London is open: Royal Museums Greenwich

IN partnership with Royal Museums Greenwich

Life is gradually starting to return to London and we all can’t be more happy about it. Some rushed to see everything that they have missed on the very first day after the lockdown has been lifted, others take their time. I’ve said this before and saying again, it was never a better time to be a tourist in your own city and to visit all the places you wanted to visit for years, but never went because of crowds. Today I wanted to share my experience visiting the very first cultural venues since March: Royal Museums Greenwich.

Cutty Sark

First things first, safety. The new health & safety guidelines meant a limited amount of people in the museums, face masks were required inside, plenty of space to explore keeping safe a distance from other visitors, one way system in place and sanitisers available wherever you need them to keep your hands clean.

Now to the more interesting part. Cutty Sark, the world's only surviving tea clipper. On board you will learn about the rich history of the vessel that for the first time departed London on 15 February 1870, bound for Shanghai. Later it was converted to ship wool in Australia and finally when steam ships took over it went into the decay until retired captain Wilfred Dowman became determined to buy the ship. He was so determined that offered a price of £3750 – more than what the ship was worth even in 1895. Later it was donated to The Cutty Sark Society in order to save the ship. Because of this, now we have an opportunity to explore the real sailor’s life of 19th century, where they slept, what they ate and how spent leisure time - can’t recommend it more.

Royal Observatory

Royal Observatory doesn’t need an introduction. It must be one of the first attractions that every tourist visits in London. To stand on The Prime Meridian, the spot where the time starts is a dream of many. But not many Londoners have visited this interesting museum themselves scared of tourist crowds. Now you don’t need even to queue to take a picture of the famous spot. Apart from the Prime Meridian Royal Observatory is has much more to explore. Here you can learn about the study of time and navigation, exploration of the night sky and check one of the biggest telescopes in the UK.

National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House

After having famous traditional pie & mash for lunch in the iconic Goddar’s I headed to National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House. Queen's House is a former royal residence built between 1616 and 1635. It was restored to become the new National Maritime Museum in 1937. At the moment The Queen's House Art Gallery includes the free exhibitions Faces of a Queen and Woburn Treasures.

National Maritime Museum reopens to public from 7 September and you will be welcome to visit it’s permanent collection as well as the Astronomy Photographer of the Year .

To check the latest information for all Royal Museums Greenwich sites and to book a visit, please follow the link to the official website.