A Day in Greenwich | Little Corners of London
- bhetherington4
- Feb 17, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Do you know that feeling of both anger and pride when your favourite artist finally starts to get mainstream attention and you're watching it unfold like, "Finally! Other people are seeing what I have always seen in you!" While simultaneously thinking, "Well, this doesn't bode well for ticket prices. Also, I was a fan since their debut album, so ..."
There is a desire to gatekeep the things we love so it remains uniquely ours, yet we also feel deeply satisfied when our personal tastes are validated by the masses. That is how I feel about places I find within London. I want everyone to know how good the coffee at this particular shop is, but I don't want to deal with the queues that will ensue. Oh, hey, unintentional rhyme .. love when that happens.
I always cave and never gatekeep. I fully believe sharing is caring. Which is why I had to dedicate an entire blog post to Greenwich. Though not unknown, it certainly fits under the lesser known category (and I know a spot in London can classify as "lesser known" when I don't feel entirely overwhelmed walking around or having to queue down the block for a pastry ... yes, I am looking at you, Dirty Knuckle).
You can get to Greenwich a couple of ways, but my personal favourite is via Uber boat. (Am I the only one who had never heard of Uber boats before moving to London?) I like to grab the boat at Tower Bridge and have views of the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye as I sail off.
You'll snake through the Thames, pass by various "wharfs" and watch the Shard grow smaller and smaller until you've made it after roughly 20 minutes on the boat.
Tip: Don't forget to tap in and out like you do for the underground. I almost always do even now.
My first priority when I've stepped on solid ground is to make a beeline for Greenwich Market. As you can see, there's always an assortment of food stalls and vendors ranging from South American arepas to pan-fried, pesto gnocchi. I always finish my meal with an empanda, as well.
The market isn't only for food -- it's got several gift shops and small businesses pitching tent for the day to sell their artwork, knitted goods, cosmetics, and more. I bought a fun print from a local artist called Adam Doughty Illustration and gifted it to a friend as a Christmas present. They loved it, and I envied it.
A good palette cleanser and energy booster after all the food and shopping is a "damn fine coffee" from 15grams Coffee House. Inside is a small, 70s-esque coffee bar. I never stay in, mostly because of the lack of seats but also because there is a better view and spot to perch. (There's also a cute wine and deli shop just across from 15grams that I still haven't been to but always say looks so chic and cool.)
So, grab your coffee then head over to the best bakery in the area (Paul Rhodes) and sip while you walk to the park where you'll dig in to your pastries and cakes. May I recommend the flourless chocolate cake? Actually, I won't even ask for permission, I'm telling you: get the flourless chocolate cake.
Make the trek up to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park where the best views of the city's skyline can be seen. (Does this view look familiar? That's because this is the exact view Adam drew in his artwork mentioned earlier.) Primose Hill is often the park of choice for skyline views, and while I don't necessarily want those crowds flocking to Greenwich, I can't gatekeep, and I have to say ... this view is just better. I mean, just LOOK at those views!
Once you've had your fill of the views and strolled around the park, head back down to the Queen's House for beautiful portraits and paintings (including the famous Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I). Perk: it's free to enter!
You'll want to head to the Painted Hall in the Old Royal Navy College next. While this one
isn't free (16.50 pounds to be exact), you do get access to the site for 12 months. It's a beautiful place just to sit in for a while and admire all the time and attention it took to create a room entirely painted by hand. They even have these benches where you can lie down and look up at the ceiling which also has large, elaborate paintings.
At this point, I need some fresh air again. So, walk around the college's grounds and take in the sights. If you're not too tired of admiring art and soaking in historical facts, you can venture into the Maritime Museum.
For your final stop of the day, grab a pint (or wine, cocktail, shot ... whatever suits your fancy) at Trafalgar Tavern. It's situated right on the riverside so you get great views and are close to the Uber boat when you're ready to head back into Central. (I also just love the look of all the flags hanging everywhere.)
(See, the flags just make it extra cute.)
So, there you have it ... that's how I would spend my day in Greenwich and how I would recommend you to spend it, too. If you go and explore any of my recommendations, feel free to tag me using #roveandfrolic. I'd love to see where you go and what you think about this perfect little, lesser known corner of London.
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love!