Essential information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Price | Free with entry to the Observatory |
| Free entry for members. Not a Member? Join now |
Download the free Royal Observatory audio guide, pop in your headphones and learn all about the home of Greenwich Mean Time in your own time.
We've become accustomed to planning a journey with our smart phones, but none of that would be possible without the work of the Royal Observatory.
Pioneering telescopes and timepieces – and the people who designed and used them – helped us find our place in the universe, and put Greenwich at the heart of time, space and navigation.
But how did Greenwich become known as the 'Home of Time'? Follow the free audio tour as your explore the Observatory and find out!
The audio tour is free to all Royal Observatory visitors. All you need is your phone and a set of headphones.
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How does it work?
We've partnered with Smartify, the world's most downloaded museum app, to make it easier than ever to explore the Royal Observatory.
To get started, download the Smartify app for free from the Apple or Android app store. You can do this now or when you arrive.
When you arrive, simply search for 'Royal Observatory' and select the tour to begin.
Audio guide features
- Expert commentary on the history of the Royal Observatory: from how and why it was built to the people who lived and worked here.
- Rich audio, images and text: lean back and listen or read the transcript – explore the Observatory at your own pace and in your own way.
- Listen again when you get home: want to check something you heard during your visit? Once the app is installed, you can always tune in again.
Find more Royal Observatory highlights
Top things to do at the Royal Observatory
History-making discoveries and cutting edge astronomy at the home of Greenwich Mean Time
Stand on the Prime Meridian Line
Visit the historic Prime Meridian of the World at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
See John Harrison's marine timekeepers
Revolutionary timepieces that allowed ships to determine their longitude at sea
Enjoy the best view of London
Enjoy a fantastic view from the top of the hill in Greenwich Park
See the Greenwich Time Ball drop
See this bright red Time Ball, one of the world's earliest public time signals
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