14 Cheap & Free Things To Do in Greenwich

I think this might be my favourite panoramic view of London. You look down over the Queen’s House and the grand University and see the shiny, modern city behind. It’s such a contrast of old and new which is one of the things I like most about our capital.

There will likely be a lot of other people at the viewpoint but if you can visit on a weekday it’s the perfect spot for a picnic.

Wandering Greenwich Market is a free thing to do in Greenwich and eating the food is still a cheap thing to do in Greenwich. If you want a hearty lunch without overspending, this is the place to come.

If the Greenwich Market food wasn’t enough, there are also art, trinkets and souvenirs. There’s an outside antique section to your right as you exit the station and a larger, indoor part that has clothes, jewellery and gifts, as well as food stands spilling out onto the street.

I ate and would recommend:

• These amazing salt beef short ribs on a bed of fries from Salt Shed
• the most delicious macaroons I’ve ever tasted at Lilika’s Treats. Lilika was so friendly and told me she’d make sure she had my favourite flavours in stock next time I come (btw pistachio and rose if you ever feel like buying me a gift).

Read next: the must-visit London food markets

3. The Cutty Sark

How cool is this giant ship beside the Thames? It’s £12 to go inside the Cutty Sark but you get a lot for your money as the guides are in role as characters of the boat and will tell you stories of its past. You’ll also get your hands on the wheel and see some awesome views out over the city.

If you don’t want to shell out the £12, the Cutty Sark is still impressive to view from the outside. Grab a coffee, sit by the river and people-watch in this open square.

Just a 25-minute walk from Greenwich centre is an underrated attraction I found fascinating. Visiting Lewisham Micro Library AKA England’s smallest library is one of the best free activities in Greenwich. And what a good use of an old red phone box!

To fit in the library in the most convenient way, I arrived for my Greenwich day out into St John’s station (an 8-minute overground train ride from London Bridge) which the library is right beside. Then, I walked over to Greenwich which took 25 minutes.

The King’s Speech, Les Misérables, The Crown, Gulliver’s Travels and Four Weddings and a Funeral are just a few of the things filmed at Greenwich University inside the Old Royal Navy College grounds. It’s not surprising – it’s so grand and impressive that you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time.

Greenwich University is worth a wander but you don’t need to spend huge amounts of time unless you visit the Royal Navy exhibits which I’ll mention later. This quick and free thing to do in Greenwich will give you a real feel for the neighbourhood.

Another wonderful free activity in Greenwich is visiting the Queen’s House, just across the road from the University. Despite the name, the Queen doesn’t actually live there – but it was lived in by the Royals in the 1600s.

Now it’s full of art and has a grand sweeping staircase which was the location of Rev R. W. Hardy’s unexplained ghost photo (give it a Google – it’s pretty convincing!). Art and architecture fans can also choose to take a £10 tour with an experienced guide.

You might be lucky and see the deer close up in Greenwich Park or spy them as tiny specks miles away through the branches. For me, it was the second option but luckily my camera zoom is the bomb (I bought it for seeing wildlife in Africa) so I managed to watch them through my viewfinder.

The deer viewing area is a little tricky to find. Head away from Greenwich after climbing the hill and enter the Flower Garden. Locate the Deer Park Trail (shown on signposts and on Google Maps) and stay on it until you come to the viewing platform. If that sounds complicated, I’ve pinned it here for you.

At the Royal Observatory you can learn about how GMT time came about, and you can also stand on the Meridian line: the point where East meets West and the two hemispheres connect.

If you have time (aren’t I punny), definitely spend an hour here. It’s a cheap thing to do in Greenwich at £16. As you may be noticing, almost all the other museums in Greenwich are free so it’ll be one of your few expenses. Book a ticket in advance.

9. London’s only Planetarium

It was at the Observatory that telescopes were used to identify the Meridian line so it makes sense that there’s an astronomy element to Greenwich. You can pay an extra £8 and tag on Planetarium shows to your Observatory visit.

10. The National Maritime Museum (free)

I wouldn’t say I have a huge interest in naval history but this museum is really visual, fun and interactive. There are usually about 10 exhibitions on at any one time telling the story of the expeditions that shaped our modern world. A few pounds donation is optional on your way out.

12. Old Royal Navy College

The ORNC has a beautiful chapel and London’s largest painted ceiling (tours are £11 here). Alternatively, just pop into the Visitor Centre for free and take a selfie wearing a captain’s hat. The Visitor’s Centre is also a good place to learn about Greenwich’s history and play at some interactive exhibitions.

14. Find nautical details (free)

Go on a hunt for all things ship-themed. I found a big wheel above Starbucks and an adorable anchor knocker just around the corner.