Royal Observatory Greenwich

Astronomy and science come to life as you discover the past, present and future at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. 

Visit The Royal Observatory Greenwich with Go City®

• With us, there are no entry fees on the day – all you've got to do is show your pass.
• Access to the permanent exhibitions.
• Free audio guide available in English, simplified English (great for kids or those learning the language), French, German, Spanish, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

See astronomy and science come to life at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. You’ll see where east meets west, discover how the seas and the stars were first mapped out by scientific pioneers, and explore the historic home of the first Astronomer Royal.

One of the most important historical scientific sites in the world, the Royal Observatory Greenwich offers an educational and entertaining visit back in time. There’s a host of things to see in this fascinating museum, learn how time was standardized, how the first telescope was made and how science and astronomy has changed through the ages. You’ll also get to explore iconic inventions such as the UK's largest refracting telescope and get hands-on with a 4.5 billion year-old asteroid.

And while you’re there, don’t forget to take in one of the best views in the city outside of the Observatory.

Royal Observatory Greenwich Highlights

Prime Meridian – Straddle the line between the East and West hemispheres of Earth at Longitude 0°.

Time and Longitude Gallery - learn about the iconic timekeepers that pioneered solving the problem of finding longitude at sea. Explore exhibits such as John Harrison's sea watch.

Flamsteed House – designed by Sir Christopher Wren, this striking red-brick building was designed as a home for the Astronomer Royal.

Did You Know

• The Royal Observatory was founded in the 1670s by King Charles II to further develop better naval navigation systems.
• Greenwich has been marked at 0° Longitude since 1884.
• The Greenwich time ball, located on top of Flamsteed House was first used in 1833 for ships' captains to set their chronometers accurately before setting sail. The ball continues to drop at 1PM every day.

Follow this link to see the current exhibitions at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.