Essential information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Date and times | Daily | See page for details |
| Price | Treasures Tour: £5 adult, £3.50 student, £2.50 child | Private Tour: from £650 for 10 people | Volunteer talks are free |
| Free for Members. Not a Member? Join now |
The Royal Observatory Greenwich has a rich history that dates back to its founding by King Charles II in 1675. Over the centuries, the Observatory firmly established itself as a pioneering place for astronomical discovery, timekeeping, and navigation.
Among many achievements, in its famous walls some of Britain's greatest minds played a crucial role in solving the problem of longitude and, in 1884, the Royal Observatory was established as the location of the Prime Meridian of the World.
Learn about pioneering discoveries, the people who made them and the objects that they used with one of our knowledgeable staff and volunteers. See our available talks, audio guides and tours below.
Please note: you must have purchased Royal Observatory admission to attend these talks and tours.
- For group tours (15+), please make a group booking enquiry.
- Request a bespoke, out-of-hours tour here.
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Royal Observatory treasures tour
Explore some of the Royal Observatory's most treasured objects, learn about the astronomers who lived and worked here, and explore how they helped us understand space, time and navigation. This guided experience will allow you to explore the history of the site from its very first observations, all the way up to the present day.
- Timings: Tours run daily at 11am and 3pm.
- Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
- Meeting Point: Near the Dolphin Sundial. In bad weather, this may move to the first room inside Flamsteed House – please ask staff on the day.
- Prices: £5 for adults, £3.50 for students, £2.50 for children and free for Members. You must have purchased Royal Observatory admission to attend the tour.
- How to book: Tickets can be purchased online or at our admissions desk in the Royal Observatory.
- Suitability: Suitable for all ages, recommended ages 12+.
- Audio headsets: You will be provided with an adjustable audio headset. These can be used alongside hearing aids, and tour guides can use an induction loop upon request.
Accessibility: The tour passes through several spaces that can only be accessed by stairs, and due to the historic nature of the site there may be some areas (the Octagon Room and Great Equatorial Telescope) that are inaccessible to visitors with access requirements. An alternative tour route is available upon request. For those looking to attend a step-free tour, please enquire with our Bookings Team.
Treasures Tour – Mandarin
The Treasures Tour runs in Mandarin on select Saturdays at 1.30pm.
Scroll down on the bookings page to select the right tour and to see which dates the tour is running. Please note that you must have purchased Royal Observatory admission to attend this tour.
Book ticketsBook Member tickets
Treasures Tour – Cantonese
You can join a Treasures Tour in Cantonese on select Sundays at 1.30pm.
Scroll down on the bookings page to select the right tour and to see which dates the tour is running. Please note that you must have purchased Royal Observatory admission to attend this tour.
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Treasures Tour Audio Guide
Can't make the in-person Treasures Tour, or want to take things at your own pace? The audio Treasures Tour is a self-guided equivalent that you can listen to as many times as you like.
Please bring your own headphones.
- Price: £7
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Royal Observatory volunteer talks
Discover the fascinating history of the Observatory and some of our most popular objects with our volunteer team. Come along to learn about the Prime Meridian, the importance of the Time Ball and the story of John Harrison and his marine timekeepers.
- Timings: Subject to availability – our volunteer team aim to deliver daily talks. Ask staff on the day for more information.
- Location: Talks take place in various galleries and spaces across the Observatory. Speak to staff for more information on the day.
- Price: Included with Royal Observatory admission.
- Suitability: No age-sensitive topics discussed.
- Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of the site, some areas, such as the Great Equatorial Telescope and Octagon Room, may not be accessible. Flamsteed House and the Time and Longitude Gallery are accessible via lift.
Private out-of-hours tours
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Explore the Royal Observatory without the crowds with a bespoke, out-of-hours tour.
Our private tours give you close-up access to the unmissable objects in our collection such as the ground-breaking Harrison Clock collection and one of the largest telescopes in the world while the site is closed to the general public.
- Timings: Wednesdays to Fridays; 9-10am or 5-6pm.
- Duration: 1 hour.
- Prices: £700 for up to 10 guests (£70 per person for each additional guest).
- How to book: Request a private, out-of-hours Royal Observatory tour here.
- Audio headsets: You will be provided with headphones and an audio headset, which allow you to clearly hear the guide and adjust the volume if required. The headphones and headset will be collected at the end of the tour. These can be used alongside hearing aids, and tour guides can use an induction loop upon request.
- Accessibility: The tour passes through several spaces that can only be accessed by stairs, and due to the historic nature of the site there may be some areas (the Octagon Room and Great Equatorial Telescope) that are inaccessible to visitors with access requirements. An alternative tour route is available upon request. For those looking to attend a step-free tour, please enquire with our Bookings Team.
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