Royal Observatory Greenwich closure: November 2026–2027
Planning a Greenwich day out? The Royal Observatory closes to visitors from Monday 2 November 2026 for its First Light transformation. Royal Museums Greenwich expects the Meridian Courtyard to reopen in summer 2027, with the overall project due for completion in spring 2028. Reopening plans may change.
Is the Royal Observatory Greenwich open?
It is open for visits until the announced 2 November 2026 closure, then the site is temporarily closed. Check the official Royal Observatory closure information before travelling.
Where can families explore space instead?
Try Astronomers Take Over at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. It offers interactive astronomy activities and an optional planetarium experience. Unlike the museum’s free permanent galleries, this special experience is ticketed; check Royal Museums Greenwich for prices and availability.
Free Halloween activities at The O2
Families visiting North Greenwich can discover free Halloween musical storytimes on 24, 25, 28 and 29 October, plus the free Kids’ Halloween Adventure on 31 October and 1 November (ages 4+, 11am–5pm, starting outside Superdry). The trail is walk-in with queues and capacity limits. Halloween trail information · Storytimes.
North Greenwich & Greenwich Peninsula
Yes, The O2 is here. No, it is not the whole neighbourhood. North Greenwich and Greenwich Peninsula also give you riverside walking, public art, family-friendly exploring, food, big views, transport connections and plenty you can do without buying an arena ticket.
Pick the Peninsula day you actually fancy
This area works differently depending on why you have come. Arena night? Riverside wander? Something with the kids? A free mooch before dinner? The useful guide is the one that helps you combine them.
Riverside & views
Walk the Thames side of the Peninsula and make the river part of the day rather than rushing straight from station to venue.
Art & exploring
Public art and the changing Peninsula landscape make this a good place for a wander even without a ticketed attraction.
Big-ticket fun
The O2, Up at The O2 and major entertainment sit here when you do want the full outing.
Families & free time
Mix open space, riverside exploring and current family activity so every visit does not start with a large admission bill.
The rule here is simple: do not get off the Tube, stare at the dome and assume you have seen North Greenwich.
Things to do
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
A free four-acre urban wetland with boardwalks, bird hides, freshwater habitat and seasonal wildlife — one of the best reasons not to rush straight from the station to The O2.
Full visitor guide: a separate detailed Ecology Park guide is in preparation.
Walk the Peninsula
Use the riverside and public realm as the backbone of a free wander. Check current path access, seating and toilets before travelling.
Up at The O2
Climb over the roof of The O2 for one of the area’s biggest paid experiences.
See what’s on
Concerts and shows have their own growing O2 hub so this local guide does not need to become an enormous event listing.
Mamma Mia! The Party
A full food-and-entertainment experience at The O2 with its own Clarissa’s Corner guide.
Free and cheap things to do
The Peninsula can look expensive because The O2 dominates the skyline. It does not mean every visit needs an arena-sized budget.
Ecology Park
Free entry, wildlife, boardwalks and bird hides make this one of the strongest genuinely no-spend stops on the Peninsula.
Riverside wander
Walk, look across the Thames and explore the Peninsula without buying a ticket.
Public art
Enjoy a self-led art-and-architecture walk, checking the current trail map for installations.
Bring-your-own-plan
Pair a free walk with one coffee, picnic or inexpensive food stop rather than making every element paid.
Current freebies
Check current seasonal trails, community activity and free events with official organisers.
More than an arena trip
The family section combines outdoor exploring, current activities, toilets, food, buggy practicality and transport — the bits that decide whether an idea is actually usable with children. Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park is a particularly strong free option for wildlife spotting, with mostly flat boardwalks, accessible bird hides, toilets and buggy access currently listed by TCV.
The bit worth slowing down for
Greenwich Peninsula’s riverside and public art deserve their own space in this guide. You can make a genuinely good free outing here without an arena ticket.
The Thames Path
The official Peninsula guide currently maps around 1.5 miles of Thames Path around this stretch, with riverside views, sculpture and links into The Line public-art walk.
The Tide
This free elevated riverside walkway mixes views, greenery and public art. The current route has step-free access by lift at Peninsula Square and is described as suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams.
Free Art Trail
The Peninsula currently promotes a 1.6-mile free art trail with more than 17 works around the area. Important update: NOW Gallery has now permanently closed, so older guides telling you to start there need correcting.
Design District
The cluster of distinctive buildings near North Greenwich gives the creative side of the Peninsula its own identity, with public space, creative businesses and food nearby.
Central Park
A nearly 2.8-acre tree-lined green space for a pause, picnic or quieter bit of the day away from the arena crowds.
Ecology Park
Keep following the Peninsula east for the free wetland, boardwalks and wildlife at Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park. A separate detailed visitor guide is in preparation.
The O2 — without letting it eat the whole page
The O2 is obviously one of the main reasons people come here, so it gets a strong doorway into our existing concert, attraction and experience coverage. But this area guide stays about North Greenwich and the Peninsula as a place.
Getting there
Before the show, after the walk, or just because
Choose your food stop around the visit: a quick bite before an arena event, family food, coffee during a riverside walk or somewhere quieter away from peak crowds.
Check opening times, menus and access directly with individual venues before travelling.
Access changes depending on what you are doing
North Greenwich station, The O2, riverside routes and individual attractions all need their own access information. Check the station and individual venues for step-free access, toilets, Changing Places, seating, drop-off arrangements and sensory information.
One of the strongest transport hubs in the local network
North Greenwich is on the Jubilee line and has a major bus interchange, with river services nearby. Our existing transport guide covers the practical options, while the SL11 and local bus-route guides let you keep exploring east through Charlton, Woolwich, Plumstead, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood.
What’s nearby?
Charlton
Charlton House, parks, The Valley and local family activity.
Greenwich
Historic Greenwich, museums, park, market and riverside.
Woolwich
Royal Arsenal, culture, shopping and another major transport hub.
Keep riding
SL11 links the Peninsula directly into our Charlton, Woolwich, Plumstead, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood network.