Royal Observatory Greenwich Closes for Renovation: What's Changing and What's Still Open
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, is closed from 2 November 2026 for its £77m First Light renovation. Here's what's being built, who's involved, how long it will take and what's still open nearby.
Royal Observatory Greenwich closes to visitors from Monday 2 November 2026. Royal Museums Greenwich lists the whole site as a long-term closure for its First Light transformation project.
The Peter Harrison Planetarium and the Astronomy Centre have already been closed since 8 September 2025 as part of the same project.
What is being refurbished?
First Light is a £77 million project to renew the 350-year-old Observatory.
Royal Museums Greenwich says the plans include a new entrance pavilion, and a new lift tower that will give full access to the Great Equatorial Telescope for the first time. There will also be new interactive astronomy galleries built around light, matter and motion, and a new space called Astronomers' Court for live science demonstrations and talks. New landscaping and planting will link the buildings, alongside conservation and repair of the Observatory's listed buildings.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund adds that a roof terrace above the new courtyard will be used to live stream celestial events through the Observatory's modern telescopes, and that landscaped paths will link the north and south parts of the site.
Who is doing the work?
The new entrance pavilion is designed by Jamie Fobert Architects.
Engineers Price & Myers say they are working with Jamie Fobert Architects and Purcell on the scheme.
Max Fordham lists the project for decarbonisation and building services engineering.
Exhibition designers Casson Mann were appointed in September 2025 to design the new permanent exhibition, 'First Light: Our Place on Earth'.
Royal Museums Greenwich also names landscape architect James Fox, and designer Gitta Gschwendtner, who is working on the outdoor spaces.
We could not find a main building contractor named on Royal Museums Greenwich's project pages.
Who is paying for it?
The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £9.7 million in October 2025, during World Space Week.
The BBC reported that the rest is being funded from Royal Museums Greenwich's own reserves, government funding, and other grants and donations.
How long will it be closed?
Royal Museums Greenwich says the project began in autumn 2025 and is due to be complete by spring 2028. The Meridian Courtyard, which the museum calls one of its most iconic highlights, is due to be the first part to reopen, in summer 2027, with tickets going on sale in January. No exact reopening date has been announced yet.
What's still open nearby
Greenwich Park is run separately by The Royal Parks. Its 2026 timetable has the pedestrian gates open from 6am to 6pm in November and December.
At the bottom of the hill, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's House are free to enter and open daily from 10am to 5pm, with booking recommended. Cutty Sark is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with paid entry.
For astronomy, Royal Museums Greenwich points visitors to Astronomers Take Over at the National Maritime Museum, a hands-on space gallery with an alternative planetarium experience while the Peter Harrison Planetarium is closed. The ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition is also on at the museum.
Making a day of it? Our Local Guide lists cafés, pubs and restaurants in Greenwich town centre.
Where this information comes from
Details checked on 1 November 2026 against these pages:
Royal Museums Greenwich, Royal Observatory closures
National Lottery Heritage Fund, £9.7m award (8 Oct 2025)
Royal Museums Greenwich, First Light transformation project
Price & Myers, Royal Observatory Greenwich project page
Max Fordham, Royal Observatory Greenwich project page
Casson Mann, appointment announcement (18 Sep 2025)
BBC News, "Royal Observatory Greenwich begins £77m renovation" (14 Oct 2025)
The Royal Parks, Greenwich Park opening times 2026 (PDF)
Royal Museums Greenwich, Astronomers Take Over
Photo: Flamsteed House at the Royal Observatory, by Julian Herzog, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
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Official sources
Check the latest from Royal Museums Greenwich
Closures, reopening news and tickets are published by Royal Museums Greenwich.
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