Royal Observatory Greenwich
Greenwich
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The home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, high on the hill in Greenwich Park. Temporarily closed for its First Light restoration, with the Meridian Courtyard due back in summer 2027.
Perched at the top of Greenwich Park, the Royal Observatory is where the world sets its clocks. Founded by Charles II in 1675, it gave us Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, longitude 0°, and generations of Astronomers Royal mapped the stars from its domes. Inside are Sir Christopher Wren's elegant Flamsteed House and Octagon Room, John Harrison's sea clocks, the camera obscura and the Great Equatorial Telescope, while the courtyard lets you stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Temporarily closed for First Light
The whole site closed on 2 November 2026 for First Light, a major transformation by Royal Museums Greenwich. Plans include a new entrance pavilion, new galleries on the science that changed the world, fresh astronomy galleries, and a new lift tower that will give step-free access to the Great Equatorial Telescope for the first time. The Meridian Courtyard is due to reopen in summer 2027 (tickets go on sale in January), and the full project is due to finish by spring 2028.
The Peter Harrison Planetarium
The Observatory's planetarium is closed as part of the same project. In the meantime, a 30-minute planetarium show runs at the National Maritime Museum at the bottom of the hill, as part of the Astronomers Take Over gallery.
Space fans, carry on
Astronomy talks, family shows, evening courses and the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition are all running at the National Maritime Museum while the work goes on. And the view from the top of the hill, across the Queen's House and the river to Canary Wharf, is as good as ever.