Greenwich

The next weekend I chose to go to Greenwich on Saturday and explore the National Gallery on Sunday.

Greenwich is a beautiful town not far from London. Historically, Greenwich was the retreat of the monarchs but London has grown so large that it is nearly part of the city now. I bought a ticket at the Westminster Pier (right near Big Ben/Parliament, see London 1 posting for map) for a boat ride to Greenwich. It was probably one of the more inexpensive ways to get to Greenwich, certainly the prettiest, and included a narrative by one of the crew (he only asked for a tip at the end). Below are some of the photos from the boat trip including Parliament, the HMS Belfast with the Tower Bridge in the background, St Paul's Cathedral, and the Tower of London.

After arriving at Greenwich I explored the Royal Naval College, the Painted Hall, the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul, the National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House and the Royal Observatory (the location of the Prime Meridian). All these things can be done pretty quickly and are within easy walking distance. As you can see from the pictures, it was a beautiful day. So I also enjoyed a couple pints in the outdoor section of a nearby pub. None of the sights in Greenwich are exactly mind blowing, but combined with the boat trip it all made for a very enjoyable day.

(Left) View from the Royal Observatory with the Queen's House in the foreground and the City (the financial district of London) in the background. (Lower Right) View from the back of the Queen's House towards the Royal Observatory