Ticketed

Essential Information

Location
Royal Observatory
Price Included with entry to the Royal Observatory

Free entry for members. Not a member? Join now

The Octagon Room is the oldest part of the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

It was commissioned by King Charles II, designed by famed architect Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1676.

The Octagon Room, an eight-sided wood-panelled room in the Royal Observatory

The room's eight-sided shape, high windows and lofty position were all designed to provide astronomers with an uninterrupted view of the night sky. The high ceilings also allowed the Observatory to install some of the most advanced clocks of the age.

Clocks set into the dark wood panelling of the Octagon Room at the Royal Observatory

Architecture, astronomy, royal pomp and ceremony: discover the many sides to the Octagon Room as part of your visit to the Royal Observatory.

Book tickets to the Royal Observatory

Whereas, in order to the finding out of the longitude of places for perfecting navigation and astronomy, we have resolved to build a small observatory within our park at Greenwich, upon the highest ground, at or near the place where the castle stood, with lodging-rooms for our astronomical observator and assistant"

King Charles II
Image
An illustration showing astronomers at work in the Octagon Room of the Royal Observatory. One is looking through a telescope pointed out of the high window on the right hand side

History of the Octagon Room

The beautiful Octagon Room was created by Christopher Wren on the orders of Charles II. It is one of the few Wren-designed interiors that you can still see in London today.

The room's high windows and multiple south-facing views gave first Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed a panoramic view of the night sky. Different instruments could be set up to carry out observations from each window, as this rare print illustrating the interior of the 'Star Room' shows.

The main Observatory building was constructed using the old foundations of Greenwich Castle, which had fallen into decay following the British Civil Wars.

It was a practical solution for a project short of funds. However, this construction made the room less useful when attempting to measure the position of stars.

Astronomers use meridian lines — imaginary lines running due north or south of the viewer — as a reference when making star observations. By repeatedly measuring at what time and what height the stars cross these lines, it's possible to build up an accurate map of the sky.

In the Octagon Room however, none of the walls align with a meridian. Flamsteed in fact made many of his observations from a small brick shed in the garden outside the main Royal Observatory building.

A family plays on the Prime Meridian Line in front of the historic buildings of the Royal Observatory

Visit the Royal Observatory

Explore the home of Greenwich Mean Time and visit London's only Planetarium

Choose your tickets

A couple walks along the Prime Meridian Line in front of the historic Royal Observatory Greenwich building

Royal Observatory

  • Walk the Prime Meridian line
  • See the best view in London
  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Audio guide included
  • Planetarium shows not included
Adult £20
Child £10
BOOK NOW
A couple takes a selfie at the top of Greenwich Park, with the River Thames and Canary Wharf in the background

Royal Museums Greenwich Day Pass

  • Save 25% with combo ticket
  • Cutty Sark
  • Royal Observatory
  • Guaranteed entry time
  • Planetarium shows not included
Adult £30
Child £15
BOOK NOW

Member tickets

  • Unlimited free entry
  • Priority booking and exclusive events
  • Access using your membership card
Membership card number required
BOOK NOW
A father and son look through a porthole on the main deck of historic ship Cutty Sark

Become a Member

  • Unlimited entry all year
  • Royal Observatory
  • Cutty Sark
  • Planetarium Shows
  • Special exhibitions
Direct Debit One-off
Individual: £50 Individual: £60
Family: from £60 Family: from £70
JOIN TODAY