Royal Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Greenwich, England
The Royal Observatory sits on a hill in Greenwich Park, housing the Great Equatorial Telescope beneath its distinctive onion dome at 68 meters elevation.
King Charles II commissioned the observatory in 1675, appointing Christopher Wren as architect and John Flamsteed as the first Astronomer Royal of England.
The Prime Meridian Line runs through the observatory grounds, marking zero degrees longitude and establishing the reference point for global time measurement.
The observatory opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00, except December 24-26, with advance online booking recommended to guarantee entry for exhibitions and planetarium shows.
The Greenwich Time Ball drops every day at 1:00 PM GMT from the red dome, continuing a tradition that began in 1833 to help ships calibrate their chronometers.
Location: Royal Borough of Greenwich
Location: Greenwich
Inception: March 4, 1675
Founders: Charles II of England
Architects: Christopher Wren
Official opening: 1675
Elevation above the sea: 68 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Operator: Royal Museums Greenwich
Part of: Maritime Greenwich, Royal Museums Greenwich
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday: 10:00-18:00; December 24-26 off
Phone: +442083126565
Email: bookings@rmg.co.uk
Website: https://rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory
GPS coordinates: 51.47783,-0.00139
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:42
Greenwich Park
164 m
Shepherd Gate Clock
15 m
Peter Harrison Planetarium
91 m
Statue of Yuri Gagarin
129 m
Queen Elizabeth's Oak, Greenwich Park
223 m
Greenwich Castle
36 m
Greenwich 28-inch refractor
20 m
Altazimuth Pavilion At The Royal Observatory
65 m
Royal Observatory Former Great Equatorial Building
21 m
Maritime Greenwich
55 m
Statue of James Wolfe
40 m
Roman Catholic Church of Our Ladye Star of the Sea Including Its Forecourt Wall and Gate Piers
380 m
Royal Observatory The Transit House
5 m
64, Crooms Hill Se10
353 m
54-60, Crooms Hill Se10
356 m
Large Standing Figure: Knife Edge
217 m
Flamsteed House
42 m
Flamsteed House
43 m
Royal Observatory South Building
126 m
The Standard Reservoir Conduit House, Greenwich Park
270 m
The Presbytery
353 m
The White House And Garden Walls To East, South And West
322 m
The Manor House
344 m
Number 68 Including Forecourt Wall, Railings And Gate
364 m
Bandstand To South Of Great Cross Avenue
332 m
Hillside
307 m
Front Garden Wall To Number 52 And Gazebo
326 m
The Grange
363 mReviews
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