Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site

St Alfege
Greenwich Market
Cutty Sark
Old Royal Naval College
National Maritime Museum
The Queen’s House
Royal Observatory
Protected panoramic view
Ranger’s House

World Heritage Site boundary
World Heritage Site buffer zone

Welcome to Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, where internationally significant architecture and landscape, artistic achievement, scientific endeavour and royal association come together to tell the story of Britain at sea, and of world time-keeping, navigation and exploration.

Outstanding Universal Value

Key features or ‘attributes’ of Outstanding Universal Value

Our Architecture

The architectural ensemble of the Queen’s House, the Royal Observatory, the Royal Hospital and the Royal Park

Masterplan of buildings and designed landscapes

The masterplan of buildings and designed landscape is a cultural masterpiece

The Grand Axis

Wren’s composition extends across the River Thames

The Royal Observatory

Recording the accurate position of the stars, and the home of the Prime Meridian of Longitude and world time

Town Centre & St Alfege Church

Greenwich town centre: a medieval street pattern, with key buildings including St Alfege Church, and a role through history

Royal Patronage

A royal manor, associated with the British monarchy since the 15th century

Relationship with the River Thames

Royal power, navigation and the use of the River Thames as a highway since Roman times

Silhouettes

A silhouette of baroque buildings against a clear sky

It was just 'Greenwich' and everyone in the world knew it.
A Twenties Boyhood Jim Hertford

What shall we tell you? Tales, marvellous tales. Of ships and stars and isles where good men rest…
The Golden Journey to Samarkland James Elroy Flecker, 1913

Certainly there is nothing lovelier at Versailles.
Punch

And thence by coach to Greenwich church, where a good sermon, a fine church, and a great company of handsome women....
Samuel Pepys, 1660