A Capital Trip – Greenwich
Back on the DLR we travelled to Island Gardens Station which is just a short way further on from Heron Quays. We were going across the River Thames to Greenwich but not on a bridge or on a boat but on foot in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. So that's just 112 steps down to the tunnel, walk the width of the Thames and up the 112 steps the other side. Did I really say 'just'?
The tunnel appears to be quite popular so it certainly wasn't lonely down there, the trip across didn't seem to take very long and we emerged from the nether regions near the Old Royal Naval College. This is an attractive area with the old naval buildings and the ground rising through Greenwich Park beyond to the Old Royal Observatory on the hill.
The Old Royal Navy College was established in 1694 and entry is free. It was, as one might expect on a warm sunny day during the school holiday, very popular and doubly so because the lack of any entry charge. There are a number of things to see here of which the most spectacular is the Painted Hall which James Thornhill took 19 years to paint.
This part of the Painted Hall shows one of a number of trompe l'oeil effects achieved in the painting and the light coming in the window just enhances that. The fluted columns in the first of the Painted Hall photographs are also trompe l'oeil.
One other location not to be missed is the Chapel.
Very ornate with yet more painting and decoration including lots of gilding.
We moved through the buildings closer to Greenwich Park and saw this view of the old with the new. The domes of the Old Naval College and the new towers of Canary Wharf, where we'd been earlier, and although you can't see it the Thames is somewhere in between.
We left the Old Naval College buildings and made our way uphill across Greenwich Park to the Old Royal Observatory which comprises a number of buildings which are open to the public, at no charge, and the 28 inch telescope dome is one of them. A very worthwhile visit for those who are interested in Astronomy.
We also saw the Greenwich Meridian, the line dividing East from West, which was very popular with visitors all in a long queue waiting to photograph their families standing astride the line with one foot in the East and one foot in the West.
On our way back down the hill towards Greenwich we did notice the occasional daffodil.
8 thoughts on “A Capital Trip – Greenwich”
This is the trip I missed out in November when the weather was a bit dicey
Looks very beautiful. Love the daffs. Is Greenwich interesting enough for a 10 year old (or can’t you remember that far back 
?)
I look forward to day 3
Annecyborn(Quote)
I can’t even remember last week.
Interest in Greenwich will depend a lot on the 10 year old. Children seem to like the DLR and the foot tunnel under the Thames and there were plenty of children around in the Observatory. If she has an interest in history then there’s plenty of it both in the Old Naval College and the Royal Observatory.
Barry(Quote)
I shall really think about this. She might like the tunnel and the prime meridian. The picture of the line looks more interesting than the one I saw in front of the dome. I shall wait to hear about the Cutty Sark. When are you going?
Annecyborn(Quote)
We’re not! When I mentioned the Cutty Sark I was using the name of the DLR station – that’s what it’s called. The Cutty Sark is currently closed because of the restoration programme and isn’t expected to re-open until 2011.
Barry(Quote)
I must learn to read each word
Annecyborn(Quote)
How much of Greenwich is old…as in Henry VIII’s/Elizabeth I’s time?
The Painted Hall is beautiful! No entry fee? Gosh…that sure beats the Whitehall Banqueting House!
Tracey(Quote)
None of it as far as I know but the Old Royal Naval College is built on the site of the palace where Henry VIII was born. Does that count?
Barry(Quote)
Welll…I suppose a couple of feet down the dirt/soil/ground is something Hal would have walked on. So, yea…it counts
Tracey(Quote)