Discover the origins of Greenwich Mean Time and explore the history of the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the globally recognised reference point for time. Every day, the world looks to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich as the home of the Prime Meridian, the starting point for every time zone on Earth.
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Greenwich Park Centre
Education & Training · Greenwich
The Greenwich Park Centre is a dedicated site for Adult Community Learning, offering a wide range of affordable courses designed to support personal and professional development within the community.
Understanding the history of GMT offers a unique insight into how humanity synchronised the world. Exploring the site today connects visitors to the legacy of navigation and the standards that govern modern life.
The Prime Meridian and the Royal Observatory
The Royal Observatory was established to solve the challenge of maritime navigation. By defining the Prime Meridian, astronomers in Greenwich created a fixed line of longitude from which all other distances and time zones were measured.
The physical meridian line represents zero degrees longitude. Standing at the Royal Observatory allows visitors to see the point where the Eastern and Western hemispheres meet, an essential experience for those interested in the history of science and exploration.
Maritime Greenwich and the Queen's House
The Royal Observatory is a key component of Maritime Greenwich, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. The area reflects the long history of British maritime power and architectural achievement.
The Queen's House, designed by Inigo Jones in the 1630s, stands nearby as a masterpiece of 17th-century classical architecture. This former royal villa is a vital part of the site’s heritage, providing a historical context for the grandeur of Greenwich.
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Queen's House
Museum & Heritage · Greenwich
Designed by Inigo Jones and completed in the 1630s, the Queen's House is a historic former royal villa in Greenwich, now housing a world-class art collection and spectacular 17th-century architecture.
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