Greenwich England
May 16th, 2006, 03:48 PM
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Take the Thames cruise from Westminster Pier. This will give you the complete guided tour of water transport and ocean commerce as you go downriver.
At Greenwich, the <i>Cutty Sark</i> is an interesting display if you've never been on an 18th-century sailing ship.
If you're interested in the naval history of the British Empire, the Maritime Museum is a must. It's huge, so if this is a topic that you have an appetite for, it can easily take half a day - and more.
Rather than trek up to the Observatory, which is both strenuous (it's about 20 stories vertically) and time-consuming, we availed ourselves of the tram that runs up there from the front of the Maritime. Just for fun, I took my GPS with me, and found that the Prime Meridian that every third visitor straddles for a photo op isn't actually on that line in front of the Airy instrument at all. Well, it is as far as Ordnance Survey maps are concerned, but 0° longitude for GPS is about 103 yards east of that. Fair enough - it's been moved east several times since Flamsteed started the observatory in the 17th Century anyway. The longitude museum proper is down for renovation, though, so the Harrison clocks are biding their time down the hill at the Maritime. A free guided tour of the longitude instruments traces the history of maritime navigation.
Since you'll probably want to stay long after the last boat returns upriver, the DLR is a good way to get back to town. If you like the idea of being a few feet under the Thames for a while, you can walk through a pedestrian tunnel to the Island Gardens DLR stop on the other side. Or not.
At Greenwich, the <i>Cutty Sark</i> is an interesting display if you've never been on an 18th-century sailing ship.
If you're interested in the naval history of the British Empire, the Maritime Museum is a must. It's huge, so if this is a topic that you have an appetite for, it can easily take half a day - and more.
Rather than trek up to the Observatory, which is both strenuous (it's about 20 stories vertically) and time-consuming, we availed ourselves of the tram that runs up there from the front of the Maritime. Just for fun, I took my GPS with me, and found that the Prime Meridian that every third visitor straddles for a photo op isn't actually on that line in front of the Airy instrument at all. Well, it is as far as Ordnance Survey maps are concerned, but 0° longitude for GPS is about 103 yards east of that. Fair enough - it's been moved east several times since Flamsteed started the observatory in the 17th Century anyway. The longitude museum proper is down for renovation, though, so the Harrison clocks are biding their time down the hill at the Maritime. A free guided tour of the longitude instruments traces the history of maritime navigation.
Since you'll probably want to stay long after the last boat returns upriver, the DLR is a good way to get back to town. If you like the idea of being a few feet under the Thames for a while, you can walk through a pedestrian tunnel to the Island Gardens DLR stop on the other side. Or not.
May 16th, 2006, 03:50 PM
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We took the boat to Greenwich and that was quite enjoyable. Later we took the bus back into London. As for a full day, well, we only spent a half day there and that was sufficient, but maybe's there's more to see these days. I'll let another expert answer that one. 
May 16th, 2006, 04:17 PM
#4
Melissa: Greenwich is actually IN London. It is in zone 2 which is closer than some places like Kew and Highgate. To give you an idea, Hampstead Heath and the zoo are also in zone 2. So you can get there by boat, bus, tube, light rail or a combination - go one way by boat and back by tube
May 16th, 2006, 04:55 PM
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Is there a "<b>Pickiest Post Contest</b>" I didn't get the memo on? Cripes.
First of all, what the hell difference does it make to someone visiting London whether Greenwich is in London, Seattle, or Marrakesh? Wouldn't it suffice simply to say that a bus or Zone 2 Tube pass will get one there? Or: you get on the boat. You ride downstream. You get off the boat.
I think you're simply being [rhymes with] witchy when you toss out comments intended <u>not</u> to be informative, but simply to make the poster wrong.
And do you <i>seriously</i> think that by comparing the distance to Kew or Highgate or Hampstead Heath or the zoo you're being the least bit helpful to what is obviously a first-time visitor? Yeah, right - like everyone knows how far Kew is. And who cares anyway? It's not as if Melissa is planning to <u>walk</u> there!
Melissa, don't take curmudgeons like janisj seriously. For reasons unknown, they seem to derive some perverse pleasure from flexing their puny intellectual muscles on this board, and you just got caught in the crossfire.
First of all, what the hell difference does it make to someone visiting London whether Greenwich is in London, Seattle, or Marrakesh? Wouldn't it suffice simply to say that a bus or Zone 2 Tube pass will get one there? Or: you get on the boat. You ride downstream. You get off the boat.
I think you're simply being [rhymes with] witchy when you toss out comments intended <u>not</u> to be informative, but simply to make the poster wrong.
And do you <i>seriously</i> think that by comparing the distance to Kew or Highgate or Hampstead Heath or the zoo you're being the least bit helpful to what is obviously a first-time visitor? Yeah, right - like everyone knows how far Kew is. And who cares anyway? It's not as if Melissa is planning to <u>walk</u> there!
Melissa, don't take curmudgeons like janisj seriously. For reasons unknown, they seem to derive some perverse pleasure from flexing their puny intellectual muscles on this board, and you just got caught in the crossfire.
May 16th, 2006, 05:22 PM
#6
Robespierre - in case you didn't read the OP: <i> . . .best way to get there from London without a car</i>" It was obvious to me at least that Melissa tought Greenwich is out of town. Otherwise why even mention a car/
My point - was just to let her know it is right IN London and not to worry.
Curmudgeon?!? - the ultimate pot calling the kettle black . . . . . But it is pretty clear that tonight you are just looking for chances to be nasty.
My point - was just to let her know it is right IN London and not to worry.
Curmudgeon?!? - the ultimate pot calling the kettle black . . . . . But it is pretty clear that tonight you are just looking for chances to be nasty.
May 16th, 2006, 05:32 PM
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Melissa, don't pay any attention to janisj. Stumbling about in her solipsistic haze, she evidently didn't notice that I mentioned boat and Docklands Light Rail in my first post, and that P_M suggested the possibility of bus in the next.
And when she said, in her 8:17, "you can get there by boat, bus, <b>tube</b>, light rail or a combination - go one way by boat and back by <b>tube</b>"? Wrong. The tube doesn't even get close.
And when she said, in her 8:17, "you can get there by boat, bus, <b>tube</b>, light rail or a combination - go one way by boat and back by <b>tube</b>"? Wrong. The tube doesn't even get close.
May 17th, 2006, 01:24 AM
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For the sake of completeness, you can get there by train from Charing Cross via London Bridge, which is quick but dull, and by bus which is slow and dull. The boat is fun but not speedy. DLR takes you through the new developments in Docklands and to the Museum in Docklands if you're interested in social history.
May 17th, 2006, 01:41 AM
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I'd take the Docklands Light Railway from Tower of London or bank (covered by zone 1-2 Travel Card or ticket to Island Gardens, then I'd walk to the edgae of the Thames to survey Greenwich in all it's majesty. Then take the pedestrian tunnel which surfaces by Cutty Sark.
At some point have a meal at Goodards Pie & Mash shop
On the way back take the boat.
BTW Cutty Sark is a 19th Century sailing ship.
In fact you could combine a trip to the Tower of London with a trip to Greenwich
At some point have a meal at Goodards Pie & Mash shop
On the way back take the boat.
BTW Cutty Sark is a 19th Century sailing ship.
In fact you could combine a trip to the Tower of London with a trip to Greenwich
May 17th, 2006, 01:59 AM
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I never understand why people on this forum become so abusive.
I've been to and from Greenwich by various routes including tubes. You can, for example, walk along the riverside path from Greenwich to the Dome, then get the Jubilee line at North Greenwich, or take the Docklands Railway to Heron Quays or Canary Wharf and change to the Jubilee line there.
Melissa's original question did suggest she didn't realise how close Greenwich is to central London. The worst way of getting to Greenwich would be by car - traffic and parking are awful.
There are no trams in Greenwich but a bus goes up to the observatory (this is a private service not covered by a Travelcard).
I've been to and from Greenwich by various routes including tubes. You can, for example, walk along the riverside path from Greenwich to the Dome, then get the Jubilee line at North Greenwich, or take the Docklands Railway to Heron Quays or Canary Wharf and change to the Jubilee line there.
Melissa's original question did suggest she didn't realise how close Greenwich is to central London. The worst way of getting to Greenwich would be by car - traffic and parking are awful.
There are no trams in Greenwich but a bus goes up to the observatory (this is a private service not covered by a Travelcard).
May 17th, 2006, 02:03 AM
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The Docklands Light Railway is all right for a rather toy-town experience, but after a long and busy day you may prefer to follow Patrick London’s idea, walk the 400 yards to the oldest commuter railway station in the world, Greenwich, and take a fast train past the old church of Deptford, Tower Bridge, and Southwark Cathedral to Charing Cross station, beside Trafalgar Square.
I suppose you could walk through Greenwich in half a day, but the place repays a long slow look at the museums of the history of time and of the marine, the great royal buildings, the fine Rangers House, with paintings, the old parish church, perhaps the view from the north bank, and the mixed specialist shops around the old market.
Ben Haines, London
[email protected]
I suppose you could walk through Greenwich in half a day, but the place repays a long slow look at the museums of the history of time and of the marine, the great royal buildings, the fine Rangers House, with paintings, the old parish church, perhaps the view from the north bank, and the mixed specialist shops around the old market.
Ben Haines, London
[email protected]
May 17th, 2006, 02:32 AM
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You can tell that this is Brits giving directions to a foreigner. If we were giving to a fellow Brit we would do it by pubs (“go as far as the rose and crown, turn left and go down to the dukes head, turn right and it’s just around the corner from the dog and gun”).
There is also a Royal Palace at Greenwich – the Queen’s House which I would heartily recommend.
And is Greenwich the Oldest railway station in the world? Surely either Stockton or Darlington is? Not that I have any idea, I'm just wondering.
There is also a Royal Palace at Greenwich – the Queen’s House which I would heartily recommend.
And is Greenwich the Oldest railway station in the world? Surely either Stockton or Darlington is? Not that I have any idea, I'm just wondering.
May 17th, 2006, 02:48 AM
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"Brits love to squabble over directions, don't worry."
I thought it was a requirement for British citizenship to know about the roundabouts on the A30 & the intricacies of the Hanger Lane Gyratory
I thought it was a requirement for British citizenship to know about the roundabouts on the A30 & the intricacies of the Hanger Lane Gyratory
May 17th, 2006, 02:50 AM
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"is it possible to have only 1 oldest commuter station?"
Yes, if the others have been knocked down or replaced.
But Manchester Liverpool Road has hardly been touched since it was built in 1830. And although Liverpool Edge Hill has been extended a good bit, some of it has been around since 1830 too. Both can lay claim to being the oldest continuously functioning railway stations in the world
Both much used by commuters. Both making Greenwich look a johnny come lately.
BTW, neither of the squabblers above are Londoners. Or even British.
Yes, if the others have been knocked down or replaced.
But Manchester Liverpool Road has hardly been touched since it was built in 1830. And although Liverpool Edge Hill has been extended a good bit, some of it has been around since 1830 too. Both can lay claim to being the oldest continuously functioning railway stations in the world
Both much used by commuters. Both making Greenwich look a johnny come lately.
BTW, neither of the squabblers above are Londoners. Or even British.
