When the sun is out, there’s no better escape from city life than Greenwich, London—just a relaxing twenty-minute ride on the scenic Docklands Light Railway from the center of town, yet it feels like a world away from the city’s non-stop pace. Fortunately, Greenwich also has many good spots to step in out of the rain should the weather necessitate. One of the best among them is the Old Royal Observatory, New York Habitat’s number two choice for shelter from a sudden storm. For shelter in style, Greenwich is also hard to beat with its choice of comfortable, convenient and well-furnished vacation rentals in London.
The Old Royal Observatory, designed by Sir Chris Wren, is perched atop a hill in Greenwich Park. If the day is fine, the park offers a myriad of other sightseeing options, such as: the Queen Elizabeth Oak where Henry VIII went to rendezvous with that Boleyn girl; an English garden with a wild deer park; a children’s boating pool; the stately and sprawling Queen’s House; and one of the main draws, the Prime Meridian, a rather unremarkable looking line that gives visitors a remarkable opportunity to stand with one leg in the Eastern Hemisphere and one in the West. Greenwich Park itself, though used as a burial ground during the plague, is a cheerful, beautiful sloping stretch of peaceful green. It’s the perfect setting for family fun, in addition to offering some of the most incredible views of London.
However, the Old Royal Observatory is the place you’ll want to hurry to when those views are suddenly obscured by rain clouds. Inside the observatory is housed an expansive collection of early astronomical and navigational instruments, as well as one of the world’s largest telescopes. On a sunny day, you might be inclined to pass these by with a quick look and an appreciative nod. But stuck inside for the duration of a midday shower, you’ll be immersed in the riveting history of sailing and the intricate and exquisite inventions that made maritime exploration possible. It’s a great place to pick up a new interest—and some fascinating books from the gift shop.
London is a city built around its river, and the whole feel of Greenwich expresses a long-running love affair with the Thames that continues to this day. In addition to the Old Royal Observatory, this theme is repeated in the fun and informative National Maritime Museum at the bottom of the hill, the Ranger’s House that was built for an admiral in 1688 but now holds a collection of Jacobean portraits, the Royal Naval College, the celebrated Cutty Sark tea clipper, the Gipsy Moth IV, which sailed its way around the world, and the distinctive Thames Barrier. In fact, you can devote days to maritime activities in Greenwich and even take a short cruise from there to the center of London.
With all of the covered markets, small shops, old pubs, quaint eateries and un-missable views abounding in the area, Greenwich is an ideal place to stay, come rain or shine. Some New York Habitat London apartment rentals that are near Greenwich and will make your trip even more out of the ordinary include:
A modern 2 bedroom two bathroom apartment with view of the Thames in Canary Wharf, London (LN-1089) or
a luxury 1-bedroom apartment in Canary Wharf, London (LN-623)
There is a reason that Greenwich is known as “greater London,” and it’s not due to location alone. Less than twenty minutes from the heart of London, Greenwich not only provides shelter from the storm, but also a pleasantly alternative place to stay apart from the hustle and bustle of the city center.
Let New York Habitat know your favorite among Greenwich’s many charms by leaving a comment below…and be sure to see our number one choice for a good place to spend a bad weather day in London.
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