When it comes to visiting the capital, most people stick to central London, especially if they’re travelling as a family. However, Greenwich should not be overlooked. If you’re planning on spending a day in the Greenwich area with kids then have a look at some of the fun things you could do!
Getting to Greenwich
If you’re not already staying in Greenwich, and instead have chosen to stay in another part of London then no need to worry; it’s an easy place to get to. Located in South East London, Greenwich has loads of fantastic transport links and you can get there in many different ways.
Boat
If you’re looking for a fun, and quite a different way to get to Greenwich then consider travelling by boat on the River Thames. Boat operators include Uber Boats, Thames River Sightseeing tours and City Cruises, with stops at many of the piers in London. Trips can be as short as 17 minutes (Uber Boats from Tower Pier) right up to 70 minutes (City Cruises from Westminster Pier and London Eye Pier). Sightseeing cruises are a great way to see other sights in London along the way.
Train
Greenwich Station is a short 5 minute walk away from the centre of Greenwich and really easy to get to from Central London. Served by both Southeastern and Thameslink, you can get to Greenwich Station in around 15-20 minutes from London Bridge Station.
DLR
Docklands Light Railway, or DLR as it is best known, has two stations in Greenwich: Greenwich station and Cutty Sark.The DLR is a great way to travel as you can get from Bank in around 20 minutes, Stratford in 30 minutes and London City Airport in around 30 minutes, using your Oyster card if you want to.
Tube
You can travel to North Greenwich using the tube, which is perfect if you’re heading somewhere like the O2. The Jubilee line serves North Greenwich Underground station, with connections to the following stations Canary Wharf, London Bridge, Westminster and Bond Street (just to name a few).
Cable car
A quite unique way to travel to Greenwich is by using the IFS Cloud Cable Car (formerly Emirates Air Line Cable Car). Travel between Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks in around 10 minutes, where you’ll have chance to see London from a whole new angle.
Greenwich Park
A trip to Greenwich with children just wouldn’t be right without a visit to Greenwich Park. A short walk from the shopping area and the Cutty Sark, Greenwich Park has so much to offer. Greenwich Park is home to the Meridian Line, The Wilderness (deer park), the Royal Observatory and also one of the most popular playgrounds for children.
The creative play areas are huge and have so much to do for children of a range of ages. Think climbing frames, swings and massive sandpits along with balance equipment and plenty of places to play hide and seek. With toilets on site, as well as somewhere to get a snack, a drink and maybe an ice cream in the summer, you can spend hours here and the kids will definitely want to. Keep in mind that during school holidays, Greenwich Park can be busier than normal but in term time, you’ll find the play area being used more by younger children.
If you’re visiting during warmer weather, Greenwich Park is such a good place for a family day. There is plenty of green space for children to run around but it’s also a really nice spot to sit under a shady tree or maybe have some lunch in one of the many picnic areas. If you’re a family of nature lovers, this is also a lovely place to stretch your legs and discover the miles of trails in the park.
Find out more on the website.
Cutty Sark
Walking through Greenwich, it’s unlikely that you can miss the Cutty Sark, a quite famous tea clipper. A huge ship out of the water is an impressive sight in itself, especially as it’s not even in the water. From the Cutty Sark you get exceptional views of London from across the river and it’s one of the top things to do if you’re in Greenwich.
You can learn loads about the history of the Cutty Sark while onboard and find out what kinds of voyages it used to do. There are some informational videos to watch as well as hands on interactive areas for children. Erin found loads to see and do and for her to really get stuck in with. You can also go into some of the rooms that would have been used by the crew and see where they would have slept, cooked and socialised!
Read our review on Me, him, the dog and a baby! here.
Old Royal Naval College
The Old Royal Naval College can be found on what was once the Tudor Palace in Greenwich, where Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were born. Sir Christopher Wren designed the current buildings in 1695 to house naval pensioners, and these became the Royal Naval College in 1873. The buildings themselves are absolutely stunning and definitely worth exploring. There are free tours and free entry to the grounds and buildings, or you can pay to see the painted hall.
Greenwich Market
An absolute must in the City of Greenwich is a trip to Greenwich Market. A 2 minute walk from the Cutty Sark, here you’ll find around 120 stalls from crafts to antiques, as well as food options if you get peckish. Actually, there are nearly 50 food stalls in the market so you’re bound to find something delicious for you and the whole family. Open most days (check the website) it’s a great area to wander around. The market could be a great place to have a family challenge, and see who can find the most amazing item!
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum was by far our favourite place that we visited on our stay in Greenwich and we definitely weren’t expecting it. The museum is free to enter although you can book a ticket online or chance it and turn up on the day. There are children’s sections but some of these you need to pay for and is definitely advised that you do it in advance.
At the National Maritime Museum, you can learn all about great ships, voyages, the people who went on ships and so much more. Children will probably enjoy all of the cannons dotted around and the interaction sections where they can practice Morse Code and fire at a pirate ship.
Read our review on Me, him, the dog and a baby! here.
The Queen’s House
Situated next to the National Maritime Museum and near the entrance to Greenwich Park is the Queen’s House. Again, this is a free admission museum/ art gallery and you can book tickets online or take a chance and see if you can just go in on the day.
Here you will see a lot of stunning paintings and portraits and it’s such a beautiful building to walk around. The Queen’s House might be better suited to older children although you can make a game out of your visit by making everyone pick a favourite from each room or maybe counting how many fireplaces there are (it’s quite a lot). In winter there is also an ice rink outside and Bridgerton fans might spot some scenes filmed here as well.
Find out more on the website.
O2 arena
You might be travelling to Greenwich for a very specific reason; a show at the O2 arena but if not, it’s still somewhere worth visiting. Not only does the O2 put on some fantastic shows (we’ve seen Disney on Ice here) but there is a lot more to do than you might think. The ICON outlet is the perfect place for some retail therapy and there are so many restaurants to choose from if you need lunch or dinner. Older kids might like the fact that there’s everything in one place, such as bowling, a cinema and other entertainment venues.
As you can see, there’s something in Greenwich for the whole family. It’s bound to be a great day out where you can all try new things, take part in fun activities and discover such a beautiful area of the city.
