

The £16 entry is an annual pass (visitors are able to return as many times as they like within 12 months for no additional charge). Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Things to Know About Visiting the Greenwich Meridian Line in London So, on your next visit to the Capital, why not come and stand at the centre of world time. So why is Greenwich the Prime Meridian? It is said that before the 19th century, all towns kept their own record of time, which was probably a great excuse if you were running late for a meeting.īut then came the rise of infrastructure like public transport and so the world needed a standard measurement of international time.Īnd so the Greenwich Meridian was chosen as the Prime Meridian of the World in 1884, decided by 41 people from 25 nations.Īlso, by the late 19th century 72% of the world’s commerce depended on sea charts which used Greenwich as the Prime Meridian, therefore choosing this location would benefit a lot of people. What is Prime Meridian and Why is it in London? So, really, you get the best of both worlds, at no cost at all. Luckily the gating surrounding the larger Meridian Line has large spaces big enough to look through, stretch both arms in and take a photo. Latitude was already measurable by the distance from the equator, and in a competition calling for an invention to solve the “longitude” problem for seafarers, these clocks brilliantly found the solution. Inside the Royal Observatory, you can see how the discovery of GMT came about, with the display of clocks designed by John Harrison. The pleasure of the bigger, more official Greenwich Meridian Line option comes at a price of £16. However, this cost is for the overall entry to The Royal Observatory’s historic Flamsteed House, Time Galleries, Meridian Line Courtyard and Meridian Building. How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Greenwich Meridian Line? It’s behind a black iron gate just next to the enclosed area where the long line is.
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Greenwich Mean Time – How to Officially Stand in Two Times Zones for Freeįor budget travellers and the more frugal amongst us, there is a very small section of shiny bronze line goodness you can stand on and pose for free. The observatory even has pictures showing you how to stand on the line properly to ensure you place a foot on either side of the line. You will find the Prime Meridian Line instantly by the droves of people queuing for their photo, so be prepared to wait patiently while people get their snaps in various poses as they strategically place arms and legs accordingly in East and West. From the Greenwich DLR station, the Royal Observatory is signposted and only a 10-15 minute walk, the majority of which is up a picturesque hill. Getting to the Greenwich Prime Meridian Line is easy, aside from needing a little stamina. Things to Know About Visiting the Greenwich Meridian Line in London.What is Prime Meridian and Why is it in London?.How Much Does it Cost to Visit the Greenwich Meridian Line?.
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Greenwich Mean Time – How to Officially Stand in Two Times Zones for Free.How to Find the Greenwich Meridian Line.
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It’s one of the core attractions in this Royal Borough, full of maritime history, art, architecture and adventure.Ī bronze line embedded into the pavement represents the division of the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth and from this everywhere on the planet is measured according to its distance east or west of this ‘line’, just as the Equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres. East is east and west is west, but the twain meets at The Royal Observatory in Greenwich – home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian of the world and known in technical terms as Longitude 0º. In the Southeast of London, you can straddle two hemispheres at the same time and stand upon the official centre of time. London is the home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Greenwich Meridian Line your chance to time travel by nanoseconds. This is at no extra cost to you and allows this site to keep running. If you click through or buy something via one of them, I may receive a small commission. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to handpicked partners, including tours, gear and booking sites.
