How to spend a day in Greenwich

How to spend a day in Greenwich

The distinct maritime feel of Greenwich gives it a unique character. Perhaps that’s what makes it such a popular place for a day out for both London residents and visitors to the city. There are lots of places to see and things to do in Greenwich, so it’s not too hard to fill up a fun day in the area. If you’re wondering about the best ways to enjoy a day here, we know some great shops, eateries, bars, and activities that you won’t want to miss out on. Take a look at our guide to how to spend a day in Greenwich.

Tamsin Spargo, Thatsup
Tamsin Spargo
  1. Time for breakfast
    1. 1
      Royal Teas Classic tea room
    2. 2
      River Gardens Café Riverside meals all day
    3. 3
      Midpoint Restaurant Tuck in to a Turkish breakfast
  2. Do some shopping
    1. 1
      Greenwich Market Hub of independent retailers
    2. 2
      Made in Greenwich Locally-produced craft items
    3. 3
      Outlet Shopping at The O2 Modern shopping centre
  3. Where to go at lunchtime
    1. 1
      Bianco43 Authentic Italian recipes
    2. 2
      Goddards Proper London food
    3. 3
      Heap's Sausage Café Meaty treats to take away
  4. Fun things to do in Greenwich
    1. 1
      Cutty Sark Unique nautical museum
    2. 2
      Greenwich Park Get back to nature
    3. 3
      National Maritime Museum Uncover naval history
  5. A drink before dinner
    1. 1
      Champagne + Fromage Cosy champagne stop
    2. 2
      Meantime Brewery Taproom The home of local beers
    3. 3
      Eighteen Sky Bar Luxury sky bar
  6. Top dinner spots
    1. 1
      Kitcho Elegant Japanese dining
    2. 2
      Kinaara Fine dining with a view
    3. 3
      Mountain View Traditional recipes from Nepal
  7. Stay out all night
    1. 1
      The Old Joinery Nights for music lovers
    2. 2
      Oliver's Jazz Bar Cosy basement jazz bar
    3. 3
      Boom Battle Bar Drinks with action

Jump to

Time for breakfast

Royal Teas

Classic tea room

Get a classic English experience at popular independent tea room Royal Teas. This charming venue has a cosy atmosphere and indoor and outdoor tables. Food is served all day. The lengthy breakfast options include fruit salad, a veggie fried breakfast, or a sausage and egg ciabatta. Afternoon tea is also served.

River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café
River Gardens Café – A day in Greenwich
River Gardens Café

River Gardens Café

Riverside meals all day

Family-run restaurant River Gardens Café has a friendly atmosphere and a modern look. Tables have great views of the Thames and the dining room is spacious and modern. There's plenty of choice for breakfast, including fresh pastries, fried breakfasts, pancakes, and mini portions for kids. You can bring your dog too.

Midpoint Restaurant

Tuck in to a Turkish breakfast

Kick off your day the Turkish way with breakfast at Midpoint Restaurant. This riverside eatery has outdoor seating, large windows, and a modern look. Food is served all day and for breakfast you can go for a traditional Turkish option or dishes like omelettes, fried breakfasts, or a health-conscious granola bowl.

Do some shopping

Greenwich Market

Hub of independent retailers

Right in the heart of the area you’ll find Greenwich Market, a covered market bringing a broad range of stores and independent vendors together. It often gets busy and it’s a popular spot for fashion, jewellery, crafts, and antiques. Don’t miss the street food section full of tempting global bites.

Made in Greenwich

Locally-produced craft items

At Made in Greenwich you can shop for unique crafts and gifts made by local producers. This award-winning social enterprise aims to support the local community. Amongst the options you'll find art, books, homeware, and greetings cards. It's a great place if you're looking for unique gifts you can't buy elsewhere.

Outlet Shopping at The O2

Modern shopping centre

You can shop til you drop at Outlet Shopping at The O2. There’s a lot to discover at this multi-level shopping centre with fashion, accessories, fragrance, gifts, sportwear, toys, and beauty all packed in under one roof. You’ll find stores from sought-after brands as well as a variety of different eateries.

Where to go at lunchtime

Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43
Bianco43 – A day in Greenwich
Bianco43

Bianco43

Authentic Italian recipes

Italian food fans can enjoy at meal at Bianco43. This is a spacious restaurant with a clean rustic look, dishing up authentic recipes with ingredients imported from Italy. Pizza is a popular choice here, with varied toppings to choose from. Pasta, antipasti, and classic desserts are available, plus cocktails and Italian wines.

Goddards

Proper London food

Get some traditional British grub from green-fronted eatery Goddards. Founded in 1890, this is an old-school pie and mash shop with a classic white-tiled dining room. Tuck in to a traditional minced beef pie or an alternative filling, including veggie and vegan recipes. It’s all served with mash and liquor or gravy.

Heap's Sausage Café

Meaty treats to take away

Get a hearty lunch at Heap’s Sausage Café. This is a local deli doing counter-service food for takeaway. Food is freshly-prepared with local ingredients. In the morning there are sausage sandwiches and fried breakfasts. Later in the day you can try burgers, hot dogs, and sausages with mash for a casual lunch.

Fun things to do in Greenwich

Cutty Sark

Unique nautical museum

One of Greenwich’s best known landmarks is the Cutty Sark, a groundbreaking historical clipper ship. Now a fascinating part of the local landscape, it’s also an interesting museum where you can explore the decks, learn about the challenges of sea travel during past times, and meet characters from the ship’s history.

Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park – A day in Greenwich
Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park

Get back to nature

For green surrounds and gorgeous views into Central London, take a walk in Greenwich Park. This expansive park is a sanctuary for wildlife and is also home to the Royal Observatory and the meridian line, which are both fascinating sites. There’s plenty of space for strolling around or lounging on the grass.

National Maritime Museum

Uncover naval history

Learn all about Britain’s fascinating maritime history at the National Maritime Museum. There’s plenty to discover including fun interactive displays, artwork, nautical curiosities, more than 230 ship figureheads, and a record-breaking speedboat. There’s a special section for kids aged under seven too and lots of child-friendly activities for the whole family.

A drink before dinner

Champagne + Fromage

Cosy champagne stop

Savour a glass of fizz at Champagne + Fromage. This warm and rustic venue is a bistro, bar and shop, bringing Londoners quality champagne and cosy French cooking. The wide choice of champagne bottles makes this a great spot for a drink, with some vintage bottles available too.

Meantime Brewery Taproom

The home of local beers

Beer fans can appreciate a visit to the Meantime Brewery Tasting Rooms. This industrial-style bar is a cool place to sample local beers brewed only metres from where you’re sitting. A variety of beers are on offer, plus a simple food menu. You can buy beer to take home too.

Eighteen Sky Bar

Luxury sky bar

At Eighteen Sky Bar you can take in striking views of the river and the city from an 18th floor location. The venue is sleek with moody lighting, plush furniture, cool music, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Cocktails and champagne are the speciality here, and private hire of the venue is available for events.

Top dinner spots

Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho
Kitcho – A day in Greenwich
Kitcho

Kitcho

Elegant Japanese dining

For Japanese dining in a smart space, try Kitcho. It has a calm atmosphere and a big choice of dishes. Sushi fans are in for a treat with elegant rolls, sashimi, and platters. Dishes like noodles, tempura, and salads are served too. Complete a meal with sake and Japanese beer or soft drinks.

Kinaara

Fine dining with a view

Sample Indian fine dining whilst taking in great views of the city at Kinaara. This contemporary venue looks sophisticated and sleek. The refined menu includes culinary influences from all over India. Food is complemented by the vibrant range of original cocktails and a lengthy list of international wines.

Mountain View

Traditional recipes from Nepal

For some of Greenwich's top Nepalese and Indian cooking, head to Mountain View. This understated local restaurant has a simple and comfortable dining room but takeaways are available too. Classic recipes are on the menu like pakora, momo dumplings, biryani, and tandoori dishes. Complete a meal with beer, wine, or soft drinks.

Stay out all night

The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery
The Old Joinery – A day in Greenwich
The Old Joinery

The Old Joinery

Nights for music lovers

If music is essential to your night out, visit The Old Joinery. This riverside venue in a former joinery workshop has exposed brick, beams, and a terrace with a tropical vibe. Intimate live performances are on regularly, covering genres like blues, jazz, and spoken word. The bar does a varied selection of drinks.

Oliver's Jazz Bar

Cosy basement jazz bar

Oliver’s Jazz Bar is a favourite amongst London’s jazz fans. With cosy furniture and a roaring fire in the basement venue, it’s a comfortable place to check out live music and enjoy a drink. Music is on every night of the week and the bar is fully-stocked with a tempting range of drinks.

Boom Battle Bar

Drinks with action

Break out your competitive streak at Boom Battle Bar. This lively and modern bar offers punters a great range of games and activities – axe throwing, darts, pool, shuffleboard, karaoke, beer pong, and crazy golf are all options for your night out. Wine, beer, cocktails, and bar snacks like nachos are served.

A day in Greenwich – About the guide

Our guide on how to spend a day in Greenwich is updated regularly. If you know of somewhere great in Greenwich that we haven't featured in our guide, feel free to get in touch. Please let us know if you see any mistakes in our guide to planning a day in Greenwich. Have you visited any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.