Visit Maritime Greenwich for free

Several of the historic attractions in Maritime Greenwich are opening their doors for free, offering great value summer days out for all the family. Set beside the Thames in south east London, the beautiful world Heritage Site has plenty of things for every age to enjoy.

Places with free entry include the new Discover Greenwich visitor centre; Old Royal Naval College and the National Maritime Museum, which takes in the Queen’s House and Royal Observatory. Also offering free admission are St Alfege Church, which is home to several lunchtime recitals; Greenwich Royal Park with its beautiful rose garden, deer enclosure and stunning views across to the city of London, and the colourful, undercover Greenwich Market, which is open Wednesday to Sunday.

Located in the Old Royal Naval College, Discover Greenwich uses artefacts, artwork, film and stories of former lives to bring the town’s rich history and royal connections to life. A revamped Tourist Information Centre is an integral part of Discover Greenwich, and fresh food and drink is on offer in The Old Brewery, Meantime Brewing Company’s new restaurant, café, bar and microbrewery.

The Old Royal Naval College offers free entry into its grounds alongside the Thames as well as the Chapel and Painted Hall, which has been described as Britain’s answer to Rome’s Sistine Chapel.

The National Maritime Museum – the largest and most important museum of its kind in the world – tells the story of Britain and the sea and the importance of the ocean in our lives today. After a spectacular entrance through the sound of breaking waves, visitors can walk through a series of themed exhibition galleries and recall the romance of the great ocean liners, appreciate the elegance of Prince Frederick’s golden barge and delve into the traditions of Maritime London. Children will find plenty to engage them in the All Hands gallery, while everyone can try their hand on the professional ship simulator.

The perfectly proportioned Queen’s House was begun in 1616 by Inigo Jones and now serves as a fine art gallery with changing displays.

Founded as a scientific institution for navigational research by Charles II in 1675, the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. Among its most valued possessions are the clocks developed by John Harrison to determine longitude at sea. The Time and Space galleries also tell the story of time and help explain how we study the stars; you can stand in the courtyard astride the Prime Meridian Longitude Zero, which marks the division between the East and West hemispheres and from where world time zones have been calculated by international agreement since 1884.

Want to stay a while to make the most of this opportunity?  Click here for hotels in Greenwich and to obtain the best prices for your chosen dates.