The flower garden
View of Docklands from Greenwich Park
The lake
Queen Elizabeth's Oak
The flower garden
View of Docklands from Greenwich Park
The lake
Queen Elizabeth's Oak
Greenwich Park, SE10, is part of the World Heritage Site of Greenwich. The park merges on the north into the grounds of the National Maritime Museum and the University of Greenwich (the old Naval College). The southern, eastern, and western sides are walled, with public roads beyond. On the south side, the road separates it from the open spaces of Blackheath (Common).
The park is an important historic and ornamental part of this site. It contains numerous recreational and ornamental items.Greenwich Park lies on the south side of the Thames in Greenwich. It covers 74 hectares. It consists of a lower, gently sloping area close to the river, from which a steep rise leads up to a plateau to the south. This plateau adjoins the open spaces of Blackheath. The park is separated from the Thames by the National Maritime Museum. Much of it is enclosed by walls.
The adjoining lands mean that Greenwich Park is only part of a larger area of open space, much of which can be seen from the park and contribute to it. To the north, extending to the river, and part of the same landscape as the park, lie the grounds of the National Maritime Museum, with tree lined walks along lawns among its formal buildings. Further views can be seen over this land, of much of east and central London. Outside the southern gates of the park, there lies the open space of Blackheath, which appears immense, due to its open treeless character, and because it is on a hilltop. A fine vista to the south along the central roadway frames the spire of All Saints Church in Blackheath village.A large flower garden lies on the south-east of the plateau area. This has many flower and shrub beds, bedding displays and other ornamental borders, laid out in a semi-formal layout, and maintained to a high standard. In the north-west of the park, a herb garden exists nearest the Greenwich Town entrance.
There is also a good tree collection in the park, with some notable ancient trees, as well as some large specimens. A number of avenues of old sweet chestnut trees exist.There are numerous attractions in and near the park.
The Royal Observatory is in the park, and the prime meridian, which is marked in the ground by the observatory, and is popular with tourists.The walk to the Royal Observatory from the Thames through the grounds of the former Royal Naval College, (formerly Greenwich Palace), is spectacular. The Greenwich Royal Observatory is at the top of the hill, overlooking Greenwich, and from here there are good views towards the city and over much of east London.
The observatory has a popular museum, and has a enclosed yard within which the prime meridian is marked. To its west is an area used for theatre performances.There are a number of monuments within the park. It includes a statue of General James Wolfe. There is the Queen's Oak, the remains of a tree associated with Queen Elizabeth I.
There is a deer enclosure, The Wilderness, by the large garden. Elsewhere in the park is a playground, a boating lake, and tennis courts.
Greenwich Park has been a Royal Park since the 15th century. The palace known as the Queen's House (now the National Maritime Museum), was created for Queen Anne (wife of James I), and after her death for Henrietta-Maria, wife of Charles I. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and later on Elizabeth I are all believed to have spent time there.
James I was responsible for the wall around the park. The land was first laid out as a park however, by Le Notre, for Charles II. Le Notre is responsible for many of the modern roads, and the tree avenues.Charles II also had a new palace built. This palace was later taken over for a variety of uses by the navy. It is now part of Greenwich University, though it is often known by its previous use, as the Royal Naval College.
The Royal Observatory was also designed in this period, by Christopher Wren.