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The park is roughly
rectangular in plan with sides 1000 metres
by 750 metres and oriented with the long
sides lying NNW to SSE. In what follows
this direction is taken to be N to S for
ease of exposition. It is located at grid
reference TQ390772.
The park stretches
along a hillside and is on two levels. The
lower level (closest to the Museum, Queen's
House and, beyond them, the Thames) lies
to the north; after a steep walk uphill,
there is a flat expanse that is, essentially,
an enclosed extension of the plateau of
Blackheath.
Roughly in the centre,
on the top is the hill, is the Royal Observatory,
Greenwich. To the north is the National
Maritime Museum and Queen's House, and beyond
those Greenwich Hospital. To the east is
Vanbrugh Castle. To the south is Blackheath
and in the south western corner is the Ranger's
House, looking out over heath. To the west
lie the architecturally fine streets of
Chesterfield Walk and Croom’s Hill (Pevsner
1983).
Royal
Observatory, Greenwich
The Observatory is
on the top of the hill. Outside is a statue
of General James Wolfe in a small plaza
from which there are majestic views across
to the former Greenwich Hospital (later
the Royal Naval College and now the University
of Greenwich) and then towards the river,
the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, the City
of London to the northwest and the Millennium
Dome to the north.
Amenities
On the lower level
of the park there is a popular children's
playground (north-east corner, close to
Maze Hill railway station) and an adjacent
boating lake. There is also a herb garden
(close by entrance to Greenwich town centre).
On the upper level,
there is an extensive flower garden complete
with large duck pond, a rose garden, a cricket
pitch, many C17th chestnut trees with gnarled,
swirling trunks, tennis courts, a bandstand,
Roman remains, an ancient oak tree (the
'Queens Oak', associated with Queen Elizabeth
I) and an enclosure ('The Wilderness') housing
some wild deer.
Nestling just behind
the Observatory is the garden of the former
Astronomer Royal, a peaceful secluded space
which is good for picnics and also sometimes
used by theatre groups (Midsummer Night's
Dream, etc). On the opposite side (i.e.,
just south of the Wolfe statue) is the Park
Cafe. There is another, smaller, cafe by
the north west gate.
It is possible to
park (pay and display) in areas along the
main roads entering from Blackheath. Cycle
routes criss-cross the park (as do runners,
roller-bladers, dog-walkers, etc), but other
road traffic (cars and motor-cycles only)
can only use the park road linking Blackheath
and Greenwich at peak periods on weekdays.
Sport
When London hosts
the Summer Olympics in 2012 Greenwich Park
will be the venue for the equestrian events
and for the showjumping and cross country
disciplines of the modern pentathlon. The
park also staged the start of the final
stage of the 2006 Tour of Britain cycle
race (3 September). The Park hosts the Greenwich
Meridian 10k in March every year.[1].
British Military Fitness
runs classes in the park when daylight permits.
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Royal Observatory
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| The National Maritime Museum comprises three sites: the Maritime
Galleries, the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House. Together these
constitute one museum working to illustrate for everyone the importance
of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with
people. |
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International
Date Line
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| The International Date Line is an imaginary line which runs from
the North Pole to the South Pole and is 180° away from the Greenwich Meridian. |
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James Wolfe |
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General
James Wolfe (2 January 1727
– 13 September 1759) was a British
Army officer, known for his
training reforms but remembered
chiefly for his victory over
the French in Canada and establishing
British rule there. Because
of this he has been regarded
as a hero by many Canadians.
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