Going ashore

Most of what you want to see is within huge Greenwich Park close to where cruise tenders deposit you ashore. You’ll need more than a day to inspect it all. Together,it forms a World Heritage site and wonderful ensemble of historical architecture that includes Old Royal Naval College with its magnificently frescoed great hall,Queen’s House,which displays early sketches of Australian wildlife by Joseph Banks,and the National Maritime Museum. The hillside park also has rose gardens,herb gardens,herds of deer and sweeping views over the Thames. After that,head back to the riverfront and clamber around fabled 19th-century tea clipper the Cutty Sark.

Don’t miss

The Royal Observatory sits astride the prime meridian from which all longitudes and time zones are measured,and has long been connected to British maritime power and astronomy. Exhibits provide the details,and the adjacent Peter Harrison Planetarium runs excellent shows.

Get active

Greenwich beckons not just history and culture vultures but strollers,joggers and cyclists too. Marked and measured routes send you through its parks,and are part of the 64-kilometre Green Chain Walk. The Thames Walk Path (298 kilometres if you’re keen) also runs through Greenwich.

Best bites

Pub grub is the way to go in this breezy historical district,so head into The Old Brewery at the Old Royal Naval College,or Cutty Sark Pub in a Georgian building with river views. The latter serves upmarket,traditional British staples such as roast lamb,fish pie and gooseberry crumble. If you must go French,then Champagne + Fromage is the place for you.

Further afield

Greenwich is a start and end port,but cruise lines might offer shore excursions to top London sights such as the Tower of London,Globe Theatre (a reconstruction of Shakespeare’s old haunt) and the Imperial War Museum. Some include sights in the west of London,such as Hampton Court Palace or the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew,before depositing guests at Heathrow airport for afternoon or evening flights.