwich Park: Where else in the world can you sit in the ‘back garden’ of a King’s palace. With a foot in each hemisphere, setting your watch to world time while looking across the major sights of London and the River Thames.
A stunning panorama of the city
Greenwich Park, located in South East London’s Royal Borough of Greenwich, is our favourite royal park. Why? Because of the amazingly beautiful views. Not because the viewpoints are so high or because you’ll see every famous high rise building on London’s skyline – for this, you can go to the Shard, or even better, get a free ticket to the Sky Garden.
Greenwich Park is so stunning because of the contrasts between old and new, city and green space, river and land. If you’re planning to visit Greenwich Park, we suggest you take some time to check out some of the beautiful vistas.
The 4 best viewpoints of Greenwich Park
- Observatory Hill: Walking from the National Maritime Museum, climb up the steep slope towards the Royal Observatory, and you’ll be rewarded with a fantastic vista of the city.
- One Tree Hill: A classic viewpoint where you’ll get a great view of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich town centre, as well as Isle of Dogs.
- The Knife Edge Statue: Waking from Greenwich Town through the main gate, continuing up the hill along “The Avenue”, you’ll find Henry Moore’s “Knife Edge” statue where you have a nice view westwards towards London.
- Maze Hill: Maze hill is the road that runs along the park’s eastern edge. If you walk the park path in parallel to Maze Hill Road, you’ll be able to enjoy a panorama of North Greenwich and Isle of Dogs.
Greenwich Park Viewpoint Map
To locate the exact locations of the viewpoints, check out this map we made to make it a bit easier to find the best spots:
1. Observatory Hill
Located right next to the Royal Observatory, this is the most popular viewpoint in Greenwich Park, which often gets busy during holidays and weekends. From here, you can look down on the Queen’s House, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College and the high-rise buildings of Isle of Dogs on the other side of the river. The Queens House is said to be the model used for the White House in Washington DC.
2. One Tree Hill Viewpoint
Like other Royal Parks in London, Greenwich Park was once the hunting park for Henry VIII, and it was the first Royal Park to be enclosed in 1433.
3. The “Knife Edge Viewpoint”
In lack of a better name, let’s call this the “Knife Edge” viewpoint after Henry Moore’s statue standing on the western side of the park. The statue itself is surrounded by trees, but the surrounding area offers several great vistas.
In addition to the views towards the north side of the park and the Isle of dogs, you’ll also get a nice glimpse of “Our Ladye Star of the Sea Church”. This one can be quite hard to find, so check our map above for the exact location of the viewpoint.
4. Maze Hill Viewpoint
Following the park path from Greenwich Park Playground up along Maze Hill Road, you’ll be able to enjoy great views of North Greenwich as well as the Isle of Dogs and the Thames.
Its 180 acres offer excellent views of the City of London, the Isle of Dogs, and the Thames. The park was opened to the public by George IV in 1830 and has been a popular destination for Londoners ever since.
Greenwich Park highlights
- The world-famous Royal Observatory
- A small boating lake (or pond rather)
- The terrific children’s playground, one of London’s best in our opinion.
- The family-friendly National Maritime Museum with lots of interactive exhibitions for kids
- Greenwich Market where you can get delicious street food from all over the world
- If you’re bringing small children, the Flower Garden is just fab
- The Wilderness Deer Park, where herds of red and fallow deer are seen alongside bats, foxes and ancient trees
- The tranquil Pavillion Tea House
- The statue of General Wolfe, who established British rule in Canada
- The Meridian Line, Longitude Zero
- London’s planetarium where you can take an inspiring journey into space
Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa in Greenwich Park which houses The Wernher Collection, a remarkable collection of works of art amassed by diamond magnate Sir Julius Wernher (1850-1912).
The rolling hills in Greenwich Park are perfect for skating and scooting
Exploring Greenwich Park with Kids
The views are nice in Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park overlooking Canary Wharf
Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park winter afternoon
Greenwich Park is a popular destination in summer
Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park
Roman ruins were discovered during routine park operation in 1902 and have been partially excavated over the years. Archaeologists have determined that the structure was most likely a temple, and it appears to have been part of perhaps an extensive temple complex. These days, some 2000 years since the time of the Romans, this park is the perfect place to spend a day enjoying the outdoors.
A recent project at the park involved restoring an old orchard area dating back to about 1666. The Royal Parks and volunteers are working hard to preserve some of the original features while making it an ecological asset to the community. The Deer Park at Greenwich, also known as the Wilderness, is the oldest of London’s deer parks and is home to a small herd of red and fallow deer.
Exploring Greenwich
There is so much to explore in The Royal Borough of Greenwich. You can make a great day trip and combine a visit to a museum with a visit to the park while enjoying delicious street food from the local market. Here are the other Greenwich attractions that we’ve reviewed:
Key Information Greenwich Park
- Free entry
- Outdoor
- Type: Park
- Borough: Greenwich
- Area: South East London
- Tube: Cutty Sark (DLR)
- Nearby: Royal Observatory
- Official Website
What’s the best thing for kids in Greenwich Park?
Greenwich Park Playground is highly recommended.
Why is Greenwich Park so special?
The location on the Thames, and the beautiful views from the hilltops.
What are the main attractions in Greenwich Park?
The Royal Observatory on top of the hill is the most famous attraction. Additionally, you have The National History Museum and The Queens House sitting just next to the park.
Is Greenwich Park free?
Yes, there is no charge to enter the park.
Is there a parking space in Greenwich Park?
Yes, there’s a parking space but it fills up quickly during weekends.
Is Greenwich Park worth a day-trip?
If you explore some of the attractions adjacent to the park, you’ll have no problem filling up a full day with activities.
Can I travel to Greenwich Park by boat?
Yes, you can take the Thames Clippers to Greenwich Pier. The walk from the pier to the park entrance takes around 10 minutes.
Can I travel to Greenwich Park by tube?
Not without changing to DLR. The nearest station is Cutty Sark.
Is Greenwich a good place for families?
Greenwich has all the right ingredients for a family-friendly place to live close to London. This include lots of green space, good air quality, cultural activities and great playgrounds.
Does Greenwich Park get crowded during weekends?
It’s a very popular destination during weekends, but there’s plenty of space so it doesen’t feel very crowded.
Is Greenwich Park a good place for cycling with kids?
You can cycle through the park on The Avenue and Blackheath Avenue, but The Avenue is quite steep. If cycling with children, we recommend the Thames Path nearby.