Greenwich Park

About Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park covers 74 hectares (180 acres) in Greenwich, south east London. One of London’s eight Royal Parks, it was the first to be enclosed in 1433 and dates back to 1427. It is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site; is a Grade I listed landscape and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

The park lies on two levels and on top of the hill in nearly the park’s centre is the Royal Observatory, Greenwich – location of the prime meridian.

Fauna and Flora

This is the oldest of London’s deer parks and still features a community of fallow and red deer in an area known as The Wilderness in the south east of the park. The park is also known as a great site for bird watching, with over 70 wild bird species, 30 of which breed in the park. Species include woodpeckers, tawny owls, thrushes and warblers. It is also an important feeding site for Pipstrelle bats, Britain’s smallest bat species, protected by UK and European law.

Activities

Cycling is allowed on all roads and the designated cycle paths only. The area is great for walkers, joggers and runners and there is plenty of space for informal sports.

In summer, the Rangers’ Field is marked out and set aside for cricket. There are also two rugby pitches and six hard tennis courts available for hire. A putting green is situated next to the Tennis Centre.

There are also facilities for picnicking, a children’s playground and a boating lake.

How to Get There

There is limited parking available, but Greenwich Park is accessible by tube, bus, train, DLR and by riverboat (from Westminster, Embankment or Tower Piers to Greenwich Pier).

Opening Times

The park is open from 6am (7am for traffic) and closes at dusk all year round.