The Royal Borough of Greenwich is the perfect destination for a day of family culture – Beatrice Squires says the only problem is you won’t know where to start.
Famous as the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian Line, the borough also boasts a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, The Queen’s House, National Maritime Museum and Old Royal Naval College.
The birthplace of King Henry VII and Elizabeth I and the site of Tudor palaces, royal residences and maritime triumphs, Greenwich is steeped in history. It is also home to the iconic O2 arena and beautiful Greenwich Park.
You won’t have time to check everything off the list, but for the perfect leisurely day in Greenwich, start by visiting the stunning Old Royal Naval College. Celebrating its 300th birthday this year, the magnificent Painted Hall is known as ‘the UK’s Sistine Chapel’.
Check out the Pirate’s Takeover, where you’ll rub shoulders with a crew of mariners while you learn about the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’, when more than 5,000 pirates sailed the seas (4-5 Jul). Participate in activities, listen to live musicians, witness cutlass fights and sample authentic food.
If you prefer planets to pirates, head down the hill to the National Maritime Museum – fantastic for families, it’s free to enter. Step inside a space-themed wonderland with the ticketed Astronomers Take Over experience, which features a pop-up planetarium dome with astronomer-led shows for a variety of ages as well as lots of fun activities.
Then, venture to the museum’s lecture theatre to learn more about space’s big questions in the thrilling science theatre show, Unboxing the Universe.
And don’t miss the Caribbean Takeover on 25 July, a free, family-friendly celebration of Caribbean culture held at the museum and The Queen’s House.
If you’ve still got some steam left, head further south to the charming Fan Museum in Crooms Hill to see Monarchy: An Exhibition of Royal Fans (to 26 Sep). View around 80 exquisite historic fans, including those owned by Queen Victoria and Queen Camilla. Learn how these elegant fans were status symbols and objects of art and design that reflected the tastes of the era as you browse everything from unique commissions to mass-produced souvenirs.
