Greenwich

:This page is about Greenwich in England. For other uses see Greenwich (disambiguation)

Sites of interest

The Royal Greenwich Observatory is located in Greenwich and the Prime Meridian passes through the building. Greenwich Mean Time was at one time based on the time observations made at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, before being superseded by Coordinated Universal Time. While Greenwich no longer hosts a working astronomical observatory, a ball still drops daily to mark the exact moment of 1pm (13:00), and there is a good museum of astronomical and navigational tools.

Related Topics:
Royal Greenwich Observatory - Prime Meridian - Greenwich Mean Time - Coordinated Universal Time - Ball

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The observatory is situated in Greenwich Park, which used to be the grounds of the Royal Palace of Placentia. At the bottom of the park is the National Maritime Museum which also includes the Queen's House, designed by Inigo Jones. It is free to visit all these buildings. Greenwich also features the world's only museum dedicated to fans, the Fan Museum, in a Georgian townhouse at 10?12 Croom's Hill (fee payable). Also on Croom's Hill, on the corner of the junction with Nevada Street is Greenwich Theatre, formerly Crowder's Music Hall.

Related Topics:
Greenwich Park - Palace of Placentia - National Maritime Museum - Queen's House - Inigo Jones - Fans - Fan Museum - Greenwich Theatre

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The Cutty Sark (a clipper ship) is moored in a dry dock by the river. Nearby for many years was also displayed Gipsy Moth IV, the 54{{ft}} yacht sailed by Sir Francis Chichester in his single-handed, 226-day circumnavigation of the globe during 1966?67. In 2004, Gypsy Moth IV was removed from Greenwich for extensive restoration work to be followed by a return to the sea and a second sailing career.

Related Topics:
Cutty Sark - Clipper - Ship - Gipsy Moth IV - Francis Chichester - 1966 - 67 - 2004

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By the Cutty Sark, there is a pedestrian tunnel, the Greenwich foot tunnel, to the Isle of Dogs. This comes out in Island Gardens, from where the famous view of Greenwich Hospital painted by Canaletto can be seen. On the riverside in front of the north-east corner of the Hospital is an obelisk erected in memory of Arctic explorer Joseph René Bellot.

Related Topics:
Greenwich foot tunnel - Isle of Dogs - Island Gardens - Greenwich Hospital - Canaletto - Arctic - Joseph René Bellot

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The Millennium Dome was built on a disused British Gas site here. It is next to North Greenwich tube station, about three miles from Greenwich town centre, north of Charlton. With the Greenwich Millennium Village a new development on the reclaimed land near to the Millennium Dome.

Related Topics:
Millennium Dome - British Gas - North Greenwich tube station - Charlton - Greenwich Millennium Village

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The University of Greenwich and the Trinity College of Music are now based in the Greenwich Hospital (formerly the Royal Naval College) buildings between Greenwich Park and the river. These buildings were designed by Sir Christopher Wren and include the Painted Hall, painted by James Thornhill and St Paul's Chapel. These are also open to the public for free.

Related Topics:
University of Greenwich - Trinity College of Music - Greenwich Hospital - Christopher Wren - Painted Hall - James Thornhill - St Paul's Chapel

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The church dominating the western side of the town centre is St Alfege's Church, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1714, and marks the place where Archbishop of Canterbury Alfege (also spelt 'Alphege') was murdered in 1012.

Related Topics:
St Alfege's Church - Nicholas Hawksmoor - Archbishop of Canterbury - Alphege

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The town centre features Greenwich Market, a covered market popular with tourists at the weekends.

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In 1997 maritime Greenwich was added to the list of World Heritage Sites.

Related Topics:
1997 - World Heritage Sites

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In recognition of the suburb's astronomical links, Asteroid 2830 has been named 'Greenwich'.

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