We are headed to London at the end of December and were planning on going to the Royal Observatory on the 23rd. I saw that the Time Ball is currently under construction. Does anyone know how long it will not be functioning for? Also, how long should we allocate for the Observatory? Just trying to plan out our day for the 23rd.
Thanks!
We were there in September and still under wraps. Twenty, thirty minutes is about it. And the climb up to the Observatory will add any twenty minutes or so. There is really not a lot of see.
Frank's about right on the time, though you could spend more there if you're really into astronomy and geography. Don't know when the ball's going to operate again, but I enjoyed the visit anyway.
The excellent maritime museum in Greenwich is a shorter walk from the tube or dock. I found it more interesting than the observatory, but that's my own interest. And certainly you should stroll around the former Royal Naval College to appreciate the architecture.
It's fun to take a boat to Greenwich, though perhaps less so in December. Try the enclosed Thames Clipper service from Westminster or other upstream piers.
The Royal Observatory had to choke off visitors because it simply couldn't cope with the number of people when it was completely free.
As for time - what do you want to go for? If it is just for the time ball (if working!) and seeing the meridians it is a matter of minutes depending on the crowds. If you want to do a planetarium show, take a detailed look through the exhibits, have a guided tour etc it could be a lot more. For a minimal visit consider whether going up the hill is worth it for you.
