Historical version 1 of Greenwich Park (view current version)
Greenwich Park Charlton Way, Greenwich, London SE10
This beautiful 163 acre park is set on a hill between Blackheath and the River Thames, and once formed the grounds of Greenwich Palace and the land is owned by the Crown to this day.
Greenwich Park was enclosed by Henry VI in 1433 and its brick wall was constructed in the reign of James I. The remains of a Roman temple and Saxon mounds have been found here but this lovely riverside park is more famous for its Tudor and Stuart history.
Henry VIII was born at Greenwich Palace, then known as Placentia, in 1491. Deer were introduced in 1515, and a herd still grazes the 13 acre Wilderness. With its hunting grounds and proximity to his home fleet at anchor on the Thames, Greenwich Palace remained Henry's favourite residence. His daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were both born here. It was at Greenwich that Sir Walter Ralegh put his cloak over a puddle so Elizabeth I would not get her feet wet.
In 1616 James I commissioned Inigo Jones to rebuild the Tudor palace, and the resulting 'Queen's House' was the first Palladian villa built in England. Later in the 17th century the park was redesigned by André Le Nôtre, the French landscape gardener, who had laid out the gardens at Versailles. The broad avenue, rising south up the hill, formed part of his plan. Charles II's designs for a new palace was later adapted to become the Old Royal Naval College.
The Old Royal Observatory and Flamstead House, created by Sir Christopher Wren, stand at the top of the hill. The meridian (0º longitude), which passes through Greenwich Park at the Old Royal Observatory, divides the globe into East and West. At 13:00 every day the Observatory's big red ball can be seen to drop. This event, which has taken place every day since 1833, was to enable the makers of chronometers, navigators' clocks and sailors on the Thames to set their clocks by it.
From the top of the hill there are superb views over the National Maritime Museum and Docklands and on a fine day most of London can be seen.
To the south-west of the park stands the Ranger's House, dating from 1700. This was allotted to the Park Ranger in 1815 but now it has the Suffolk Collection of 17th century English portraits by Sir Peter Lely, William Larkin and others, as well as a display of historic musical instruments.
Other features of the park include a pond with wildfowl, a flower garden, and a children's playground. In the summer brass bands perform in the park and there special events such as open air theatre, puppet shows in the playground and café music.
The information centre has details of these events and displays about the history of Greenwich Park