Landmarks

Royal Observatory Greenwich & Prime Meridian Entry Tickets

4.4/5(1,438)

Camille S

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

Loved how seamless the experience with buying a ticket with headout was. The royal observatory was a once in a lifetime experience with learning so many different things about our astronomical history that I had no idea about. Very fascinating!

Russell W

Couple

Verified booking

4 days ago

The history of it all. It was amazing how much dedication by the astronomers there was. We have stood on the points of time change both in Iceland and England.

Bengisu Y

Family

Verified booking

Sep 2026

Our visit to the Greenwich Observatory was really enjoyable. The only thing I would have preferred is if they sold one pair of solar eclipse glasses per person rather than one per family. ☺️ I definitely recommend the visit!

Daniel C

Family

Verified booking

Sep 2026

A wonderful talk by a former ship captain telling the extraodinary journey of John Harrison. Inspiration and told with passion - really made the day memorable for me.

Alessandro A

Family

Verified booking

Aug 2026

A visit to the Cutty Sark is interesting, but going to the Royal Observatory is fascinating—especially the view from the top. And it’s definitely worth taking the boat ride along the Thames to get there.

Chiara M

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

The Greenwich Observatory is a must-see that you can't find anywhere else in the world! 4 out of 5 stars—only because the section dedicated to astronomy is unfortunately closed until 2027.

Stand on the famous Prime Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the birthplace of Greenwich Mean Time.

Watch the iconic time ball drop at 1pm each day, a maritime tradition once used by ships to set their chronometers for accurate navigation at sea.

Discover the stories behind the exhibits through a free multilingual audio guide, also available in British Sign Language.

Explore the Octagon Room, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and marvel at the Great Equatorial Telescope, one of the largest telescopes in the UK.

Upgrade to the Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass to explore the National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House, or go on an early access guided tour of the Royal Observatory.

Entry ticket to the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the Prime Meridian

Multilingual downloadable audio guide

Free downloadable audio tour (including British Sign Language)

Exclusive early access (as per option selected)

45-min guided tour (as per option selected)

English-speaking guide (as per option selected)

Access to The National Maritime Museum and The Queen's House (as per option selected)

Entry to the planetarium show

Guided tour

Food and beverages

Transportation to/from the Observatory

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

1,438 reviews
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These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Italy, Germany, United States and over 28 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Camille S
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Loved how seamless the experience with buying a ticket with headout was. The royal observatory was a once in a lifetime experience with learning so many different things about our astronomical history that I had no idea about. Very fascinating!
Russell W
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
The history of it all. It was amazing how much dedication by the astronomers there was. We have stood on the points of time change both in Iceland and England.
Michael B
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
When we went to the main telescope, there was a large group. And we could not enjoy the experience as we wanted. This group was panderred to at every part of the experience. Making us feel very hurried and not able to take in the incredible exhibits. There guid was extremely loud and this also took away from our experience. We left underwhelmed. Such a shame, because my wife and I were very excited to tick off a bucket list experience
Bengisu Y
Family
Verified booking
Sep 2026
Our visit to the Greenwich Observatory was really enjoyable. The only thing I would have preferred is if they sold one pair of solar eclipse glasses per person rather than one per family. ☺️ I definitely recommend the visit!
Alessandro A
Family
Verified booking
Aug 2026
A visit to the Cutty Sark is interesting, but going to the Royal Observatory is fascinating—especially the view from the top. And it’s definitely worth taking the boat ride along the Thames to get there.

Step into the home of Greenwich Mean Time with entry to the historic Royal Observatory in London.

Getting started

Begin your visit at the main entrance, where your ticket will be validated. Explore at your own pace and download the free audio guide for additional insights as you navigate the site.

What to expect

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Founded in 1675, the Royal Observatory Greenwich is a landmark of scientific discovery and the birthplace of the Prime Meridian. This site has shaped global navigation and timekeeping for centuries.

Features

Prime Meridian Line: Stand with one foot in each hemisphere on the world-famous line that sets the standard for global time.

Historic Time Ball: See the famous time ball descend at 1pm daily, a tradition that once helped ships synchronize their chronometers for navigation at sea.

Octagon Room: Explore this original 17th-century space, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, where early astronomers observed the skies.

Extras

Enhance your visit with a Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass to explore other sites like the Queen's House and the National Maritime Museum or choose an early access guided tour of the Royal Observatory.

What to bring

Carry a valid photo ID, as proof of eligibility may be required at entry.

Download the free audio guide in advance (including the British Sign Language version) to avoid connectivity issues on site.

What's not allowed

Oversized bags, suitcases, and large luggage items cannot be taken inside the Royal Observatory.

Only registered assistance animals are permitted; pets are not allowed.

Food and drinks are not allowed in exhibition spaces.

Accessibility

Due to the historic nature of the Royal Observatory, some areas are not fully accessible. The Octagon Room and Great Equatorial Telescope can only be reached via staircases.

An accessible version of the guided tour may be arranged in advance upon request.

Accessible parking is available, but only with a valid car park ticket.

Visitors with disabilities may bring one companion free of charge, but this must be registered ahead of time.

Additional information

The standard entry ticket includes a self-guided visit

The Royal Observatory is open from 10am-5pm daily with last admission to each venue at 4:15 pm.

The exclusive-access guided tour ticket to the Royal Observatory Greenwich is available only on Saturdays

Entry does not include shows at the Peter Harrison Planetarium.

Children under 4 years may enter free of charge but must be registered with a paying adult.

Guided tour tickets must be purchased in addition to a Royal Observatory admission ticket for the same date.

Guided tours include access to the Octagon Room and Great Equatorial Telescope, which are only accessible by stairs.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.