Perfect Day Trip to Greenwich from London

How To Spend One Day in Greenwich

Despite the myriad of day trips you can take from London, I find myself recommending Greenwich over and over again.

Greenwich is technically a southeast London borough, but it has a distinct identity separate from the rest of London. A 45-minute boat trip down the Thames River from central London whisks you to a historic epicenter of British naval and royal life. Most famously, the Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich meaning this is where time itself begins.

I always hesitate to say that there’s “something for everyone,” but chances are, if you’re the sort of person who plans a trip to London, you’re going to enjoy a day in Greenwich. I’ve visited three times and I’m still coming back for more.  

World class museums, royal residences, noteworthy architecture and art, plus a lively covered market are just part of Greenwich’s appeal. Did I mention that many of Greenwich’s favorite attractions are completely free to visit?

Basically, Greenwich is the affordable London day trip you’ve been looking for. Read on for a full rundown of the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around once you’re there, where to have lunch, and everything else you need to know to have an unforgettable day in Greenwich.  

Cutty Sark

Since 1954, the Cutty Sark tea clipper has greeted Greenwich visitors arriving via boat. This 19^th century boat is the last surviving tea clipper in the world. Despite a 2007 fire that forced extensive repairs, the Cutty Sark you visit today is the actual boat – not a replica – that launched in 1869 to pick up trade goods around world.

Your visit to the Cutty Sark is part boat tour and part museum experience with guided tours, talks, and exhibits about the boat and tea trade. After the 2007 fire, the ship was lifted in its dry dock so visitors can walk underneath its hull. This new space beneath the boat is used in part for afternoon tea service.

If you visit:

• Cost: £22.00
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Last admission is 4:15 p.m.)
• Accepts London Pass: Yes
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: Yes

Greenwich Distillery Shop and Tasting Rooms

Located in the Mews Building in the Old Royal Naval College’s Mews Building, Greenwich Spirits Company offers visitors a chance to do a deep dive into England’s very favorite drink: gin. (To celebrate Greenwich’s naval connections, they also make small batch rum.) They offer tastings, a gin masterclass, and gin making experiences.

If you’re pressed for time, just swing in to grab a bottle for a very special gin and tonic when you get home.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free entry to shop; £26 for a tasting
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Accepts London Pass: Yes
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: No

Painted Hall

Known as “Britain’s Sistine Chapel” this baroque masterpiece tucked into the Old Royal Naval College complex is a Greenwich must-see. Sir James Thornhill spent 19 years creating the Painted Hall which was commissioned to symbolize the British navy’s prowess. 300 years later, it’s still doing its job very effectively!  

Although originally designed as a dining hall for Greenwich Pensioners, Thornhill’s spectacular artwork made it an almost immediate a tourist attraction once completed in 1726.

Today, you’ll find ottomans you can lie on so you don’t have to strain your neck as you take in Thornhill’s impressive scenes which cover the hall’s walls and ceilings. The artwork includes more than 200 individual characters like cherubs, the four winds, and some familiar faces like King William and Queen Mary.

If you visit:

• Cost: £17.50
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Last admission is 4:30 p.m.)
• Accepts London Pass: Yes
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: No 

Skittle Alley

You can access one of Greenwich’s hidden gems via the Ripley Tunnel: a Victorian bowling alley! This long basement room under Queen Mary Court was converted from into a bowling alley named Skittle Alley in the 1860s, probably as a way to keep pensioners living in the Naval College from spending all their free time in pub. 

The bowling alley is still stocked with balls and pins so you’re more than welcome to give this ten-pin bowling game a go, just be aware that hours are quite limited compared to other Greenwich attractions. It’s said that the wood in the bowling lanes came from old ships and that balls are old practice cannonballs, but I can neither confirm nor deny that claim!

If you visit:

• Cost: Free with a Painted Hall admission ticket
• Operating hours: 12 – 3 p.m. (You can also see it if you join the Old Royal Naval College’s 600 years of History Tour.)
• Accepts London Pass: Yes
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

National Maritime Museum

If you’re interested in global exploration at all (and if you’re a world traveler, you probably are!) you’re going to find something to pique your interest in the National Maritime Museum galleries. We’re talking the Napoleonic Wars, the mutiny on the Bounty, and the polar explorations of Franklin and Shackleton.

The museum is a mix of in-depth exhibits and family friendly areas like a massive floor map of the Earth’s oceans and a children’s gallery. I’m particularly fond of the Polar Worlds exhibit and really geeked out about seeing the actual jacket Horatio Nelson was wearing when he suffered his mortal injury in the Battle of Trafalgar in the Nelson, Navy, and Nation exhibit.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free, but there may be an admission fee for special exhibits
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (Last admission is 4:15 p.m.) (Closed December 24 – 26)
• Accepts London Pass: You can claim a complimentary visitor guide with your London pass
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

Queen’s House

This royal Palladian dwelling overlooking Greenwich Park was the first classical building in England. Built by famed English architect Inigo Jones, the Queen’s House is the last remaining structure from the Palace of Placentia.

Built for the queen of James I, Anne of Denmark, this elegant building was a favorite residence of many English queens including Henrietta Maria and Mary II. Today it displays National Maritime Museum’s collection of paintings.

While it’s known for its beautiful great hall and the tulip-motif cast iron banister on its striking spiral staircase, my favorite area is the sunny orangery that looks out onto Greenwich Park and Observatory Hill. At the request of Queen Mary II’s during the Royal Naval College design process, the house also has a view of the Thames River.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (Last admission is 4:15 p.m.) (Closed December 24 – 26)
• Accepts London Pass: N/A
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Perched on a hill above Greenwich Park, you can’t miss the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Many significant astronomical and scientific advancements -perhaps most significantly the invention of longitude- occurred at this 17th-century observatory. Even if you’re not particularly interested in clocks and stargazing, it’s well worth a visit to the Observatory if only so you can get a photo of straddling the Prime Meridian.

Note: The adjacent Peter Harrison planetarium is currently closed through Spring 2028 for renovations.

If you visit:

• Cost: £24
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily (Last admission is 4:15 p.m.) (Closed December 24 – 26)
• Accepts London Pass: Yes
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: Yes

Greenwich Park

Beyond the Old Royal Naval College, the grassy expanse of Greenwich Park stretches out invitingly. It’s one of the London’s eight royal parks. Historically used as royal hunting grounds, if you’re lucky, you might glimpse one of the eight fallow deer who call the park home.

The park has timeless feel that’s helped by the Roman temple ruins and Anglo Saxon cemetery you can still view on its grounds. Fittingly, with the Prime Meridian running straight through the park, this Greenwich green space is actually where time starts and ends!

If you only do one thing in Greenwich Park, climb up Observatory Hill for the best view in London featuring City of London skyscrapers, the Thames River, Canary Wharf, the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Park, and the O2 Arena.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free
• Operating hours: 6 a.m. – dusk daily
• Accepts London Pass: N/A
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

Queen Elizabeth’s Oak

You might not be able to see Queen Elizabeth I’s birthplace in Greenwich, but believe it or not, Greenwich Park is still home to a tree where the 16^th century monarch “oft partook of refreshements.”  The trunk of a massive oak tree now referred to as “Queen Elizabeth’s Oak” still lies next to where it grew just east of Observatory Hill.

The tree died in the 19^th century, but miraculously stayed standing for another 150 years before finally falling in a 1991 storm. In 1992, the Duke of Edinburgh continued its legacy by planting an oak sapling next to the historic tree remains.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free
• Operating hours: 6 a.m. – dusk daily
• Accepts London Pass: N/A
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

Fan Museum

One of the Greenwich’s quirkiest visitor attractions is the Fan Museum. Yes, fans; those hand-held decorative devices meant to keep fancy ladies from getting too “dewy” while out and about in public.Located in two Georgian townhouses on the edge of Greenwich Park, the museum’s exhibits cover the 1000+ year history of fans.  Your visit includes an introductory film and a chance to peek at the museum’s extensive historical collection. The museum also offers fan making workshops.

If you visit:

• Cost: £5.00
• Operating hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Last admission is 4:30 p.m.)
• Accepts London Pass: Yes
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: No

Greenwich Market

Right behind the Cutty Sark, you find Greenwich’s indoor market which features more than 120 stalls and shops. Often commended for being lively, yet uncrowded, Greenwich Market has been doing business since the 1700s, although the current market structure dates back to the 19^th century. 

Inside you’ll find street food, sweet treats, jewelry, arts and crafts, antiques, leather goods, beauty products, pottery and China, toys, clothing, and so much more.

The market divides its stalls so that on Monday, Wednesday, Friday – Sunday, you’ll find arts, crafts, and designer booths while Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are devoted antiques and collectibles.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free . . . until you purchase something
• Operating hours: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily
• Accepts London Pass: N/A
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

Foot Tunnel to Isle of Dogs

You could walk past this Greenwich feature dozens of times and not realize it’s there. Right next to the Cutty Sark, you spot a small round brick building with a glass roof. If you watch carefully, you’ll spot people disappearing inside and emerging on a regular basis. What the heck?

Congratulations, you’ve found the southern entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. This 50 feet deep, .25 mile length tunnel runs beneath the Thames River, connecting the Greenwich dock area with Island Gardens on the Isles of Dogs. It opened in 1902 to replace ferry system between the two points. 

If you want to join the 4000 people who use this tunnel daily, you’ll need to climb 100 steps down a wide spiral staircase in Greenwich and then up another 87 steps back up when you reach the Isle of Dogs. The lifts are frequently out of service, so plan to get your cardio in if you want to see this Victorian tunnel.

While this is more of a fun curiosity than a must-see attraction, if you like, you can reach Islands Gardens DLR station in a 5-minute walk once you emerge on the Isle of Dogs and connect back to central London at the end of your Greenwich Day.

If you visit:

• Cost: Free
• Operating hours: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 
• Accepts London Pass: N/A
• Accepts Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass: N/A

Tours of Greenwich

If you just can’t get enough of Greenwich on your own, consider joining a walking tour.

The Old Royal Naval College offers a couple walking tours including a film tour: Wigs, Weddings, Powder and Palacesthat features filming locations around the College. They also do a general history tour that gets you inside favorite attractions like the Painted Hall and Skittle Alley.

London Walks also offers a walking tour of Greenwich which meets at Tower Hill and includes a boat ride.

Best Greenwich Lunch Options

There’s no excuse for going hungry or settling for a sad museum café sandwich during your Greenwich day trip. Here are just a few of favorite Greenwich restaurants you could hit up for lunch: 

The Golden Chippy – Located on Greenwich High Road about a 15-minute walk from the Old Royal Naval College, this humble chipper shop makes what many consider the best fish and chips in London. I can attest that it’s excellent. The homemade tartar sauce and kind service really make this a Greenwich must.

Picnic at Greenwich Park – If you’re visiting on a sunny day, Greenwich is the perfect place for a quintessential “English grocery story picnic.” Before you start your day, pop into a Tesco or Sainsbury’s and grab a “meal deal” (a sandwich, crisps, and drinks) to enjoy on bench near the Queen’s House overlooking Greenwich Park.

Old Brewery – Tucked in the Old Royal Naval College grounds in the Pepys Building near the docks, the Old Brewery serves up traditional British pub fare.

Trafalgar Tavern – For a more traditional pub experience, head to Trafalgar Tavern, a Victorian era pub located right on the banks of the Thames, just east of the Old Royal Naval College. They’re particularly known for their fish and chips.

How To Get To Greenwich

You have two main public transportation options for getting to Greenwich from central London: a riverboat or the Docklands Light Railway. Of the two, I recommend the boat. There’s just something about joining the legion of humans who have traveled up and down the Thames River for centuries.

Riverboat

A round trip boat ticket to Greenwich from central London costs about £20 – 26 depending on which service you use and whether or not you return to the same pier.

You can choose from a sightseeing cruise to Greenwich like City Cruises or Thames River Sightseeing or take the public boat service, Uber Boats by Thames River Clippers, which is a contractor with Transport for London. All of these services depart for Greenwich every 20 -40 minutes. Sightseeing cruises run from about 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily, while Uber Boats runs from about 8 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Sightseeing Cruises to Greenwich

Sightseeing cruises are particularly appealing for London first-timers since they provide narration about the various points of interest you’ll pass, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London Bridge, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and Canary Wharf. Expect to be on the boat for about 1 hour if you depart from Westminster or London Eye.

One downside of these cruises is that they don’t offer you much flexibility on where you get on or off the boat. Thames River Sightseeing offers departures from Westminster Pier near the Houses of Parliament. City Cruises offers departures from London Eye and the Tower of London. 

Public boat service to Greenwich (Uber Boats by Thames River Clippers)

You’ll have a lot more flexibility with where you get on the boat if you opt to take an Uber Boat.   These boats serve basically every pier along the Thames from Putney to Barking. Since they operate in partnership with Transport for London, they’re set up with the yellow TFL tap readers you’ll recognize from Tube stations and buses.

How to pay: If you’re using a TFL travelcard, you can receive a 1/3 discount on your boat ride, but you’ll need to buy a physical ticket at the pier office. If you’re using contactless pay, keep your eyes peeled for the contactless pay station as soon as you step off the boat. These stations are quite small and easy to miss, but it’s imperative that you tap out to make sure the proper fare can be calculated.

Amenities: A downside to Uber Boats Thames River Clippers is that these boats have the sole goal of moving people up and down the river. Other than an on-ship café and toilets, there aren’t many visitor amenities. You won’t necessarily be seated next to a window and there’s no narration beyond docking announcements.

However, the Uber Boats are extremely efficient. Despite all the stops, it’s only a 45-minute sail from Westminster Pier to Greenwich and about 25 minutes from Tower Pier to Greenwich. Make sure you disembark at Greenwich. The North Greenwich pier is closer to the O2 arena and not convenient to the attractions discussed in this post.

Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

If you’re using the London Underground System as your main transportation around London, you can easily connect to the DLR at Bank Station in the City of London. Alternatively, transfer via a short walk at either Tower Hill (served by Circle and District lines) or Bow Hill (served by District and Hammersmith & City lines). It’s about a 30-minute ride from Bank to Greenwich.

Keep in mind that Cutty Sark DLR station, which is the most convenient to Greenwich visitor attractions, is currently closed until at least spring 2026, so disembark either at Island Gardens and take the Greenwich Foot Tunnel beneath the Thames or get off at Greenwich Station on Greenwich High Road.

Train

You can take a train from Cannon Street or London Bridge station to Greenwich. Both Southeastern and Thameslink trains stop at the Greenwich Station on the High Road about a 10-minute walk from the Old Royal Naval College. Depending on which train you board, the ride can take anywhere from 9 minutes to over an hour, so make sure you understand the timetable before climbing abroad.

Bus

You can also take a public bus from central London to Greenwich. At just £1.75 each way, this is by far the most affordable option to get to Greenwich, but it will take over an hour and may require a transfer. Consult Google maps for the best route to take based on your specific departure time.

How To Get Around Greenwich

Greenwich’s main attractions are located in a compact area near the boat dock so it’s very easy to explore on foot. If you’re not traveling farther than the Royal Observatory during your time in Greenwich, you won’t need to depend on any additional transportation in Greenwich.

Even if you venture into Greenwich’s business section up the High Road, you can reach other Greenwich points of venture like the Golden Chippy within about a 15-minute walk.

If you’re feeling a little footsore, you can easily catch a bus. The most convenient bus route up the Greenwich High Road is the 177 Peckham Route. Hop aboard at the National Maritime Museum stop on Romney Road. 

Greenwich Visitor Pass Options

I firmly believe Greenwich is the best day trip you can do from London, especially if you’re on a tight budget. You could spend a happy, full day in Greenwich just visiting its wonderful free attractions and not spending a cent. However, if you’re looking to really pinch pennies, you can stretch your vacations even further in Greenwich buying using either the London Pass or the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass.

London Pass

• Cost: £79.00 (1 day pass) – £219 (10 day pass)
• Covers admission to: Royal Observatory, Painted Hall, The Fan Museum, Cutty Sark, Greenwich Distillery Tour, and souvenir guide for National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House,
• Best for: People also doing extensive sightseeing in central London as part of a multi-day pass.  

Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass

• Cost: £38.00
• Covers admission to: Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark 
• Best for: People who want to save a small amount on visiting Greenwich’s two most popular attractions