Skip to content
Huddlepin
Outdoors

Prime Meridian

LondonAges 4+
Courtesy of Prime Meridian

BEST FOR

Ages 4+

ENTRY

from £12

SETTING

Outdoors

WHERE

London

What it’s like

Stand with a foot in each hemisphere on the actual Prime Meridian line, then try landing a Mars rover in the gallery next door.

The big draw is the line itself, a strip of brass set into the ground at the Royal Observatory marking zero degrees longitude. Kids get a kick out of straddling it, one foot east, one foot west, and the site does a decent job explaining why it's here rather than anywhere else. From there it's into the Astronomers Take Over gallery, pitched at ages 4 to 104, where the Mars rover landing bit is the one your seven-year-old will still be talking about on the walk back down the hill.

It isn't a cheap add-on to a day in Greenwich. £24 for an adult and £12 per child soon adds up if there's more than one of you, though under 4s go free everywhere. You don't have to book, walk-ups are allowed if there's space, but with only one advance booking guaranteeing entry, turning up on spec at a weekend feels like a gamble worth avoiding.

It's an outdoor site up on the hill in the park, so a wet day means a wet visit, and there's a fair bit of walking involved once you're through the gate. Last entry is 5pm with the whole thing closing at 6, so a late-afternoon arrival gives you a squeeze rather than a proper look round. Cafés and food stalls are dotted around the National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and through Greenwich Park itself, so you're never far from a coffee or an ice cream if the queue for the line gets long.

Getting there is the easy part. The DLR drops you at Cutty Sark two minutes from the entrance, and there's step-free access at both Greenwich and Maze Hill stations if you're pushing a buggy or need level access. If you are driving, the National Maritime Museum car park is secure but £14 a day and only open weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, so a weekday visit by car needs a plan B.

What’s on here

Facilities

Bike parking
Blue badge parking
Café
Public transport nearby
School visits
Toilets
Wheelchair accessible

Need to know

Best for
4 and up, with the rover landing bit for older kids too
Last entry
5pm
Booking
Online advance booking recommended to guarantee entry
Parking
Secure car park at National Maritime Museum, £14 per day, open weekends/bank holidays/school holidays 10am-5pm, advance booking available
Food
Cafés and outdoor food stalls at National Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark
Wheelchairs
Step-free access at Greenwich and Maze Hill stations
Getting there by bus or train
DLR Cutty Sark station 2 min walk
Worth knowing
Under 4s go free to all sites
  • Under 4s go free, which softens the ticket price a bit if you've got a mixed-age group
  • The car park only opens on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays, so weekday drivers need another option
  • Walk-ups are allowed but not guaranteed, so it's a bit of a punt at busy times
  • It's a hill up from Cutty Sark station, worth knowing if you've got a buggy or little legs in tow

Plan your visit

How much does it cost?

£24 for an adult and £12 per child aged 4 to 15. Under 4s go free.

Do we need to book in advance?

Booking online is recommended to guarantee entry, but walk-ups get in if there's space on the day.

What age is it suitable for?

The site is aimed at 4 and up, with the Astronomers Take Over gallery pitched from ages 4 to 104.

What's the last entry time?

Last entry is 5pm, with the site closing at 6pm.

Is there parking?

There's a secure car park at the National Maritime Museum for £14 a day, but it only opens on weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

What if it rains?

It's an outdoor site up in Greenwich Park, so there's no getting round the weather here.

Is it accessible for wheelchairs and buggies?

Both Greenwich and Maze Hill stations have step-free access, and there are five accessible parking bays on site.

Is there anywhere to eat?

Cafés and food stalls are spread across the National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and Greenwich Park, so you're never too far from food.

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

68HUDDLEPIN LISTMuseums & heritageCastles, caves, windmills and museums that don't feel like homework.162HUDDLEPIN LISTRainy-day savioursIndoors, warm and dry, for the days the weather lets you down.

See all Observatories & Planetariums in London · Things to do in London

MAKE A DAY OF IT

While you’re there

An adult and young child play together on a cobbled courtyard in front of the Royal Observatory's distinctive brick buildings with domed towers.

Royal Observatory Greenwich

0.0 mi · from £12

Grand neoclassical museum building with columns and flags, framed by green trees, with visitors on the lawn below.

National Maritime Museum

0.3 mi · Free

Up The Creek - Venue

Up The Creek - Venue

0.5 mi