One of my favourite things about London are its parks. Huge, green areas, surprisingly neat for being nature enclaves, and surprisingly full of wildlife for being so tidy and looked after. In the series covering London Parks, today I’m taking you on a trip to Greenwich.

Greenwich Park, located in south east London, is primarily known for its Observatory and the Meridian Line. But there’s so much more it has to offer!

We’re starting the visit from the north entrance to the park, near the Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House. From there, you can already see the Royal Observatory on the horizon. It’s placed on top of a hill, from which you’ll see one of the greatest views in London.

From the top of the hill, you can see the Maritime Museum we were next to just a few minutes ago and the Queen’s House, as well as the  domes of the Royal Naval College. Behind them, we see skyscrapers of Greenwich and Canary Wharf. On the far left, farther in the back, you can spot skyscrapers of the City of London – the famous square mile area in central London with headquarters of some of the world’s leading companies.

The Royal Observatory is home to London’s only planetarium. On the patio, there is the famous Meridian Line. I decided against visiting the Observatory this time and just took a photo through the fence 😄

This is the perfect time for a short break. And what makes a break on a hot summer day, in a spot with a beautiful view, even better? Ice cream, of course. If you’ve ever been to a London park in a summer, you’ll have seen an ice cream van selling these. Flake 99 soft ice cream, decorated with – of course – Flake chocolate bars. Yum! I’m guessing these used to be 99p as well, but those times are long gone.

Recharged after the ice cream break? Let’s move on! Walking towards the south gate of the park, we go past a funky, old, dry tree. Perhaps nothing special, but I like how it stands out.

Near the south gate of Greenwich Park, there’s a fenced flower garden. Let’s go inside.

One of the reasons why I love London Royal Parks is the abundance of wildlife. In Greenwich Park, we can see a deer enclosure.

There were also plenty of squirrels, ducks, and… a cute little fox! Not that surprising for London locals, but I’m still not entirely used to seeing foxes in a city. He wasn’t bothered at all by all the people staring at him and taking photos.

Walking across the park towards the far west, we reach the Ranger’s House with a rose garden. Not too many roses at this time of year, but there were colourful wildflowers to fill the void.

Finally, let’s go back to where we entered the park. There’s the Queen House (a residence built for Anne of Denmark in the 17th century) as well as the Maritime Museum. You can visit both and both are free to enter. I didn’t have a chance to do it this time.

Just north of the Park, near the bank of the Thames, you’ll find the Cutty Sark, a British tea clipper ship built in 1869. Around the ship, the atmosphere resembles a countryside fair a bit. You’ll find booths with various world foods and a even carousel.

From this point, I decided to walk back towards Greenwich underground station instead of taking the bus, like I did in the morning. The Thames Path is always an appealing option to me – usually with far fewer people than the main tourist areas, and you can always find some gems.

One of such gems was the Trinity hospital, a cute old building surrounded with tall, flowering bushes.

Some places on the banks of the Thames almost resemble seaside vibes, with algae and old, wooden (inaccessible now) piers. But don’t be fooled – the Thames certainly isn’t where you’d like to spend a holiday by. Oh wait! Walking the Thames Path that afternoon, I saw two or three mums with a bunch of kids (I’d say 4-8yo) come for a picnic and the children… go play in the Thames. 🤢 Wonder if they were glowing in the dark that night…

Finally, we’re back near Greenwich station. One last thing I want to show you is the Emirates Air Line Cable Car – a cable car that goes across the Thames. I haven’t had a chance to go on it that day, but I’d love to do it soon! The views of London must be stunning.

Thank you for joining me on the trip! Have you been to Greenwich Park? Which part of the trip is the most interesting to you? Let me know!

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