On our last day in London, we need to catch Eurostar at 16:20 to Paris. So we don't get a full day, but a bit more than half day. I am thinking about going to Greenwich (and maybe detour nearby Olympic park, just to take a picture, and say, London Olympic 2012, I was there :). But I have some questions: 1. Is Greenwich worth going? It's about one hour trip from central london. What kind of things to see/do there? (Forgive my ignorance, but my only impression of Greenwich is this is where the time 'starts'...) 2. Do we have enough time to go back to London and catch our train in the afternoon? We need to check out in the morning, leave our luggage in hotel (Park Plaze County Hall), go to Greenwich (maybe by boat if it's more scenic), tour, and catch a train back to hotel first (close to Waterloo Station), get our luggage, and go to St. Pancras station for our Eurostar train (need to check in by 15:40). Do we have enough time?
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Yes, it's definitely worth spending half a day in Greenwich. As time allows, you can visit the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, the Queen's House, and the Cutty Sark clipper ship. Go here for information on all of these attractions. Have lunch in one of Greenwich's historic pubs. Take the Tube (Jubilee Line) from Waterloo to Canary Wharf. Walk to the Heron Quays Docklands Light Railway station and take the DLR to the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich station. The whole ride will take less than 30 minutes. There are several Tube routes that will get you from Waterloo to King's Cross/St Pancras, all requiring one connection. The ride will take less than 25 minutes.
Posted by
Land of La
9221 posts
An hour? How are you traveling? A Train from Charing Cross to Greenwich is 15 minute ride. I liked Greenwich but that doesn't mean you will. visited the market, the Royal Naval College, the Maritime museum, wandered the 180 acre park and visited the observatory. What will have you seen in London? The canals in Midavale and Camden Lock? Walked around Hampstead and through the Heath? Visited Regent's Park? Seen the Cabinet War Rooms? Did you lunch in the crypt at St. Martin's of the Field? Visited Sir John Sloane's Museum? Visited the Museum of London?
Posted by
London, UK
10 posts
I agree with Tim. I'd suggest, though, that instead of getting on at Heron Quays, you ride the Jubilee as far as Stratford, and take the DLR south to Greenwich from there. (Get on a train headed towards Lewisham). This will add 20-odd minutes to your journey, but as you want to see the Olympic park, it's definitely worth it. The Jubilee line goes overground after Canning Town, and just before Stratford it goes past the Olympic site. (On your left) Once you transfer to the DLR, you'll get an even better view - sit on the right hand side and you'll go right past the stadium, it's an amazing view. As the train travels south, you'll get a great view of the tall buildings at Canary Wharf - better than the view you'd get if you got on there and only saw them up close. Also, the DLR trains are driverless, so for a bit of fun you can sit right at the front and play at being a train driver! (That might sound silly, but you can bet everyone thinks it if they sit in that front seat) As for Greenwich, you could spend as much or as little time as you like - if you find yourself with time to kill, you can look at the museum and the observatory in detail, but if you're in a hurry, just take the 10 minute walk up to the top of the hill and take in the view.