Greenwich — Secret of the Zero Meridian

Your journey begins in front of the main entrance of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, founded in 1675 by Charles II. It was here, on this hill, that Flamsteed House was built, designed by Christopher Wren between 1675 and 1676 for the Royal Astronomer John Flamsteed. This complex was the birthplace of a scientific revolution, aiming to provide the necessary tools for maritime navigation. You will discover how stars were the first compass for sailors, laying the foundations for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) that now governs the entire world, making this site a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Step inside Flamsteed House, the first residence of the Observatory, where John Flamsteed lived from 1676 to 1719. Within these walls, John Flamsteed's clock was installed, built in 1676 by Thomas Tompion, achieving an accuracy of one second per month – an astonishing feat for the era. Flamsteed meticulously cataloged 2,935 stars here, compiled in his major work, the Historia Coelestis Britannica, published in 1725. This colossal work was essential for navigation, allowing ships' positions to be determined with unprecedented accuracy, a fundamental contribution to the heritage of Greater London.

Cross the famous Prime Meridian Line, the brass line embedded in the ground since 1884, marking 0° longitude. Defined at the International Meridian Conference in Washington, this line was initially traced by Sir George Airy in 1850 through the Observatory before being moved. Crossed by 20 million visitors annually, it is the global symbol of universal time. A few steps away, the Shepherd Gate Clock, installed in 1855 by Robert Shepherd, was the first public dial clock showing Greenwich Sidereal Time, electrically synchronized and used to calibrate British ship clocks until the 20th century.

Descending Greenwich Park hill, you will spot the Queen's House, built between 1616 and 1635 by Inigo Jones for Anne of Denmark, and considered England's first neo-Palladian house. Its grand spiral staircase, 12 meters in diameter with 44 steps, was designed to appear infinite. This palace, which became the center of the National Maritime Museum in 1937, houses the Armada Portrait collection of Elizabeth I. Nearby, the Statue of General James Wolfe, erected in marble by Joseph Wilton in 1775, commemorates Wolfe's victory at Quebec in 1759, where he died at 32 during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham on September 13, 1759.

Your thematic circuit in Greenwich then leads you to the Old Royal Naval College, founded in 1694 by William III and Mary II as a hospital for sailors, and designed by Christopher Wren. This site, a UNESCO Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site since 1997, houses the Painted Hall, painted by James Thornhill from 1707 to 1726 over an area of 40 x 22 meters. Finally, conclude your exploration at Cutty Sark Gardens, created in 1957 around the famous clipper Cutty Sark, launched in 1869. This 65-meter ship, which transported 4.8 million pounds of tea at a record speed of 17.5 knots, was restored after a fire in 2007 and reopened to the public in 2012. This route offers an interactive visit and a deep discovery of Greenwich's history and its global influence on navigation and time.