That's Green-wich, but said gren-itch
It's as far East as I have ever been in London, and takes a while to get there, but it is a good place to visit. It's old, for one thing, been attacked by Dark Elves and lived to tell the tale for another and, on a warm sunny day in April has enough large park teeming with history to keep anybody happy.
Greenwich.
It is a really beautiful place, a maritime town on the banks of the Thames, and full of beautiful buildings. With a history stretching from Tudor times when Henry VIII was born there and left Anne Boleyn there (until taking her to the Tower and a short break) through Napoleonic Naval battle school to the present day. it is an iconic sight.
At the top of Greenwich Hill you get a real vista out over the east side of London.
And the Naval College (which is a university now) has a fantastic (and free to enter) painted Hall. We stood craning our necks and looking at all the different mythological Gods and Goddesses. We've paid to enter places that didn't have as good a ceiling as this one!
A quick drink in the Naval College cafe, and on to the next part of our tour....
We could have visited the National Maritime Museum, The Queen's House Gallery, the Royal Observatory..... but we have hope that another trip to London will happen, and we've learnt that you don't have to rush everywhere and see everything in one go. And also that sometimes the most interesting moments happen off camera and are really surprising.
Like did you know that the bankers going home from Canary Wharf actually line up to board their underground train? They are actually really civilised about it, two neat, orderly lines to each entrance to the train, they let the other people off first, and they sit quietly when travelling. Spooky.
Greenwich.
And the Naval College (which is a university now) has a fantastic (and free to enter) painted Hall. We stood craning our necks and looking at all the different mythological Gods and Goddesses. We've paid to enter places that didn't have as good a ceiling as this one!
A quick drink in the Naval College cafe, and on to the next part of our tour....
We could have visited the National Maritime Museum, The Queen's House Gallery, the Royal Observatory..... but we have hope that another trip to London will happen, and we've learnt that you don't have to rush everywhere and see everything in one go. And also that sometimes the most interesting moments happen off camera and are really surprising.
Like did you know that the bankers going home from Canary Wharf actually line up to board their underground train? They are actually really civilised about it, two neat, orderly lines to each entrance to the train, they let the other people off first, and they sit quietly when travelling. Spooky.
I used to take my son when he was little to Greenwich. We'd go to the park, seemed much bigger then and the naval café. Does it still have a ship in the kids area? I was only a 40 min drive so we did it quite a lot, happy memories x
ReplyDeleteWe actually drank at the Old Brewery cafe and, I have to confess, didn't look out for the kids area. If only it were a 40 minute drive, I think we'd go often! It was beautiful x
DeleteYou describe it all so well. I'd love to visit. Maybe when little L is a bit older and can enjoy it too. X
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's a good place.
DeleteThis looks like another really interesting place to visit. I remember when I was a kid, learning about Greenwich when we studied time, I had an idea that it wasn't a real place but more like a Neverland or Oz kind of thing! I don't know why, it must have seemed very fantastic to me. We have places called Greenwich here too and we say it the same way you do. :)
ReplyDeleteThe USA has a Paris, Birmingham and a Manchester as well. But I think Canada has a Liverpool?
DeleteI think history all takes place in a mythical land like Oz, until you go to a place and get a shadow of a feeling of what it was like.
I used to know some-one who lived near there. It's a beautiful corner of the Capital. Jx
ReplyDeleteIt is! And an experience I really enjoyed.
DeleteGreenwich is quite high on my list of places to visit, by virtue of it having been on that list a long time. Thank you for you post, enjoyed the photos and the information, makes me want to go even more.
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
Another great post! I'm really enjoying your visit to London - I live close enough to visit quite easily, but don't make the effort very often. Your blog is inspiring me to plan some proper days out - thank you!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great place to visit. That's interesting about the bankers!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Greenwich, it looks like there's plenty there to see and do and that ceiling is fabulous.
ReplyDeleteDespite living close by (no where near as posh as greenwich), to my shame I have never seen the painted hall. thanks for reminding me about it. I have been to the other places though. All well worth visiting. I particularly love the Queens House, and it's free. I might have to correct your 'sarf-London' accent though. I think you'll find, it's 'Grin-itch'.
ReplyDelete