Royal Observatory Greenwich holds a treasure trove of some of history's most iconic timepieces. Discover the stories behind John Harrison's groundbreaking marine chronometer H1, Charles Shepherd's 'master clock', and the famous Greenwich Time Ball. Plus, find out about the history of timekeeping and its importance to society.

The lost chronometer: the timepiece that sailed with Charles Darwin and Sir John Franklin
Learn more about the marine chronometer that journeyed on board HMS Beagle before being lost at sea during Sir John Franklin's disastrous expedition
Time before Greenwich Mean Time: the confusing case of the traveller's watch
Before time became standardised, different areas of the country all kept their own 'local time'. This gold traveller's watch with two minute hands shows how tricky that could be
The BBC pips: the Royal Observatory and the Greenwich Time Service
Discover the story behind the Greenwich time pips, first broadcast by the BBC 100 years ago in 1924
30 Oct 2023
What is a nocturnal?
Learn more about the nocturnal or ‘nocturlabe’, used for centuries to tell the time based on the movement of the stars
When do the clocks go back?
Marking the end of British Summer Time, the clocks go back in October, giving us an extra hour in bed
08 Mar 2023
The Greenwich Time Lady: Ruth Belville
Discover the story behind the media sensation Ruth Belville, who brought the correct time from the Royal Observatory to London for almost 50 years.
When do the clocks go forward in 2024?
Marking the start of British Summer Time, the clocks 'spring forward' in March, meaning we'll lose an hour's sleep
Which years are leap years and can you have leap seconds?
Because the Earth takes a little over 365 days to orbit the Sun, we need to make adjustments to keep the seasons from drifting: leap years and even leap seconds
20 May 2016
100 years of Daylight Saving
On the centenary of Daylight Saving in Britain, Curator of Horology, Rory McEvoy looks back at its history.
Longitude found - the story of Harrison's Clocks
Who was John Harrison, and how did his clocks help to solve the problem of finding longitude at sea?