London Attractions Unfamiliar Attractions Maritime MuseumRiver Bus to Greenwich - Maritime Museum - Observatory - £
Services run from London Eye and Embankment to Greenwich, with the journey time taking approximately 30 minutes. Tickets are reduced in price, on 
the production of a valid Travelcard, with children under 5 travelling free.
The River Bus will set you down at Greenwich Pier, near the site of the (currently being restored) Cutty Sark. This is a short walk from the town and market, which operates daily from a site bound by the roads (SE10 9HZ is the approximate Postcode) circling the centre. Continue south when you're done, towards the National Maritime Museum at the foot of Greenwich Royal Park. The visiting order is not significant, but 'Queen's House' is to the left of the National Maritime Museum, a Palladian style house built by Inigo Jones in 1616 for Anne of Denmark. It houses numerous paintings, both of naval works, from The Old Royal Naval College across the Woolwich Road, in addition to portraits and landscapes, many of which show how the area used to look. The Queen's House predates the other buildings which make up the World Heritage Site of Greenwich.
The National Maritime Museum, was recently renovated and entry is via a huge glass atrium, with many of the exhibits organised around this central space. Heading up the hill you can see the red time ball, sitting above Flamsteed House, which marks the site of the Royal Observatory. Built by Wren and Hooke (who also built The Monument), for the first Astronomer Royal (John Flamsteed) it now houses numerous scientific exhibits including the remarkable 'Harrison Clocks' (and watch - the Marine Chronometer H4), that solved the problem of plotting a ships longitude on the surface of a spinning planet. He was eventually awarded payments, (but not the £20,000 prize he should have received; £3million in today's money) after intervention by the King (George III). His problems arose since he was submitting his designs to a board, many of whom had interests in other solutions and despite being 3 times as accurate as stipulated, they held the prize from him. King George III remarked (referring to John Harrison and his son William) "...these people have been cruelly wronged... By God, Harrison, I will see you righted!". 
In the final few years of his life he became a rich man. Harrison was 39th in a 2002 TV poll of the '100 Greatest Britons'.
Outside Flamsteed House is the Prime Meridian, which splits the Western and Eastern Hemispheres of the globe. It's a popular photo location for visitors to straddle the two sides. if the queue is too long, in front of it at a lower level through the 'kissing gate' it continues, where you won't find anyone taking photos.
Entrance to the National Maritime Museum & Queen's House is free, though donations are welcome. The Royal Observatory is free for U15s - otherwise it is £10 (from 08.03.2011) for adults (multiple entry over 12 months) and £7.50 concessions.
River bus services, run at 20-30 minute intervals to retrace your steps back to the city centre.
National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NF.
Cutty Sark or Greenwich DLR (Greenwich Pier Riverbus)
Call: 020 8312 6565
