Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site

With a scenic riverside setting, the Royal Borough is home to the awe-inspiring Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, the National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, the Old Royal Naval College including the magnificent Painted Hall and the University of Greenwich. The National Maritime Museum is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Founded in 1934, it tells the story of the Royal Navy, Britain as a seafaring power and the history of maritime exploration, navigation, astronomy and the measurement of time, including over 700 items related to Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson. As well as the main museum, it includes the historic Queen's House, where its important collection of Maritime art is displayed, and the Royal Observatory. 

Standing high on Observatory Hill, with a spectacular panoramic view over the river and London in the distance, is Flamstead House, the earliest building of the Greenwich complex which encompasses the Royal Observatory. Built in1675 by Sir Christopher Wren, it was the first purpose-built scientific research facility in the country, and remains a site of extraordinary significance for the history of astronomy, timekeeping as Greenwich. In 1884 Greenwich was recognized as making the Prime Meridian, Longitude 0°, and the Greenwich Mean Time was internationally adopted.

The 17th-century Queen's House is a masterpiece by Inigo Jones and represents a turning point in English architecture. One of the few surviving examples of Jones' work, it has been carefully restored to his design. The highlights are the Tulip Staircase, the first example of a cantilevered staircase design, the Cube Hall, and the frescoed bedroom ceiling. It also showcases some of the Museum's finest artworks, including paintings by Gainsborough, Lely, Hogarth, Reynolds, Hodges and the van de Veldes.

One of the most popular attraction at Greenwich is the Cutty Sark, which was one of the most famous ships of its day. Built in 1869 to carry tea back from China, Cutty Sark visited nearly every major port in the world and gained fame for its record-breaking passages. Open for tours, guides explain the ambitious conservation project that go on inside and underneath an authentic piece of history, and has saved Cutty Sark for future generations.

The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich

The Royal Observatory in Flamstead House

View of the Royal Observatory from the gardens of Queen's House

17th-century Queens House designed by Inigo Jones

Inigo Jones' famous Tulip Staircase at Queen's House

Celebrated architect of the Queeen's House Inigo Jones

by William Dobson

The Royal Sovereign was one of the most heavily armed and highly decorated ships in the Royal Fleet,

an oil on canvas by Willem Van de Velde the Younger c. 1703

'Purser' by Thomas Rowlandson 1799 - it was the pursers job to ensure that the ship did not run put of supplies, so food was carefully accounted for

Horatio Nelson was promoted to Captain in 1779 at age 21

Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson is shown injured and blood stained after 

Battle of the Nile, having lost an arm during his battle victory

Vice-Admiral Nelson's full dress coat was worn on formal occasions, 

and shows the truncated sleeve where he lost an arm in Battle of the Nile

By the mid 17th-century, European knowledge of the world had expanded significantly, 

as shown in this Double Hemisphere Map of the World from 1654

The ‘Armada Portrait’ of Elizabeth I with one hand resting on a terrestrial globe

Sculpture of Olaudah Equiano, an African, slave, author, abolitionist by artist Christy Symingtowith background of paintings from Queen's House collection

Modern new exterior of the Greenwich Maritime Museum

The Caird Rotunda celebrated Sir James Baird who was key to the establishment 

of the National Maratime Museum 

Captain James Cook 1776

Marshall Islands Stick Chart was created for remembering areas of the ocean,

with the sticks showing the currents and the shells marking the islands

Cupola of Chapel of St Peter and St Paul at the Old Naval College in Greenwich

Built in 1742, this glorious Chapel was designed Sir Christopher Wren

and completed by Thomas Ripley 

Royal Naval College gates with ornate gates and insignia

From state-of-the-art Victorian tea clipper to one of the world's most famous ships, 

Cutty Sark has led a dramatic life

Aboard the Cutty Sark

Original brass bell

Worker climbing the rigging to paint the mast

The small dining room for officers that would have been sailing on the Cutty Sark

The Trafalgar Tavern opened in 1837, the year of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne,

 and was an elegant adornment to fashionable Greenwich in its heyday

Beautiful flower arrangement at entrance to the Tavern

The Tavern is renowned for its unique location, unrivalled atmosphere, charming staff, 

opulent interior and magnificent art collection

View from our table over the Thames with the 02 Arena and sailboat

making its way downstream

Beautiful sunflower on our table 

Cold pint of beer on a hot London afternoon

Mushrooms on Toast with Tarragon

Prosciutto and Melon with Arugula

Fish and Chips with Tartare Sauce and Mushy Peas

Bangers and mash with onion confit and fresh sage

www.trafalgartavern.co.uk