Please note that due to refurbishment work on the North (historic) Site of the Royal Observatory:
- Flamsteed House and the Octagon Room will be closed between October 2021 and March 2022 and will not be accessible to visitors during this time.
- The Great Equatorial Telescope will be closed between January 2022 and March 2022 and will not be accessible to visitors during this time.
The guides, trails and activities below introduce the Royal Observatory Greenwich, both past and present. And they feature some quick facts and mini activities for your students to enrich their visit. If it is quick activities you are looking for then you can download individual activities from the tables at the bottom of this page instead.
Royal Observatory school trails
We've got school trails for your school groups to use during the self-guided parts of your visit to the Royal Observatory Greenwich - download, print, and bring them along along the day!
Download and print our ROG school trail for KS2, to support your class trip during the self-facilitated part of your visit.
Download and print our ROG school trail for KS3, to support your class trip during the self-facilitated part of your visit.
Download and print our ROG school trail for KS4, (also suitable for Post-16 students) to support your class trip during the self-facilitated part of your visit.
Download and print our ROG school trail for KS1, to support your class trip during the self-facilitated part of your visit.
Primary - guides and trails
If you want to find out more detail about specific programmes or aspects of planning a visit then this guide is sure to help.
If you know the programme you want but aren’t sure what to do before and after your visit this short guide will provide some ideas of how to support your visit back in school.
If you want to introduce a self-guided element to your visit then this site guide will point you in the direction of the things not to miss.
If you're looking for a site map with an activity list, look no further.
We have developed some extra activities to be used in the galleries for KS1 visitors so they get the very most out of the visit. The trail can be printed off for children to complete as they go around the galleries.
Whether you are taking part in our Through the Telescope sessions or not this trail is fantastic for KS2 students and shows off some of our must see objects.
Secondary - guides and trails
If you want to find out more detail about specific programmes or aspects of planning a visit then this guide is sure to help.
If you know the programme you want but aren’t sure what to do before and after your visit this short guide will provide some ideas of how to support your visit back in school.
If you want to introduce a self-guided element to your visit then this site guide will point you in the direction of the things not to miss.
If you're looking for a site map with an activity list, look no further.
Please note that the Weller Astronomy Galleries (which include Astronomy Questions, Astronomy Explores and Astronomy Inspires) are currently closed.
Primary school activities
| ACTIVITY | KEY STAGE | GALLERY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meridian gallery | Search for telescopes big and small | |
| 1 | Time & Greenwich | See what the inside of a giant clock is like and how it works | |
| 2 | Octagon Room | Explore geometry in what was once the Great Star Room | |
| 2 | Time & Greenwich | Learn how ships on the Thames set their clocks to Greenwich time | |
| 2 | Learn about the Herschel family and find astronomical items | ||
| 1 | Astronomy Questions; Astronomy Explores | Look for objects related to space. Find a Martian spacecraft | |
| 1 | Astronomy Questions; Astronomy Explores; Astronomy Inspires | Find things linked to space such as telescope mirrors and space rocks | |
| 2 | Astronomy Explores; Astronomy Inspires | Build a space probe to explore a planet, moon or comet. Learn how astronomers explore the Solar System | |
| 2 | Astronomy Questions; Astronomy Explores; Astronomy Inspires | Learn how we discover things about the Universe such as alien worlds |
Secondary school activities
Teacher's answers for Secondary Visit Guide and Activities
| ACTIVITY | KEY STAGE | GALLERY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Astronomy Inspires; Astronomy Explores; Astronomy Questions | Learn about the importance of using all types of light to explore the Universe | |
| 3 | Astronomy Questions; Astronomy Inspires; Astronomy Explores | Find out how astronomers investigate space | |
| 3 | Astronomy Explores; Astronomy Questions | Learn about why astronomers use the whole electromagnetic spectrum to explore the Universe | |
| 4 | Astronomy Inspires; Astronomy Explores | Discover the origin of the Solar System and how we know what stars are made of | |
| 4 | Astronomy Inspires; Astronomy Explores | Become a science journalist and write about a chosen topic | |
| 4 | Astronomy Questions | ||
| 3 | Great Equatorial Telescope | Think like an astronomer with the Great Equatorial Telescope | |
| 3 | Time & Longitude* | Find out about time zones and how they work | |
| 3 | Time & Longitude* | Learn about John Harrison's special sea clocks and how they regulated time | |
| 4 | Meridian gallery | Explore the link between time and the stars | |
| 4 | Altazimuth Pavilion | Discover the nature of the Sun and calculate its properties |