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Original poster

Something to do near Greenwich with kids

25 replies

SaucepanRattle · 30/12/2023 16:27

DD10 wants to see the Greenwich Meantime line when we go down in a couple of weeks. It's quite a schlep from the train station so what else can we do whilst we're there? We did the cable car before (where she got the idea of the line but didn't think to mention it till we were on the train home 😕) Ideally it would be something cheap or free (i.e. not tickets to something at the O2) because it's been an expensive time of year. But I know London has lots of free or cheap things across the city so ideas are welcome. What else is there in that part of London for 2 junior primary aged children?

OP posts:
MrsWobble3 · 30/12/2023 16:33

The maritime museum is free. The cutty sark has an entry fee but I would think either of those might be suitable for that age.

Riverlee · 30/12/2023 16:33

London ideas - walk around the sights - Oall Mall to Buckingham palace

Vocent Garden - Leicester Square - Seven dials area - all within walking distance of one another

Also, if you look online, you can finds walks that take in the sights (and lesser known attractions)

Museums are free - Natural history, science museum, national gallery (by tTralfager square)

Harrods and Hamleys are always fun to look around

BlowingAway · 30/12/2023 16:34

Maritime museum is great.

Riverlee · 30/12/2023 16:34

(Sorry, above was London in general)

Whatsthestorynow · 30/12/2023 16:34

Maritime museum is great! Park is nice.

Augustus40 · 30/12/2023 16:36

I hear the cable car experience is worthwhile. From North Greenwich station.

Augustus40 · 30/12/2023 16:37

Oh sorry you have done that already!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 30/12/2023 16:39

Maritime museum- they have a new playground too. The top of Greenwich park has great views and long paths perfect for scootering- take snacks so not to pay a fortune in the cafe- or there’s a greggs in the centre of Greenwich.

schooloflostsocks · 30/12/2023 16:43

I’d stay around the park, the maritime museum and the market. There’s also the observatory at the top of the park and I think you can get one ticket for all those plus the cutty sark. The Queen’s house is worth a look too.

ToBeOrNotToBee · 30/12/2023 16:43

Get down to the beach, accessed via the stairs (at low tide of course) and do a bit of mud larking. It's great fun for the kids.
Then take a clipper boat to the o2, then do the cable car back and forth.
Won't cost more than £20.

PixiePirate · 30/12/2023 16:44

The Uber boat is great and I agree that the Maritime Museum would be good for primary aged children. There are interactive areas and you can see Nelson’s jacket with the bullet hole.

The Observatory is good but there’s no need to pay for entry if you’re just interested in the meridian line. You can access a section for free on the winding path that snakes down from the Observatory hill, or on a residential street to the right of the Queen’s House (if you’re facing the direction of the Thames.

PixiePirate · 30/12/2023 16:45

The Greenwich foot tunnel is also worth a look.

DancefloorAcrobatics · 30/12/2023 16:45

There used to be a Themse under path... not overly exiting, but something to brag about for your DC!
(Not sure if still open, as I went 20 odd years ago!)
The fan museum & tea room are lovely, but not free.
Greenwich Park, Royal observatory (jut the outside) and the national maritime museum are alk great.

DelurkingAJ · 30/12/2023 16:46

I had to extract with some firmness DSs (then 10 and 7) from the Marstime Museum last year…they adored it and I had to promise to return (we’d been there three hours and needed to catch our train!).

Leafpicker2000 · 30/12/2023 16:50

Take the boat first from Westminster to see the sights.

Have a look at Pretty Little London on insta for cool cafes/bakeries.

sakura06 · 30/12/2023 16:54

Greenwich is fantastic (and a couple of miles west of North Greenwich where the O2 and cable car are). Maritime Museum (free), Old Royal Naval College (has a nice visitor centre which is free), Greenwich Park, Queen's House, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark are all visitor attractions there. If she's interested in the meridian, then the observatory is a must visit.

menopausalmare · 30/12/2023 16:57

Take the clipper boat around to the air cars.

sakura06 · 30/12/2023 16:57

Agree with PP about getting the boat there and back.

Greenwich also has a mainline train station which is about 10 minutes from London Bridge. Maze Hill train station is the other end of Greenwich too.

TotteringByRosie · 30/12/2023 16:58

I'd stay around Greenwich Park and the town centre, there's plenty to do and see, it's my favourite part of London.

The park is lovely, head slightly uphill from the meridian line to see the famous view over London.

The Observatory & The Maritime museum are worth visiting.

The Cutty Sark and Gypsy Moth are a must see.

Head to the market for some lovely artisan stalls and street food.

A trip on a riverboat from Greenwich pier is also good fun.

The Fan Museum is a hidden gem. They also do a good afternoon tea.

A walk along The Thames Path and around the Royal Naval College. You can go in to see the Painted Hall.

Greenwich is a fabulous place to spend a day, or longer.

OwlWeiwei · 30/12/2023 16:59

Greenwich is amazing for kids. You could go into the observatory too if he is into that.

There's a playpark with pedaloes on the very shallow safe boating lake (probably only open in summer) and a cafe kiosk on site.

Maritime museum is free with some lovely interactive stuff - kids can load and unload freight from a crane, try semaphore signalling to each other, bring a boat into harbour or fight enemy warships using simulations.

The Cutty Sark tea clipper is beautiful and is fun to visit.

Take a ride on the cable car. If they have good heads for height, climb over the roof of the 02 (quite expensive and may have a minimum age.)

Take a boat ride on the Uberboat down to Westminster/London Eye past the Tower of London.

Walk under the Thames via Brunel's foot tunnel and steampunkish wooden elevator. At the other end side, ride Island Gardens DR - if the kids can get into the front seats of the train it feels like they are driving the train.

There's also a city farm at Mudchute (next stop up or a shortish walk from Island Gardens) if they like animals.

Loads of cafes around Greenwich market if they are hungry.

IMO Greenwich is the best place in London for entertaining kids.

beachies · 30/12/2023 17:02

@SaucepanRattle , browse Greenwich Market, have lunch at one of the street -food stalls, and my boys would recommend a visit to The Fudge Patch at the market too.

Original poster
SaucepanRattle · 30/12/2023 18:51

These are all fantastic ideas thank you!

They love afternoon tea so that's an unexpected bonus idea. It sounds like there's loads to do round there so I'm so glad I asked.

OP posts:
Original poster
SaucepanRattle · 30/12/2023 18:56

@TotteringByRosie it looks as though the Orangery is permanently closed to the public now. But thank you for the idea.

OP posts:
TotteringByRosie · 30/12/2023 19:17

SaucepanRattle · 30/12/2023 18:56

@TotteringByRosie it looks as though the Orangery is permanently closed to the public now. But thank you for the idea.

That's a shame. It was a pleasant venue and good value for afternoon tea.

Another idea that I keep meaning to do is a treasure hunt around Greenwich:

citydays.com/destinations/london/greenwich-guile/

We've done other treasure hunt locations and they were good fun and interesting.

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