eastenderusvi

I searched in the archives and didn't see anything that helped me...:

1. For a day trip from London to Greenwich, do you recommend a guided tour? Is it hard to find and get into buildings, to interpret what you see, etc.? Or can a reasonably able bodied and minded person figure it out?
2. I ask the above,because in checking Context Tours, they don't promise visiting the meridian. Is it difficult to see?
3. In the archives, people seemed to be going by land rather than down the river. Am I wrong to think that going by river is de rigueur for one of the leading maritime destinations? It looks like you can use your Oyster card on some of the cruises.
Thanks again...

janisj

>>do you recommend a guided tour?<<

Not at all -- unless perhaps London Walks offers one which would be fine. But that would only be about 2 hours of your day trip.

>>Is it hard to find and get into buildings, to interpret what you see, etc.?<<

Nothing is hard to find - and are well sign posted.

>>Or can a reasonably able bodied and minded person figure it out?<<

Nothing much to figure out -- the only slight issue is if one has mobility problems -- it is a bit of an uphill hike to the Observatory.

>>I ask the above,because in checking Context Tours, they don't promise visiting the meridian. Is it difficult to see?<<

Could not be easier . . .

>>in the archives, people seemed to be going by land rather than down the river. Am I wrong to think that going by river is de rigueur for one of the leading maritime destinations?<<

What I typically do is go by boat one direction, and for the other direction I walk under the river and take the DLR. Doesn't really matter which direction is which but say you take a boat TO, visit the Cutty Sark (definitely not to be missed) then on to the grand buildings then up to the Observatory. Then back downhill to the river tunnel and walk under the river followed by the DLR to Tower Gateway

Michael

You don't need a guide for Greenwich. The top of the hill has the observatory with exhibits and the meridian. The bottom of the hill contains the 17th cent. veteran's hospital complex. Not all the buildings are open. Those that were are interesting architecturally. We also fell upon a voice concert--it was a final exam. We did not spend time in the town. Took the bus back to London. We were there the day after the Cutty Sark fire (or was it another square rigger?).

janisj

The Cutty Sark fire was 10 years ago -- it's had an amazing rebirth and is a wonderful site.

PalenQ

Or can a reasonably able bodied and minded person figure it out?>

I've been several times on my own and could do it so anybody can!

Janis has given excellent advice (as usual) but let me expand on: <What I typically do is go by boat one direction, and for the other direction I walk under the river and take the DLR.>

I also suggest going by boat or train or Tube one way and the unique Docklands Light Railway the other - this is an elevated self-driving train that goes thru the pretty amazing Docklands development - many modern buildings built on old docklands - you get a pretty awesome view from the DLR - try to get a seat in the first car up front and make like you're driving the train. Part of TfL so cards valid- goes to Bank and Tower Hill (?) Tube stations in the City of London.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dock...w=1745&bih=864

And it is weird also to walk under the Thames via the historic Greenwich Foot Tunnel from Greenwich to Island Gardens - where you can hop on the DLR:

https://www.google.com/search?q=gree...w=1745&bih=864

It's quite an uphill walk to the Home of Time observatory where the meridien line begins and ends, kind of. An imaginary line of course but you'll see signs about crossing hemispheres.

dwdvagamundo

While I agree with the above, the Observatory itself is not disabled-friendly, as I recall. One must climb a fairly long ramp, and there are quite a few stairs inside that would be difficult for the disabled to navigate.

http://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observato...ilities-access
says that the lift in the observatory itself (Flamsteed House) is currently out of order.

jamikins

You don't have to walk under the river to catch the DLR - there is a station in town centre called Cutty Sark. You can also take the overground train to London Bridge station in about 10 mins if you want a quicker way. The station is a short walk from the town centre.

PatrickLondon

Some other possible add-ons if you've time:

- if you take the DLR, you can cross the road from Mudchute station and walk up to the city farm (slightly surreal seeing sheep and llamas grazing in front of skyscrapers)- or just keep walking through the sports grounds and park from the foot tunnel.

- the meridian line is actually marked out in more places than just Greenwich, and one I saw could be reached with the DLR: walk back towards the river from East India station, past the little supermarket at Virginia Quay, and keep on down towards the O2 through the Virginia Quay development - there's a line laid in the paving and, if memory serves, a decorative compass layout.

janisj

True, one doesn't need to walk under the river. But it is a fun/'different' thing to do

PalenQ

Yes ditto to what Janis says - a unique experience and a historic tunnel.

eastenderusvi

Okay, another question... what do you think about the various boats? The river bus seems to be the easiest. But am I correct in reading the time table, that it leaves from the Embankment Pier (the closest to our hotel) and goes west toward Westminster then turns back east?

janisj

>>goes west toward Westminster then turns back east?<<

I haven't checked if that is the case - but assuming it is, no biggie. It is a short distance from Embankment to Westminster.

Kristina

My husband and I really enjoyed the boat trip on the Thames to Greenwich and the day we spent there. The Cutty Sark was fascinating and it was a thrill to stand on the meridian line. The Royal Observatory was fun too. And yes, we used our Oyster card to get a discounted ticket for the boat to get there. Great views on the journey too.

Here's my blog post with lots of photos from that day:
http://www.wired2theworld.com/2016/0...l-observatory/

PatrickLondon

>>But am I correct in reading the time table, that it leaves from the Embankment Pier (the closest to our hotel) and goes west toward Westminster then turns back east?<<

Yes, it does. But as janis says, it makes no great difference, because they use catamarans which can go much faster once the river broadens out beyond Wapping police station. The cruise boats are slower: you will get a commentary with them, but not from the Clippers, which run as close as possible to a timetable (but the Clippers do advertise a phone app which supplies some sort of information about points of interest as you pass).

eastenderusvi

Thanks again, everyone. Kristina, it looks like it was a cold July! How long did your outing take? Patrick, the Clipper is the river bus from the tfl site, correct?

PalenQ

>goes west toward Westminster then turns back east?<<

I haven't checked if that is the case - but assuming it is, no biggie. It is a short distance from Embankment to Westminster.>

and that is a lovely upstream detour - these are more sightseeing craft than utilitarian transportation- at least the ones that do this.

janisj

>>these are more sightseeing craft than utilitarian transportation- at least the ones that do this.<<

The water bus is regular transport -- there is no commentary, etc

Kristina

eastenderusvi-We were there in December, before Christmas. It just took me until July to write the post.

Kristina

Oh, and we were probably out for about 6 hours or so on that day.

PatrickLondon

>>Patrick, the Clipper is the river bus from the tfl site, correct?<<

Yes.