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Situated on the banks of the River Thames, Greenwich is known for its maritime history and the iconic Cutty Sark. It is well worth exploring and has its own unique atmosphere and village feel compared to that of bustling central London.
While London can be an expensive city a day trip around Greenwich doesn't have to be as there is so much to see and do that is both free and family friendly. I recently visited with my two children and we enjoyed all the sights but with hardly any of the costs and I thought I would share with you my budget-friendly day guide to Greenwich.
Firstly there are a variety of ways to reach Greenwich, as we were staying in Stratford we opted for the DLR, with a quick change at Canary Wharf, it was an easy and quick way to reach Greenwich and able to see out of the front of the DLR while travelling under the Thames is an experience in itself.
We disembarked at Cutty Sark station which brings you to the heart of Greenwich and as soon as you step out of the station you are met with the iconic ship which is pretty breathtaking at first sight.
1. The Cutty Sark and street performers
While you have to pay a pretty penny to embark on the clipper ship that is the Cutty Sark you. can walk 260 degrees around the raised ship, which sits right next to the River Thames and soak in the atmosphere and shear scale of this vessel, also this offers up plenty of photo opportunities.
The large open area that houses the Cutty Sark is also often filled with different street performers and when we visited a food market as well. We spent 30mins just enjoying the buzz of the square and it cost nothing.
2. A wander around Greenwich Market
Only a short walk away from the Cutty Sark you will find the iconic Greenwich indoor market which officially opened in 1737 and has been the heart of the local community ever since, drawing in travellers from all over. With 1,200 square meters of shops, stalls & cafes, you never know what you will find here and it captures a real charm as you wander the historic cobble streets through all the traders. We bought some pastries to power us up for a walk up to the observatory but Greenwich market is free and open to all.
3. Greenwich Park and Observatory
Greenwich Park, one of the Royal parks you will find in London, is well worth exploring, with acres of green space and fresh air this is a great place for kids to run off some steam. We headed up to the Observatory a free outdoor platform that offers amazing views across Greenwich and the London skyline.
While again you can pay to go into the Observatory, something we had planned although the kids decided they rather enjoy the park, you can still have a photo by the Prime Meridian line on the wall of the Observatory (the line runs through the courtyard of the Observatory which you need a ticket for but the line extends out to the wall for a free photo op)
4. The National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum is free to enter and explore the various exhibitions and it's well worth a visit as there is something here for all ages. There is also a fantastic free sea-themed outdoor playpark at the museum called The Cove as well as family trails inside the museum, you can pick up a free pack from the "play and explore" trolley.
5. A classic lunch for only £6.20 at Goddards at Greenwich
My kids really wanted to try jellied eels (not for me) at the iconic Pie and Mash cafe that is Goddards at Greenwich, which offers fantastic value in an iconic British setting. You can enjoy any pie and mash for £6.20 and the portions are large and fantastic value. Do expect queues out of the doors at lunchtime but it's well worth the wait.
6. Greenwich Foot Tunnel
After lunch, we stopped off for half a shandy at The Gypsy Moth pub which offers up a great view of the Cutty Sark and has a lovely atmosphere before embarking on the 10min walk under the Thames via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. The Greenwich Foot Tunnel which opened in 1902 connects Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs and is open 24hrs and is completely free to use. It takes around 10mins to walk from one end to the other at 50ft below ground. It's a unique experience and one the kids and I both enjoyed.
Of course like anywhere in London, you can spend as little or as much as your budget allows but what I love about Greenwich is that there is plenty to see and do without costing anything. We ran out of time but you can also visit The Queen's House, a former royal residency, for free and is packed with art. Only a short walk from The Queens House is Greenwich University which hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year that are free and open to the public.
