Visit Greenwich Blogger
Half term in Greenwich
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- Published on Monday, 18 February 2013 14:44
Half term is here and it feels like the beginnings of Spring are in the air, hoorah! Greenwich is sparkling in the sunshine this morning and absolutely overflowing with special events and fun activities for kids. If there isn't something here to keep the mini-me's in your home happy then we're just not trying hard enough.
The National Maritime Museum always has lots for kids to do and it's nearly all free. There are Explore Saturdays, Discover Sundays and Play Tuesdays every week. This week, to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Water Snake you can be inspired by Chinese flags in the Museum and create your own Family Flags, hunt for Chinese sailing boats with Creative Cargo and join in with the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Or you could find out what it took to paint the Painted Hall when you Scale it Up and try your hand at some unusual artistic techniques at the Old Royal Naval College where conservation is under way. You'll even get a peek behind the scaffolding at the work in progress.
Cutty Sark is a downright thrill of a place to visit at any time of the year but there are some extra activities this week to entertain and excite your children over the half term break. Sailor James Robson takes you on a voyage From Britain to China where you'll hear about his life on board the famous old tea clipper and discover some dark facts about a nice cup of tea. Or you could make a fan or an animal mask inspired by Chinese New Year to take home as a reminder of your visit.
There's a big Poetry Party happening at the splendid Greenwich Theatre, on Tuesday and Wednesday, with poetry pass-the-parcel, nursery rhyme hats, haiku balloons and going-home poems plus live music and lots of joining in. Or if you have slightly smaller little 'uns to keep happy you could introduce them to the joys of classical music at Bach to Baby, in St Alfege church, where romantics are at the top of the bill.
Down at Woodlands Farm there are three days of half term events including felt making, bird box building and living off the land - go on, get wild in the country!
And if you think your kids are noisy try introducing them to the Louder than Thunder tour at Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum, in Woolwich Arsenal. There's face painting, fun in the Camo Zone and firing a real life cannon. That should shut them up.
You can find out more about all these activities on our events calendar and don't forget that the Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum, Old Royal Naval College, Queen's House, Greenwich Market, the Planetarium, the Fan Museum and the wonderful Greenwich Park will all be open as usual! There, that's given you something to think about, hasn't it.
Add a comment Add a commentAnton's Uncles at Greenwich Theatre
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- Published on Thursday, 13 September 2012 11:34
13 September 2012
James Haddrell is Artistic Director at the splendid Greenwich Theatre, which has just embarked on its Autumn season. He writes proper prose, not disconnected rubbish like me, so pay attention. Here he is...
"The Olympics and Paralympics may have come to a spectacular end but it’s certainly not the end of this year’s international showcase for Greenwich. On Sunday 23 September the cast of Theatre Movement Bazaar’s award-winning theatrical celebration, Anton's Uncles travel from their home in Los Angeles to Greenwich to prepare for a week-long residency at Greenwich Theatre.
I first met this company at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011 when their show emerged from over 2500 other productions as the one-to-watch, having earned an LA Choreography Award, a host of five star reviews and a UK Outstanding Theatre Award. I spent the subsequent year wooing the company and negotiating to bring them to Greenwich (and with the time difference between London and LA, that’s meant a lot of late night phone calls!).
Anton's Uncles is unlike any piece of theatre I’ve ever seen before. It’s inspired by Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, but you don’t need to know the play (or even like it!) to be swept away by this vibrant, comic, immaculately choreographed hour of dance, music and performance. The best way to describe the show is simply as an hour of theatrical joy.
After a week here in Greenwich we’re touring - I’ll be driving the tour bus early and late and putting in my regular working day in between and our technical manager will be touring the set in the back of a van while running the theatre technical department at the same time. We’ve never been satisfied with limiting our work to what people might expect of a team of six! Seriously, we’re always looking for ways to make the next big leap, and Anton's Uncles is certainly that.
There’s no question that 2012 has been a truly Olympian year for us at Greenwich Theatre. While other theatres across the country have struggled with the economy, we’ve transferred shows to Brighton and Edinburgh, won an award in Dublin and been invited to present a show in New York. Greenwich is fast becoming an international theatre powerhouse and audiences are set to benefit later this month when Theatre Movement Bazaar bring their unforgettable show to Greenwich Theatre. I hope you can come along!"
Anton's Uncles is at Greenwich Theatre from Tuesday 25 September until Saturday 29 September
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich at Games time
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- Published on Wednesday, 12 September 2012 14:43
12 September 2012
Well, I'm back. After a summer away enjoying the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games it's time to start posting again and I'll begin with a few images from Greenwich's Games experience. Greenwich Park was the venue for the Equestrian events, as you might have seen on TV, and it looked super green and sparklingly gorgeous in those pictures.
Greenwich town centre was completely transformed as 20,000 spectators a day rampaged back and forth on their way from station to venue and back, barely pausing to stock up on sandwiches and sausage rolls from Gregg's. The weather gods must have been big-time horsey fans because the sun shone almost every day, except for one spectacular and apocalyptic thunderstorm when anyone in the Park, or nearby, was drenched in about fifteen seconds.
There were also Olympic and Paralympic events at the North Greenwich Arena, on Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich but even though those events were as fabulous as any others, the pictures from inside the venues could have come from anywhere. Greenwich Park, however, was recognisably the Park with overhead cameras zooming and swooping down the hill, over the Queen's House, through the Old Royal Naval College and across the river to the Isle of Dogs.
As well as the spectators inside the stadium in Greenwich, there were hundreds more on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College where a big screen, outdoor ping- pong tables, street food stalls and a sensibly stocked bar kept folks happy as the events onscreen unfolded. Every time a British competitor did something splendid in the Equestrian arena the ecstatic roar of the crowd rolled over the Queen's House and into the Old Royal Naval College just as the big screen sound caught up. It was very exciting.
HMS Ocean kept guard in Greenwich Reach while Royal Greenwich 2012 Volunteers smiled and Gamesmakers smiled and pointed with puffy pink fingers while they patiently explained the route to the toilets for the 4052nd time. It wasn't just the Volunteers - everybody smiled. The Games were thrilling, the sun shone and everybody smiled.
And it's not often I get to say that.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Peninsula
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- Published on Wednesday, 27 June 2012 14:37
27 June 2012
It's all go on Greenwich Peninsula these days as preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games continue, London's first ever cable car gets ready to wing its way across the river and intrepid daredevils stride across the roof of The O2.
The cable car, officially the Emirates Air Line, opens at lunchtime tomorrow (28 June 2012) and has already been swooping back and forth over the Thames for the last few months while testing. It looks fantastic and runs from North Greenwich to Royal Docks and, if it ever stops raining, it should provide some outstanding views of the Thames barrier and London docklands.
Also recently open, on the other side of North Greenwich underground station but equally full of height-based thrills, is Up at The O2 where you can walk over the roof of the hugely successful venue. I say walk, but from the people we've seen already having a go, it looks like you need a bit of vim in the leg department. You pick up all the gear you'll need, including a jump suit and climbing chainy stuff I don't know the name for to clip you on to a guide cable, hold on your instructors hand, and off you go.
There's a big, round platform at the top where you should get some more fantastic views, this time in 360 degree colour, out across Greenwich and the rest of the city.
Already open, inside The O2, is the British Music Experience, top notch museum of pop music from Elvis right up to Rihanna. There are lots of costumes, artefacts and other groovy musical memorabilia so turn up at Greenwich Peninsula, hang out for a while and pop along to the British Music Experience. I promise you'll like it...
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Foot Tunnel
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- Published on Friday, 15 June 2012 11:27
15 June 2012
Seeing as we had a bit of sunshine in Greenwich yesterday I decided to spend some time underground. This is Greenwich Foot Tunnel which stretches under the Thames from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs, or so you hope as you set off down the shallow slope towards the other side.
As you get to the middle, however, you can't see either end so you could be heading for anywhere at all. Where will you end up? Narnia? Who knows? Well I know, obviously, and it definitely is the Isle of Dogs. Island Gardens, in fact, where you can look back across the river at almost the same view that Canaletto painted over 250 years ago. (You can see the painting along with lots of other good things in the splendid Royal River exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, by the way. More on that below...)
The Tunnel opened in August 1902 so it's coming up to its 110th birthday and has been having a bit of a facelift recently, which is why the domed roof is so very shiny (and why the pavement around it is so very fencey and skippy). The lifts have been replaced as well as the roof, so it looks nice and smart for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are now just around the corner.
Of course that means that the view across the river isn't quite the same this year as it usually is because there's an enormous stadium under construction in Greenwich Park, so I was lying through my teeth in the second paragraph. Sorry about that. The stadium will be used for the Equestrian events and parts of the Modern Pentathlon and will be coming down again after the Games are all over in September.
It's a great view, whatever, and this summer will be the only opportunity to see it looking so different. So if you haven't done it before you should take a stroll under the river and have a look. But if you end up in an enchanted forest, where it's always winter, it's entirely your own fault, so don't blame me.
Add a comment Add a commentThames Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Greenwich
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- Published on Sunday, 03 June 2012 19:14
3 June 2012
It was cold. It was grey. And the rain came sweeping down the river and into your ears and shoes, your trousers, your faces and your Union Jack hats. But so did the boats, all the way from Chelsea. Big boats, little boats, rowboats, sailboats, motorboats, barges, pleasure cruisers naval craft and Dunkirk veterans among them, so nobody cared about the weather. Let's face facts. It's the UK in June - of course it was going to be like this.
A belfry boat, sounding chimes as she sailed, led the way out of the upriver murk, closely pursued by Gloriana, the Royal barge. The Queen wasn't on board, she'd been in the Spirit of Chartwell and had disembarked at Tower to review the flotilla as it passed, but nobody minded. It was surprisingly moving to see all the people who'd come out to celebrate, both on the Thames and on the banks to greet them. Here's a few pictures from Greenwich. I got wet getting these. Wet. Enjoy them...
Gloriana arriving in Greenwich.
Smaller boats, carrying flags of the Commonwealth, with the Old Royal Naval College and Queen's House in the background.
An unusually lone naval vessel passes the Greenwich Foot Tunnel and Cutty Sark.
A matched pair passing Cutty Sark and Greenwich Pier.
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Diamond Jubilee in Greenwich
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 14:52
30 May 2012
It's the Diamond Jubilee this weekend so hip hip hoorah, God save the Queen and take a look at what's going on in Greenwich to help celebrate a remarkable sixty years.
The main focus for all Londoners this weekend, and for many more people across the country and around the World, is the river and the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June. Over a thousand boats are taking part in what will be the biggest ever assembly of river-craft including rowing boats, motor boats, pleasure cruisers, working boats and the Queen's Royal Barge.
There will even be music barges, boats spouting geysers and a floating belfry whose chiming bells will be answered by riverside churches. I think you'll agree that sounds like messy, noisy, splashy, showy, enormous, excellent fun. Her Majesty leaves the pageant at the Tower of London but the rest of the boats continue downriver and most of them should be reaching Greenwich from about 5.00pm onwards.
Before that, there's plenty of loyal and royal activity in Greenwich at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Market and the British Music Experience.
The Big Jubilee Lunch, at the Old Royal Naval College, is aiming to be the largest street party in the UK and everybody is invited to eat at what will, almost certainly, be the longest picnic table ever, stretching out to two thirds of a mile. That's a lot of table.
There will also be live entertainment, a range of local and global food, hand-drawn beers, hand-made crafts and make-your-own-pageant-boats activity for kids which will be handy for any budding Brunels in your family.
Across the road in Greenwich Market there's a Royal Memorabilia Market with over 80 antique and craft stalls featuring new and vintage memorabilia. They'll have the lot in there - antique china, glass, linens, locally produced handcrafted souvenirs, beautiful bunting, very British cushions and more throws than you can chuck a stick at.
The Market will be decorated with red, white and blue flags and bunting and giant tiaras will hang from the roof. Giant tiaras! You definitely should go.
And for all those who fancy something just a little bit different there's a Great British T-shirt Party at the British Music Experience in The O2 next to North Greenwich underground station. Kids can create their own band T-shirts in the Pop-up design studio and celebrate sixty years of music heritage in their own, messy way.
So, wherever you end up, enjoy yourselves. Royally, if possible.
Add a comment Add a commentThe Big Dance
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- Published on Friday, 18 May 2012 14:54
18 May 2012
The Big Dance tripped the light fantastic into Greenwich today and sprang into the Painted Hall with all the grace and elegance of a feather-weight kitty cat on an ice rink . Over a hundred local school children danced together with thousands of others worldwide in the Big Dance Schools Pledge, as part of a Guinness World Record attempt.
Wayne McGregor CBE, Resident Choreographer at the Royal Ballet, choreographed a special routine for the event, part of Big Dance 2012, inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The dance took place simultaneously in over 1,000 schools throughout the UK and across Europe, USA, South America, South-East Asia, the Middle East and the Far East. That's a very Big Dance.
Surrounded by the beautiful frescoed walls and ceiling of the Painted Hall, these talented young dancers were up against tough competition in the here's-something-to-look-at stakes which they won by a country mile. They were great, as were their even younger colleagues who started the whole event off just outside in the colonnades, and then stayed around to watch the show.
The Painted Hall took artist James Thornhill 19 years to complete and he was paid three quid a square yard for the ceiling and a pound a yard for the walls which seems a bit stingey to me. He was given a knighthood in 1720 but whether that made up for spending a decade or so lying on his back on a rickety scaffold, dripping burnt umber and white spirit in his eye, we'll never know.
It's free to visit so you should definitely come and see it some day. Unfortunately the groovy dancers were a one-off so you'll just have to make do with the fabulous baroqueness of Mr Thornhill instead.The Big Dance is a UK-wide celebration of dance with thousands of events taking place across the UK in all sorts of locations – lidos, parks, palaces, schools, high streets and squares and Greenwich Dance is the South East Hub for London so there's lots more of this on the way. Which can only be a good thing, I'd say...
Add a comment Add a commentCutty Sark in the sun
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- Published on Monday, 14 May 2012 15:16
14 May 2012
As a quick addendum to the piece below about Cutty Sark, here's a picture of the ship in full back to Bristol fashion this weekend in a rare and brief burst of sunshine. Lots of people around, as you can see, and it wasn't only Cutty Sark they'd come along to see.
HMS Ocean has been in Greenwich all week taking part in an defence exercise preparing security arrangements for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There have been helicopters buzzing around, Typhoon jets roaring across the skyline and special forces dashing up and down the river in fast and manly boats.
HMS Ocean, and all the helicopters and black-clad lads on the river will be back during the Games and the jets will be close at hand. The Games, incidentally, are now only 74 days away with the opening ceremony taking place at the Olympic Park on July 27. Greenwich Park hosts the Equestrian events and I'll have some pictures of the stadium going up and news on the other Olympic venues in Woolwich and Greenwich Peninsula soon... 
So, two pretty pictures and some information. You couldn't ask for more. Well, you could but it wouldn't, frankly, do any good at all. Although, coming back to Cutty Sark, I can tell you that there's an updated version of the excellent BBC documentary about the six-year conservation of the ship on BBC2 this Saturday 19 May at 8.00pm. It's really good and even if you've already seen it there's some extra material covering the lead-up to the re-opening in April. You can find out more it from the BBC themselves, here.
Add a comment Add a commentRoyal River
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- Published on Tuesday, 01 May 2012 14:25
3 May 2012
It has been raining in London for a month. Honest. An entire month. I saw a delivery man at the weekend in an alley next to the Market whose feet were webbed.
Luckily, Greenwich has a splendid range of entertaining and educational indoor activities and yes, before you even raise your hand, you can learn something and have fun at the same time. Think reading a science book on a space-hopper. Or you could try stopping by the National Maritime Museum where a new and fabulous exhibition has just opened. Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames is a big, splashy, glittering romp through 500 years of the Royal Family and the river Thames.
There are nearly 400 exhibits including paintings, suits of armour, miniatures, gold chains, silver gorgets, barge-figures, swords, badges and musical instruments. Two of my favourite pieces were a Tournament score cheque from a joust at Greenwich in May 1516 and the painting you see as soon as you walk into the exhibition - one of Canaletto's outstanding views of London on Lord Mayor's Day.
There's another Canaletto further in, his famous portrayal of the Old Royal Naval College (or Greenwich Hospital as it then was) seen from the other side of the river. It looks almost the same today as it did in the early 1750s when the painting was completed.
You'd think, wouldn't you, that seeing as I've got a nice pic of a suit of armour, which I've barely mentioned, that I might have taken a picture of at least one of my favourite pieces. You'd think that wouldn't you? Well, I haven't, so there. And the reason I haven't is because I want you to come to Greenwich and have a look yourself. There, I've said it. But you knew that's what I was after all along. I tell you what though, it's important to have a few tasters to get you really seriously interested, so here's a picture of the figurehead of the royal yacht Royal Charlotte from 1824.
Good, isn't it? And, at about 3 metres tall, it's a majorly impressive piece of work. Royal River was curated by David Starkey and opened by the Queen, to celebrate the Museum's 75th anniversary, on the same day she opened Cutty Sark. Astonishingly, she was here, on a birthday treat, with her father George VI on 27 April 1937 when he opened the Museum itself, and there's a picture of that day in the exhibition.
Just time to mention this dashing chappie who poses with all the elan and confidence of someone who knows that his spoon has been, is now, and always will be, solid silver. I like his expression, all 'look at me, aren't I even cuter than the Easter Bunny?'
There's lots more to see and lots of stories to take in including how London's bridges were built, the journeys of the King's Ships, tunnelling under the Thames and the Great Stink above it that directly led to the construction of a proper sewage disposal system for London, instead of the existing one which, in simple terms, consisted of chucking everything in the river. The exhibition's open every day from 10.00am to 5.00pm so you should definitely go and have fun, learn, stay dry and avoid getting duck feet.
www.rmg.co.uk/visit
Cutty Sark reborn
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- Published on Friday, 09 March 2012 14:29
25 April 2012
It's a big day in Greenwich today. The Queen, fittingly, has been having lunch in the Queen's House in Greenwich after a busy morning of official openings and royal visits including the fabulously refurbished Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum's Royal River exhibition.
I hope Her Majesty got to see as much of the ship as I did yesterday because it's absolutely fantastic. That's right, I've been on board and you haven't and you're jealous now aren't you? And you can stay jealous until, er, tomorrow when Cutty Sark opens to the public again after six years of painstaking conservation. But, seeing as how you have to wait until tomorrow and everything, I thought you might like to see a few pictures...
It feels friendly, this ship, it feels welcoming, warm and friendly like a big old golden retriever, from the moment you step on board and begin your visit in a deck filled with all sorts of tea cases, tools, and explanatory bits of film and installation. Further on and further in there's a space which can be transformed into a little theatre and beyond that a projection of the shadows of sailors working on the decks, which is super-realistic and had some turning around to see where the people making the shadows were.
Up above, on what I was reliably informed was called the 'tween deck, you get an idea of how big the ship is and just how much tea you could jam in to the empty space.
There were still technicians, curators and hard-hatted chappies working on the day I went, as you can see, but most of the exhibits were in place and videos on stacks of tea played while we tried to sail Cutty Sark from Australia to England on an interactive table-top. My colleague was shipwrecked on rocks within 3 seconds which was excellent and pleased me very much indeed.
The Weather deck, the one that's exposed to the crashing surf and howling winds of Cutty Sark Gardens is just great. This is where you can imagine yourself Captain as Cutty Sark races with Thermopylae to London through testing seas losing her rudder twice on the way - which seems sort of careless to me, but there you go.
The ship has been raised by 3 metres during the conservation and, as you stand in the prow, white-knuckledly gripping the rail, you feel like, well - the king of the world.
The biggest deal of all, however, is what you find underneath the decks, glinting like buried treasure in the dry-dock of dreams. For a start, you can walk underneath the hull, really, you can stand underneath the ship. Looking at a ship from the underneath and not being a fish or an elephant seal? That's just not right. But it IS epic. Seriously, it's outstanding - the hull has been newly copper-bottomed and it looks like it's made of gold as it curves elliptically away from you.
At one end of the enormous space there's a collection of figureheads lined up like guests at a Victorian regatta, including Nanny herself, the original figurehead from Cutty Sark. She's still clutching the horses tail she grabbed from a terrified mount all those years ago and it looks to me like she's the one in charge.
So. Looks amazing doesn't it? Well, it is. You should definitely go. Next time - Royal River...
www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark
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Charles Dickens and Greenwich
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- Published on Tuesday, 07 February 2012 12:46
7 February 2012
Charles Dickens is 200 today, or he would be if he wasn't dead, so hoorah for him and many happy returns etc.
He was a big fan of Greenwich, by all accounts, and was partial to a Whitebait dinner in the Trafalgar Tavern, by the river. Whitebait dinners were the totally in thing to do during much of the Victorian era and even attracted members of the Cabinet down the river on special occasions like, say, voting to extend workhouse hours or the Charge of the Light Brigade.
You can, in fact, still get your hands on Whitebait in the pub today - they're tiny fish, for those who are wondering, a bit like trout only much, much, much, much, much, much smaller.
Dickens was also a frequent visitor to the annual Greenwich Fair which was a rambunctious and boisterous event full of music, sideshows, street performers, hawkers and drunks. There was almost certainly a mime and a juggler too. There's almost always a mime and a juggler. Miming. And juggling. Not a fan.
Anyway, Greenwich Fair was definitely a lively business and was banned in 1857 for annoying the locals and being too much fun. Dickens wrote about it in his 1836 work, Sketches By Boz:
“Imagine yourself in an extremely dense crowd" he said, "Add to this the screams of women, the shouts of boys, the clanging of gongs, the firing of pistols, the ringing of bells... the noise of a dozen bands, with three drums in each, all playing different tunes at the same time, the hallooing of showmen, and an occasional roar from the wild-beast shows; and you are in the very centre and heart of the fair.”
His favourite part of the Fair was Tumbling, a game which led to various bruises, broken arms, broken legs, fractured collar-bones, shattered pelvis's and the occasional fleeting glimpse of a girl's underwear. Fun!
“The principal amusement," Charles tells us, "is to drag young ladies up the steep hill which leads to the Observatory, and then drag them down again, at the very top of their speed, greatly to the derangement of their curls and bonnet-caps, and much to the edification of lookers-on from below.”
So, Dickens loved Greenwich as much as the Victorians loved lino - and that's a lot. It's a shame Greenwich doesn't have the Fair anymore, but we do get to be part of the only show in town this summer when Greenwich Park is the venue for the London 2012 Equestrian events. And they're definitely kind of similar, the Olympic Games and Greenwich Fair, aren't they? Don't you think? Hmm? Alright, they're not.
Happy Birthday, Charles!
Add a comment Add a commentRoyal Celebration Weekend
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- Published on Tuesday, 31 January 2012 14:30
31 January 2012
Gosh, what an exciting few days we've got coming up as Greenwich celebrates its shiny, new Royal status this coming weekend with fireworks, outdoor entertainment and a grand parade. Greenwich has even got a new Royal crest for the occasion - look!
The declaration of Royal Borough status for Greenwich is one of the first actions to mark the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and comes into effect on 3 February 2012 when Woolwich kicks off the weekend with a firework finale to a celebration party in the town centre.
Nearby Eltham, also a part of what will be the Royal Borough of Greenwich, gets in on the act on Saturday with a full day of events and jollity, culminating in some more oohs and aahs as the fireworks get under way again.
Sunday night sees a spectacular closing event in our own World Heritage Site with outdoor entertainment, a grand parade and an even more spectacular skyfull of fireworks. The Grand Royal Parade will be snaking its way through Greenwich town centre at 5.30pm, filled with lanterns, golden carriages and about a thousand, willing walkers, carriers and wheelers. Starting at the National Maritime Museum the golden carriaged, lantern-led throng will eventually fetch up in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College for a splendid riverside denouement.
The award of Royal status recognises the historically close links forged between
So come along in your best red, white and blue and hip hip hoorah with the best of them this weekend when Greenwich gets the bubbly out.
Find out more about the Royal crest here and check the times for this weekend's events here.
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Ship in a Bottle
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- Published on Monday, 09 January 2012 12:17
9 January 2012
The National Maritime Museum would like to get their hands on this fantastic and enormous ship in a bottle and, frankly, who can blame them?
Nelson's Ship in a Bottle, as it's properly known, is by Yinka Shonibare MBE and it's been on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square since May 2010. It's being removed this month and the National Maritime Museum and the Art Fund are raising funds to try and buy it and put it on permanent display in Greenwich, which is a brilliant idea.
The artwork was the first commission for the fourth plinth that deliberately reflected the history of it's surroundings - Trafalgar Square was built to commemmorate Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. It's also the first commission by a black British artist. The ship has 37 sails made of brightly coloured fabric, patterned with African designs, which is the artist's signature material and the work, as a whole "considers the complexity of British expansion in trade and Empire, made possible through the freedom of the seas that Nelson’s victory provided." Well, that's what the Mayor's office say anyway, and they ought to know.
Dr Kevin Fewster, director of the National Maritime Museum, said: "Nelson's Ship in a Bottle is a superb work of art which has delighted Londoners and international visitors. We feel that Greenwich would be the perfect home for this outstanding piece of work, which chimes so brilliantly with the stories we tell through our museum's unique collections."
We say yes please - giant ships in giant bottles are definitely a good thing and we want one. If you'd like to help stack up the £362,500 that it's going to cost, you can follow the intsructions above or donate via the Museum's website and, hopefully, you'll be able to see this splendid piece of work in Greenwich very soon.
Add a comment Add a commentCutty Sark
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- Published on Tuesday, 13 December 2011 12:01
13 December 2011
After more than five years of renovation and re-building Cutty Sark finally got her masts back this weekend, in another step towards re-opening in 2012.
Specialists began work on the ship early on Saturday morning and the final mast slotted into place on Sunday under leaden skies. The masts were initially removed as part of the wholesale renovation of the entire ship, which is now coming to a conclusion. They had, fortunately, already been taken down when work on the ship was interrupted by a fire which broke out on board in May 2007.
Luckily for all of us, all the deck furniture and about half the deck planking had already been taken off as well and the fire damage, although severe, wasn't nearly as bad as was first thought. Dramatic pictures, which appeared at the time, seemed to show the entire ship ablaze and led many to believe that the conservation project was triggered by the fire. In fact, the fire was probably caused by an industrial vaccuum cleaner that had been left on during the conservation work.
Anyway, that work is whizzing along and, although it's still a building site right now, Cutty Sark Trust plan to have the ship ready for visitors by Easter next year. During the conservation Cutty Sark has been raised by just over three metres and a glass structure is being built all around the ship that will roof in the space below.
Visitors will be able to see the hull which helped the ship become one of the fastest Clippers of her day from below, an angle normally reserved for ship-builders and fish. There will be an exhibition area and cafe here too - you can see the glass-work in the pictures, and find out more about how it might look underneath the roof on the Cutty Sark website.
Having the masts back is an important moment for Cutty Sark and for anyone who lives in, or visits Greenwich. Anyone can imagine, now, what the ship will look like next year when all the work is finished, and the rest of the masts, rigging and all the other sea-going bits and pieces that I don't know the names for are back in place.
If I was a big fat softie, I'd say that it feels like this famous old ship has been on a long, long journey to faraway places, but now the crests on the surf are feathering her wake as she finally, gratefully, nears her home port. But I'm not. So I won't.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Christmas Lights
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- Published on Wednesday, 07 December 2011 11:48
Deck the Halls
7 December 2011
Christmas arrived in Greenwich last week when the local children's lantern parade set off for Greenwich Market and the switching on of the Christmas lights by the panto cast from Greenwich Theatre and a special CBeebies star guest.
Local schoolchildren made the lanterns themselves, in workshops with children's art specialists and all round good guys Arty Party, and gathered outside Discover Greenwich in the chilly pre-dusk last Wednesday afternoon, ready for the off.
Then, led off by some splendid stampy crashing, drum and glockenspiel from the Sea Cadet band, the illuminated parade headed off through the Old Royal Naval College and snaked out of the main gates into the early evening commuter traffic, which was grumpily held up at the pass by friendly Greenwich police.
The bobbing lanterns, accompanied by mums and dads, stewards and more friendly police officers, turned round through the town centre and headed into Greenwich Market, already packed with more mums and dads, surprised shoppers, curious dogs and buggies. Millions and millions of buggies. There were buggies everywhere - I began to wonder if you were allowed in without one.
More and more little lantern bearers gradually moved in until it looked as if no one else could fit but, after an appeal from the makeshift stage, the buggies and their owners reluctantly gave ground and everybody found a place. A man in a Santa hat came on stage and introduced the star guest - CBeebies Sarah-Jane Honeywell, known to children all over the nation but not, sadly, to me.
She was brilliant though, as were the cast of Aladdin, from Greenwich Theatre, who joined her in the lead-up to switching on the Christmas lights which, after a tense and noisy countdown, sprung into electric life, sparkling and shining festively.
The lantern-bearers gradually slipped away now, as the buggies formed an inpenetratable barrier of solid metal, glittering and flashing in the seasonal illuminations, as they patiently queued to see Santa.
The Market stayed open with Santa and carollers keeping browsers happy until 7.00pm. We all had a very nice time. Greenwich Market, by the way, is open every day until Christmas, if you'd like to come and see just how festive it feels. Fa la la la la.
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Greenwich Autumn Sun
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- Published on Monday, 21 November 2011 11:14
21 November 2011
What a beautiful weekend we've just had. I went for a walk around Greenwich Park and took these artistic pictures to make you jealous. The park was full of falling leaves, dogs chasing sticks, stary Canada geese and thieving squirrels.
Yes, stary geese. The geese in the park are quite used to people coming up close but, just occasionally, they don't like it so much and they stare. At you. This is when to move quietly away. Quite quickly.
The thieving squirrels, on the other hand, don't leave you alone - especially at this time of year when they're storing up their loot for the winter. I've pointed this out before, but it's worth mentioning again that they are thieves and villains, the lot of them. And gosh there are a lot of them in the Park, particularly around the Wilderness where the deer live. That area is well protected from predators and don't they know it.
Up they come, playing the scampery cute card with all their might, in the hope that you've got some food they can nick. Frequently, if you're foolish enough to give one a nut, which I sensibly never am, his furry little buddy will scrabble up your leg in an attempt to half-inch the entire bag.
You can have some fun, though, if you pretend to have something in your hand, wait till the little robber is a foot away and then show him there's nothing there. He will be OUTRAGED. Literally open-mouthed at the very idea that you've had the gall to trick him. Generally he backs off at this point mumbling squirrel curses and spitting on your shadow as he goes. It's great.
So, if you go and see the deer, which I recommend, and you get mugged on the way by these little criminals, don't say I didn't warn you. Don't be fooled by the fluffy tails and furry cuteness. Remember this - thieves and villains. Thieves. And. Villains.
Add a comment Add a commentBeyonce and the bib
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- Published on Monday, 19 September 2011 14:37
16 September 2011This is a great story which has just come over to me from Jenny at Greenwich Market, so I'll let her do most of the talking.
"Greenwich based company Beauty & The Bib have received celebrity endorsements before, but none as big as the one they received on Lorraine Kelly’s show on ITV this morning" she says. "R&B star Beyonce said the Beauty & The Bib creation she was presented with at London Fashion Week was ‘adorable’.
Beauty & The Bib were asked to make the special bib as a gift for mother-to-be Beyonce by The ITV team. They embroidered it with the message 'If you like it then you shudda put a BIB on it' which bought a smile to the singer’s lips." Ours too! 
The ITV team were pretty pleased as well - Lorraine looks well chuffed. Lara Boyle, the founder and owner of Beauty and the Bib was also thrilled: "You don’t really get any bigger than Beyonce, she clearly loved the bib" she said. Lara's business is one of several in Greenwich Market that started life as a market stall and now have permanent premises there.
You can see more bibs here. They are all, it goes without saying, super cute. Have a look at a bib for real next time you come to Greenwich Market because, if you don't, it may turn out to be the best thing you'll never have.
Add a comment Add a commentThe Greenwich Treasure Hunt
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- Published on Monday, 22 August 2011 10:18
22 August 2011
What with all those great things for kids to do (see below) I clean forgot to mention something groovy for the grown-ups and bigger kids with shiny iphones and Android stuff.
A maptastic new app was released earlier this year called WalkExplorer and with it you can get hold of the iphone and Android enabled Greenwich Treasure Hunt which, apparently, could set you up with a grand prize of £1000.
Wasim Juned, who told me all about WalkExplorer, said: "The Greenwich Treasure Hunt is a diabolical quest that takes you in a search for clues around, above and below
I had a look and it's great. The clues are just tricky enough to make you have to think about them, but not so hard that you have to give up and sit down on the pavement for a little cry.
You can get other walks as well, including strolls in Rotherhithe, Mayfair, the South Bank and Pooh Bear's Forest, but if I were you I'd get the Treasure Hunt and come to Greenwich because it's just better here and that's that.
The first part of the pot of gold - £200 - is only available until 31 August so cancel your plans for next weekend and get on the trail... You can download WalkExplorer and the Greenwich Treasure Hunt from the Apple or Android App stores or find out a bit more about the Treasure Hunt here.
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Greenwich for kids for free!
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- Published on Friday, 12 August 2011 13:40
12 August 2011
I've had a holiday.
I knew you'd be pleased. Not actually a holiday in the going away and sitting in an airport for a few days sense, but in the staying at home and lazing around like a big slob sense. Apart from the last couple of days, which were mostly about the cat and how many times she could chuck up in different places. She chucked up more times than Chucky McChuckup from Chuckington, Chuckinghamshire, and that's saying something.*
Anyway, with all that spare time to fill, I thought I'd see what sort of fun stuff there is for kids to get up to in Greenwich this summer for free. And there's lots!
To "help familes get into the festival spirit", the British Music Experience is letting children in for nothing until 4 September, as long as they're with a paying adult. There are roomfuls of marvellous music memorabilia for the grown-ups and, excitingly, a selection of weird and groovy musical instruments for the kids to have a go on and make an almighty row. Rock on.
Or you could Explore Saturdays or Discover Sundays at the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park. You'll hear about world-changing discoveries in navigation and time, meet characters from the past and nose around in our wonderful maritime history. Ahoy!
Greenwich Market is celebrating summer with a weekly Wednesday Fayre throughout August. Grown-ups get cream teas and a nice sit down while kids can muck around in the bouncy castle, get their sticky little faces painted and make a lovely mess of some clever craft activities.
As if that wasn't enough, it's Fun Family Friday at the Old Royal Naval College on 19 August. Hoorah! Children can spend the afternoon making and decorating their own puppets based on a character from the College's remarkable history. Will your little darling go for an admirable admiral or a salty old sea-dog?
And could he or she be the Patrick Moore or Heather Couper of the future? Find out at the Royal Observatory where they can be Saturday Space Explorers, taking part in astronomy workshops using simple cardboard kits that children can take away and use at home.
Don't forget that there are splendid hands-on exhibits and activities available every day of the week in Discover Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Observatory and all of them are free for kids. Grown-ups also get in for free to Discover Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum and the Old Royal Naval College, making Greenwich a excellently economical place for a fab family outing this summer. Enjoy yourselves!
*The kitty got better. Hopefully that'll teach her to stop eating gross things she finds in puddles. Except, of course, it almost certainly won't.
Add a comment Add a commentThe Sammy Ofer Wing Opens
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- Published on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 14:42
13 July 2011
The brand, spanking, shiny new Wing at the National Maritime Museum opens to the public tomorrow, 14 July, and should be added to your must-go-and-visit list as soon as possible.
If you haven't got a list, start one now. Write down the names of some places you've already visited, so you can cross them out and feel good about yourself, (a bit like a To Do list) then write in big letters Go To The Sammy Ofer Wing at the National Maritime Museum.
I know this is a good idea because I went for a look around today and it's fantastic. The entrance is down a long water-featured slope which opens out to Greenwich Park and into a bright and spacious entry hall with a smart cafe to your left.
Directly in front of you is the permanent Gallery - Voyagers. It's a long, elegant room dominated by The Wave, a "dynamic, wave-like structure featuring bespoke video projections and a specially-designed soundscape", according to the Museum.
It's actually hard to tell what it is because words and pictures roll across it in a mad, beautiful rush that melds and changes all the time, just like the sea itself. I loved it.
There's also a wallful of objects and personal testimonies telling the story of Britain's involvement with the sea over the last 500 years, including Nelson's last letter to his daughter and the toy pig that survived the Titanic.
Downstairs is the new Wing's first exhibition, High Arctic, which "uses a combination of sound, light and sculptural forms to create an abstracted arctic landscape for visitors to explore."
Again, I loved this and spent a long time wandering - I won't say too much so you can find out about it for yourselves. They give you an ultraviolet torch when you go in - make sure you point it everywhere you can think of - it does stuff...
Upstairs there's a bright and perky brasserie, with extra outdoor balcony seats, all of which overlook the park and the paths up to the Royal Observatory. The Caird Library is also on this floor, in another long and scholarly room lined with books and filled with study areas, IT and helpful librarians.
Beyond all of this lies the rest of the Museum, for goodness sake, stuffed with historical objects, paintings, Nelsonian relics, small boats, barges, models and lots of hands-on games for calming frisky kids.
By the way, I took the not very good picture of High Arctic and about six of The Wave, all of which were rubbish, so you'll just have to go and see it for yourself, won't you?
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Eventing Test Event
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- Published on Tuesday, 05 July 2011 13:32
5 July 2011
Hot to Trot
There are horses everywhere, all chasing around Greenwich Park, almost as if we were back in the time when the deer who live there spent all day looking over their shoulders in case Henry VIII was pointing a bow and arrow at them.
It's not hunting these days, of course - although that's what Greenwich Park was originally intended for - it's the test Equestrian event ahead of next year's London 2012 Olympic and 
Paralympic Games. We went along to take a look at the horseys.
The sandy area, where the horses do their stuff, is roughly the same size as it will be in 2012 but the arena itself only holds 2,000 people this year. Next year it will be 20,000 so there's going to be a lot more grandstand standing.
Looks good though, doesn't it? The Queen's House is directly behind the arena with the shiny towers of Canary Wharf looming up behind, all of which should make for some spectacular TV shots next year...
We saw some of the Dressage competition which involves the horses doing cleverly dainty little dance steps around the arena while the rider sits and looks smart. Sometimes they go backwards.
That's not, by the way, the actual description of the event in the official Eventing book of Dressage rules, but it paints a pretty accurate picture. Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves and commented on how big and clever the horses were and how smart the riders were, even when they were going backwards.
It's been Cross Country today, which is more like ta ran ta ra charge, off we go over the fences round the bends, up the slopes, down the hills, into the water and over the line hurrah!
As you may be able to tell, I'm a little hazy on the rules for this discipline as well as the Dressage, but it all looks very exciting and it was followed by another spot of Dressage, this time featuring the Paralympic athletes.
There's Show Jumping tomorrow followed by Modern Pentathlon on the 9th and 10th, all of which should give the organisers plenty of information to help with putting it together again for the real thing in 2012.
Gosh. The real-life Olympic Games in Greenwich in just over a year's time. Exciting.
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Greenwich Tour Guides
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- Published on Friday, 10 June 2011 14:41
10 June 2011
Walking back to Happiness
This post is an unashamed puff and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that as long as the subject, or subjects, are puffworthy, which today's puffees most definitely are.
And they are Greenwich Tour Guides who go striding forth from the Tourist Information Centre twice a day, come rain or shine, and take visitors on an historical odyssey around the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site.
They know what they're on about, this lot, and can talk you through the town's Royal heritage, from Tudor times to William and Kate, and throw in a bit about us commoners for good measure. They're running special walks as well as their daily guided tours at the moment and taking walkers around Greenwich Park to get some facts on the London 2012 Equestrian Olympic events, which will be taking place there next year.
They can also arrange special walks taking in Greenwich ghosts, murders, mysteries, its military and maritime history and the special role of women in the history of our marvellous part of London.
They are, in short, far too clever for their own good and were almost certainly responsible for keeping teacher generously supplied in the apple department.
They are also looking for a team of eager beavers, who live locally, to train up and join them as newly qualified Greenwich Tour Guides and get a shiny badge to show all their friends . Does that sound like something you'd like to do?
Seriously, there's quite a bit of work to do before you can become a guide but it's fun and you'll learn a lot about Greenwich and the surrounding area. If you're interested you can find out all about it on the Greenwich Tour Guides website. You'll need to get your application in by 30 June, so jog on...
(Greenwich Tour Guides run daily guided walks leaving from Greenwich Tourist Information Centre at 12.15 and 2.15 daily. They cost £6.00 for adults and £5.00 for seniors. Under 16s go free.)
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Greenwich Barefoot Friendly Beach Rescue
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- Published on Thursday, 19 May 2011 15:05
19 May 2011
Surfs Up
Hurrah for Surfers! I've always known that they're a friendly, unselfish happy-go-lucky bunch of chaps but now here they come, ta ran ta ra, on a mission to make the riverside all spick and span.
Surfers Against Sewage’s beach clean crew is joining forces with Barefoot Wine this summer for the 4th annual Barefoot Friendly Beach Rescue Tour and they're all coming to Greenwich on 28 May 2011 to tidy up the beach around Greenwich Pier.
Anybody can join in - it isn't actually compulsory to be a surfer - and there's going to be a beach barbecue after the job's done. Surfers Against Sewage say that the amount of litter on beaches in the UK has almost doubled over the last 15 years and that "the power is in our hands to stop this tide of trash."
So if you'd like to save some seabirds and get the beach all shiny you should email Adam at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01872 555 950. The clean-up starts at 4.00pm and lasts for around three hours or so. You'll get a free organic Barefoot/SAS volunteer t-shirt plus the barbecue and a chance to try some of Barefoot's splendid wine.
Obviously, we want you to do your good deed in Greenwich, but if you can't make it this time around take a look at the Surfers Against Sewage website to see if there's going to be a clean-up on a beach near you this Summer.
I don't know Adam but I suspect that he's an extremely sensitive man who might shed a tiny tear if too few people to make a difference sign up for a scrubbing brush. So get in touch with him and lend a hand - you don't want to make Adam cry, do you?
Add a comment Add a commentCaptain Jack gets his girl
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- Published on Friday, 13 May 2011 11:05
13 May 2011
Heeeere's Johnny
You've got to love this. Johnny Depp took the 9 year old Greenwich schoolgirl he surprise-visited at her primary school to the blue*-carpet premiere of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie last night
Beatrice Delap wrote to him when the film was shooting in Greenwich last year and asked if he'd help her set up a mutiny at school, an idea I'm sure we can all applaud. The Deppster had been filming in the Painted Hall that week and dropped by Meridian Primary School with just ten minutes notice.
Still togged up in his Cap'n Jack clobber and slap he told the class that it wasn't a good idea to mutiny today because the police were outside. Wouldn't you have just loved having a large as life PIRATE from the MOVIES in your classroom when you were nine?
Anyway, fast forward seven months and she's his plus-one for the big night in London yesterday evening. How many cool points does Beatrice have back at Meridian, do you reckon? And what a nice guy Johnny Depp is. Good-looking, talented, rich AND nice. Unfair. Really unfair. Actually, now I come to think about it, that's SO unfair that I don't like him any more, so let's hear it for Johnny. Booooooo.
That'll fix 'im.
*Yes, it was blue, not red. No, I don't know why.
Add a comment Add a commentFridays in Greenwich Market
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- Published on Thursday, 12 May 2011 15:16
12 May 2011
Crafty Design
Everybody knows that Greenwich Market is a very groovy place and it will be groovier still over the next three Fridays as it helps to celebrate British Craft and Design month with a series of special one-dayers.
Tomorrow it's the Market's toys, gifts and stationery designers who are showcasing their work and demonstrating some of their artistic techniques. Compendia Games will be roaming the Market Green and aiming to teach you how to play some of their splendid traditional games including Carrom and Shove Ha'penny. And the nimble fingered Greenwich Magic Man will be on hand to bamboozle and astound you. Do you see what I did there? Nimble fingered? On hand? Oh, never mind.
Friday 20 May sees Greenwich Market jewellery and fashion designers showing off their latest collections of baubles, beads and bling and Friday 27 is a Home and Interiors special featuring a small army of artisan designers and makers.
Wood turner Tom Biddulph will be there, accompanied by his lovely lathe, and interior design expert Julia Pickwick, from Pickwick Papers, will create four pop–up room sets on the Market Green which, frankly, is just showing off.
You'll also be able to see how to design, cut and print original prints from lino blocks, using the traditional tools and inks at the Greenwich Printmakers Gallery at 1A Greenwich Market from 12 am-4pm.
So, TGIF at GM. Or something...
Greenwich Test Events 2011
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- Published on Friday, 06 May 2011 12:09
7 May 2011
London Prepares
More information has been released about the programme of test events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games including news about this summer's equestrian event in Greenwich Park.
The programme will include events in the Olympic Park itself and is called London Prepares which roughly translates as coo-er, gosh it's nearly 2012 doesn't time fly all hands to the pump lads and lets have a practice.
The first event in the Park is Greenwich Park Eventing International featuring about 40 horses and riders competing in Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping on 4-6 July in a temporary stadium built on the area you can see in the picture.
This is followed by parts of the Modern Pentathlon UIPM World Cup Final, which involves 72 athletes competing in Riding and the Combined Run/Shoot. This will involve the contestants using new Laser Shooting technology which sounds brilliantly Trekkie and is bound to be excellent entertainment.
Parts of the park will be closed while the temporary stadium is built, used and taken down and most of the east side, but not the flower garden or the children's playground, will also be closed between 21 June and 10 July to make way for the cross country course. Set-up work begins on 16 May and removal of the temporary structures starts directly after the event on 11 July and should be complete by around August 10.
Understandably, the London 2012 Organising Committee are keen to try and avoid any embarrassing boo-boos next year so they see the test events as an opportunity to try out the new venues, technology and equipment and give staff the chance of a trial run without quite so much riding on it.
The competitions in Greenwich Park are still a big deal though - the pentathlon events are part of that sport's 2011 World Cup and the Equestrian events involve proper international horsey people.
Unfortunately for visitors, tickets will only be available to invited guests, including a sizable proportion of local residents. And yes, I know I said 'riding on it'. I thought it was funny.
You can find out more about the events in Greenwich Park, and all the other test events, at the London Prepares website.
Add a comment Add a commentLambing in Greenwich
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- Published on Tuesday, 05 April 2011 14:00
5 April 2011
Mairzy Doats And Dozy Doats
Normally we concentrate exclusively on the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site but I make no excuse whatsoever to stray down the road to Welling today to take a look at some ickle lambs. Everybody likes ickle lambs.
They were born at Woodlands Farm near Oxleas Woods in Greenwich borough which is "an educational Farm managed under the Natural England Higher Level Countryside Stewardship Scheme where we try to balance farming practice with the needs of nature conservation." Gosh.
As well as ickle lambs the farm is home to ducks, geese, chickens, sheep, pigs, goats, a British White cow called Daisy and Bob the Shetland pony.
Lambing is in full swing at the moment with 30 born so far this year and there's a Lambing Day for visitors on 23 April. The farm is normally open every day except Monday from 9.30am until 4.30pm so, next time you're in Greenwich, make some time to nip down the road for a look - it's not far. You can find out more here. And now, at last, here's a lovely picture of those ickle lambs.
Japan comes to Greenwich Market
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- Published on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 10:02
30 March 2011
Japan Festival
Some of the talented musicians from Trinity Laban College here in Greenwich are getting together in Greenwich Market on Friday evening to play a charity concert to raise funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Organised by the students themselves, with lots of help from the Market, the concert features orchestral, chamber and solo music including Takemitsu’s Requiem for Strings & Glazunov’s Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Strings.
Trinity Laban is a joining-together of Laban Dance and Trinity College of Music and the combined conservatoire is based at the Old Royal Naval Colllege in Greenwich and in an architecturally stunning building just down the road in Deptford. The Trinity Laban students and friends playing on Friday are among the very best at what they do, so this concert is going to be worth hearing - filled, as it will be, with some of the next generation of gifted international musicians. Yes, they may well blush - and if you go along you'll be able to see if they do...
The concert starts at 7.30pm this Friday 1 April, there's no fixed price for a ticket and 100% of the takings will be going to the Japanese Tsunami Appeal by the British Red Cross - so be generous.
Originally just the concert was planned but now, inspired by the evening event, there's also going to be a Japanese bazaar and workshops in the Market during the day, as well as the usual Friday mix of antiques, collectables, arts, crafts and food. The workshops are set to include Origami, Kimono, Massage, Japanese sweets and food and Japanese Calligraphy. Market events run from 11.00am until 7.00pm and the nearest public transport is Cutty Sark DLR and Greenwich National Rail and DLR.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Summer Sessions 2011
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 March 2011 11:40
8 March 2011
Summertime Blues
Hoorah! The line up for this year's Greenwich Summer Sessions was announced today and includes Mark Ronson and The Business Intl, The Pogues, The Divine Comedy, local heroes Squeeze and cartoon rockers Status Quo. Fab and groovy stuff, I think you'll agree...
The series of concerts, which take place in the fabulous outdoor setting of the Old Royal Naval College, kick off on July 26 with Neil Hannon's The Divine Comedy taking the National Express to Greenwich and sharing the bill with neo-classical Swedish singer-songwriter Jose Gonzales.
The biggest draw of the concert series could well be Mark Ronson and The Business Intl. who come Bang, Bang, Banging onto the stage on July 27, but the most rock and roll has got to be Status Quo and Nine below Zero who appear on July 28. And if that's not Whatever You Want then I don't know what is. Both bands have local connections - Status Quo got together in South London during the 1960s and Nine Below Zero also have roots in the Charlton area, just down the road.
Squeeze, who debuted in 1974, with their first gig in Greenwich Borough Halls, have always had strong connections with Greenwich and are looking forward to a bit of Slap and Tickle on a, hopefully, warm and balmy summer's evening on July 29.
The weekend gets under way with punk-folk survivors The Pogues, always a fantastic live act, on July 30 giving all of us the chance to try and figure out how, HOW is Shane McGowan still alive. It must be magic. A special, as yet unannounced, act will close the week on Sunday July 31.
The concerts take place exactly a year before the start of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and are part of The Greenwich Festivals, a series of high quality events, organised and supported by Greenwich Council to celebrate the cultural vibrancy of Greenwich, which run from April to November.
Tickets go on sale on Thursday March 10 from Seetickets and there's more information about the whole shebang at the Greenwich Summer Sessions website.
It's going to be a great week - see you there.
Add a comment Add a commentLondon 2012 Greenwich timetable
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- Published on Tuesday, 15 February 2011 11:21
15 February 2011
Ticket to Ride 2
The full London 2012 Olympic Games competition schedule and ticket prices have just been released including all the dates and prices for the Equestrian events which will be taking place in Greenwich Park. Start planning your visit today...
Here's where you can find out about all the Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events in Greenwich Park and, even though our website is dedicated to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, I'm including a link to all the other event details here. Aren't I nice.
The tickets will be on sale on 15 March for six weeks – until 26 April, that is. It won't be first come first served, according to the organisers, so you can apply any time during that month and a half.
As I said in a previous post, which I'll repeat here: "Tickets for the Modern Penthathlon events are probably the best bet for those of us on a leaner budget, coming in at £20.00 and £35.00. In the Equestrian events, you can pick up tickets to the dressage and the jumping for £20.00 for the preliminary rounds and £35.00 for the finals. There are also some higher prices ranging from £55.00 to £275.00 which, presumably, gets you a seat in the stables, a free rub-down and a bowl of hot mash. The cross country day is a straight £55.00."
And if 2012 still seems a long way off, don't forget there's a test event in Greenwich Park this summer. Three days of International Eventing on 4-6 July will be followed by two days of Modern Pentathlon on 9-10 July - those dates still to be absolutely confirmed.
There will be news about tickets later in the year, we're told.
A Weekend in Greenwich
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- Published on Thursday, 10 February 2011 13:11
10 February 2011
Pulling Faces at the Weekend
You may remember that we held a competition towards the end of last year when we asked what you'd do in Greenwich if you had an extra hour in your day. We got lots of great responses including having a winter picnic in Greenwich Park, going to a show at The O2 and dawdling over a roast dinner at a pub along the river.
Anyway, our winner was Janet Lawrence, from North Oxfordshire, whose prize was a weekend at the swish Devonport House hotel. Here's what she had to say about her time in Greenwich. Oh, and she took the nice pictures as well...
"My first trip to Greenwich would have been some time in 2006. I was running training classes for a company in Canary Wharf, and one of the women in the company's training group suggested that I might enjoy staying in Greenwich. Once I spent my first few evenings there, I was hooked!
Greenwich, while part of London, seems a world away somehow. I love the historic buildings, the river front, and the idea of being where "Greenwich Mean Time" is located. It is such a contrast to the modernity of Canary Wharf, yet it is only a handful of stops away on the DLR.
My husband John and I just loved both the Greenwich Theatre and Louise Jameson's one-woman show. "Pulling Faces" was so entertaining! Jameson's voicing of multiple characters was inspired and also more believable than I would have expected. She was terrific to watch on stage, and we were so glad to have selected that play for our Greenwich weekend.
We visited the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Market, explored the town centre, and walked along the Thames Path.We took a lot of photos along the way and had a great time. There's a wonderful vibrancy to
The hotel itself was beautiful. We enjoyed being in such a historic building in a location convenient for everything we wanted to do. Our room was spacious, with a wonderful view toward the Cutty Sark.
I would absolutely recommend
I hope to visit again soon. I hadn't been there in a couple of years, and I realised soon after arriving how much I had missed it! And I can't wait to see the restored Cutty Sark in all her glory."
Thanks Janet! I couldn't have put it better myself. And we'll have another competition soon...
Add a comment Add a commentVoyagers at the National Maritime Museum
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 February 2011 13:15
8 February 2011
What does the sea mean to you?
I like the sound of this. If you go down to the National Maritime Museum on the 25th of February you can be part of the new Sammy Ofer wing which is opening this summer. The Museum are making a collection of 20-30 second videos about what people feel about the sea which will become part of the Voyagers gallery in the new wing. And you could be in one!
You can talk about anything you like - it doesn't have to be Moby Dick or a swashbuckling story of shipwrecks and giant squid, although it'd be brilliant if it were - but it should be about what the sea means to you. "Perhaps it's your earliest beach holiday memory," the Museum say, "your famous sailing relative, or a voyage you've made. Or perhaps it's just the feeling you have when you look out to the horizon."
There's also the opportunity to make a longer audio version if you really are an old seadog with a tale to tell, but for most of us the finished videos will be short snippets which will form part of the final exhibition. So you'll still be a star but only for twenty seconds. Voyagers will also have more than 200 objects on display and a specially designed audio-visual installation.
So, do you fancy being part of the brightest and most exciting museum galleries in London this summer? If you do you can book a slot right now or have a look at the Museum's website for more details and an example of how your video might look.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Cruise Terminal
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- Published on Monday, 31 January 2011 13:02
31 January 2011
Carry on Cruising
Greenwich is set to get an international cruise liner terminal after plans were approved by the council on Thursday night. The terminal will be at Enderby Wharf, half way between Greenwich town centre and The O2 arena on Greenwich peninsula, and should be ready for its first visitors in 2012.
The development will eventually include a 250 room hotel, over 700 new homes, a Thames Clipper river bus stop, hospitality skills academy, a creche and improved access to the Thames Path through a river-front open space.
Only the terminal itself, the Thames Clipper stop, and access road will actually be complete by 2012 - we can't work miracles, you know, not even in Greenwich - but they should be in operation in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cruise ships and Navy vessels have docked in Greenwich before, of course, but there's never been a purpose-built facility for large ships. The developers are optimistic about the popularity of the terminal and are projecting that 30 ships will visit in the first year of operation followed by 50 in 2013-2014 and 100 in 2014-2015. That's a lot of ships.
If you'd like to take a look at where the terminal is going to be built, take a walk through the Old Royal Naval College the next time you're in Greenwich. Walk down to the river and take a look downstream - that's over to your right for the non-maritimers among you. See that big old gas-holder? Just to the right of that is where the cruise liners will be sitting out in the river when they're moored up to the new terminal.
There should be a spectacular view of the ships from the riverside walk and an even better one for their passengers, back to the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich Park and the Royal Observatory. Here's a map for all you technical types...
Royal Observatory charges
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- Published on Thursday, 27 January 2011 16:15
28 January 2011
Free entry ends for adults
The Royal Observatory, in Greenwich Park, has decided to re-introduce admission charges for the first time since 2001. From March 8 adults will pay £10.00 to get into the Meridian Courtyard, where the Meridian line is marked, and the Courtyard Buildings.
Under-sixteen year olds will still get in for free and groups and concessions will pay £7.50 per person. The Astronomy centre, with its three interactive galleries, will be free to enter and the Planetarium will be charging as usual.
The Museum say that their visitor numbers have reached 1.58 million, a four-fold increase since the introduction of free entry ten years ago. Obviously they're enjoying huge success but, they say, the huge number of visitors "substantially increases wear and tear on the site and the Museum needs to ensure that it has the resources to manage this increase in visitors safely, while improving their experience and maintaining the world-famous site and displays at the Observatory."
The good news is that your ticket acts as an annual pass so you can come back for free any time during the year after your first visit. It's still a good deal, of course. There aren't many major London tourist attractions that a family of four can visit for twenty quid and get a years worth of opportunities to come back for nothing.
And there's always February.... This year you could brighten up the dullest, dampest, dreariest, darkest, dimmest month of the year by making the most of a few more weeks of free Observatory fun. There's more information and a full breakdown of all the upcoming charges here.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Park Olympic Tickets
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- Published on Thursday, 20 January 2011 14:47
20 January 2011
Ticket to Ride
As you may have heard, the tickets for the London 2012 Olympic Games will go on sale on 15 March for six weeks. It won't be first come first served, according to the organisers, so you can apply any time during that month and a half. I've no doubt the process of applying, which is yet to be revealed, will be rigorous and frustrating but ultimately rewarding.
And it shouldn't be too easy, should it? This is THE OLYMPIC GAMES we're talking about, not a kick-about in the local park. THE OLYMPIC GAMES. People are coming to London from all over the world so I think I can put up with a bit of rigour and frustration. Anyway, there's a wide range of prices for all the events ranging from the affordable to the astronomical but the events in Greenwich Park are, on the whole, priced pretty reasonably.
Tickets for the Modern Penthathlon events are probably the best bet for those of us on a leaner budget coming in at £20.00 and £35.00. In the Equestrian events, you can pick up tickets to the dressage and the jumping for £20.00 for the preliminary rounds and £35.00 for the finals. There are also some higher prices ranging from £55.00 to £275.00 which, presumably, gets you a seat in the stables, a free rub-down and a bowl of hot mash. The cross country day is a straight £55.00.
You can see the full range of prices for Greenwich Park and the other Greenwich venues - North Greenwich arena (The O2 arena outside of the Games) and Woolwich Barracks, here. There are some special prices for seniors and young people which will be announced at a later date. London 2012 Paralympic tickets will go on sale on 9 September with more details and pricing also being announced some time soon.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Hotel Opens
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- Published on Thursday, 13 January 2011 14:01
13 January 2011
Premier Inn Premieres
A little bit more news - A new Premier Inn hotel will be opening on Greenwich High Road on 14 February 2011. So if you're stuck for ideas on Valentines Day...
It's got 150 beds (popularised by Big Lennie in his delightful TV ad) plus a restaurant. It will, no doubt, prove a favourite with visitors because of how close it is to both the station, the DLR and the town centre.
Greenwich is getting to be a more and more popular place to stay if you're visiting London - there's lots to see and do right here and it's also just a short journey to the centre of London. And there's going to be a lot more places to stay opening up in the next 18 months or so. There's a Travelodge opening in late 2011, also on Greenwich High Road and a 100 bed extension to the Holiday Inn Express near The O2 due to open around the same time.
There's a 450 bed four-star proposed for a site right next to The O2 sometime after the London 2012 Games and another four-star proposed for the proposed cruise liner terminal at Enderby Wharf between The O2 and Greenwich town centre. That's a lot of proposals.
Anyway. Premier Inn. 14 February. Premiere.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Olympic Events
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- Published on Thursday, 13 January 2011 11:07
13 January 2011
Testing Times
It's a blustery, blowsy day in Greenwich today - great for blowing the cobwebs away with a walk in Greenwich Park. And, if you do step out for a stroll, take a little break by the statue of General Wolfe, next to the Royal Observatory. If you look down the hill towards the Queen's House you can see where the temporary Equestrian stadium will be during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It's going to be just down there, on the flat grass between the Queen's House and where the hill starts to rise up towards you. You can see in this picture where I mean...
You'll be able to get a much better idea of what it's going to be like if you come along for another look this summer when there's a test event in the park at the beginning of July. The stadium will be smaller than the one proposed for the London Games, holding 4,500 as opposed to the 22,500 planned for 2012, but you'll be able to get a good idea of how things will work.
The test event will be three days of Eventing on 4-6 July followed by two days of Modern Pentathlon on 9-10 July and there will be news about tickets later in the year, we're told.
There are two more top quality events to really look forward to this year. The new Sammy Ofer Wing being built at the National Maritime Museum is coming along well and will be opening its doors during the Summer. That grand curtain-up should be swiftly followed by another when a completely refurbished Greenwich Pier sets sail in the late Summer or early Autumn. Actually you can see the Sammy Ofer Wing taking shape from that spot to next to General Wolfe so next time you're here, take a look...
Add a comment Add a commentStellar Stella
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- Published on Friday, 17 December 2010 13:02
17 December 2010
If you're a fan of The Apprentice you'll know that this year's finalists are Stella English and Chris Bates. Well, we couldn't care less about dull old Chris but Stella is an entirely different bag of spanners because she is a Greenwich girl. She grew up in Thamesmead, just down the road from the World Heritage Site.
She left school with no qualifications but has ended up working for a Japanese bank, as well as becoming the mother of two children, and we'll all be rooting for her during this Sunday's final.
The bookies are making her odds-on to win - she's the 4-7 favorite - so fingers crossed she gets through the final task with flying colours. The finalists will be developing a brand new alcoholic drink which clearly gives Stella the edge. After all, who ever heard of a beer called Chris? That would be stupid. Go Stella, go!
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Park - A Winter's Tale 3
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- Published on Friday, 17 December 2010 12:30
17 December 2010
Squirelling away
Uh oh....here we go again. The snow has made it's next, and widely predicted, appearance and Greenwich really does look like London's Christmas Village. It's very pretty, but pretty chilly, so don't forget your mittens if you're visiting this weekend.
It doesn't seem to be bothering this squirrel, though...He's one of the hundreds of fluffy-tailed felons that live in Greenwich Park, particularly in and around the deer enclosure. They're very cute, and the kids love them, but they'll nick anything that isn't nailed down.
It's true. If you don't believe me then take a bag of nuts up to the Flower Garden next to the deer enclosure and open it up. Within seconds you'll be surrounded by a gang of furry hooligans who'll have your nuts as soon as look at you.
Frequently, in fact, you'll find that one of them tries to distract you with some sort of crude squirrel pantomime while an 
accomplice scrambles up your shin, grabs a handful of nuts and legs it.
They'll definitely be out in force this weekend so go and see for yourselves. They are, of course, highly entertaining, but you can't trust 'em an inch.
Add a comment Add a commentKnitted Food
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- Published on Thursday, 16 December 2010 15:36
14 December 2010
How brilliant is this. Knitted food. Honest. There's knitted food on show at Greenwich Tourist Information Centre right now and until the 2nd of January. I went the other day and got hungry just looking.
The artist is local resident Susie Johns and she says: "The exhibition consists of my knitted fruits and vegetables, including the pea pods, carrots, apples, cauliflower florets, artichoke (shown here), pumpkin and so on.
There's also some of my knitted fast food including the prawns and sushi, as well as about 10 watercolour paintings of fruit and vegetables that I painted this summer at my friend Nicky Sanderson's studio in Leith, Edinburgh and at Hospitalfields in Arbroath."
You can buy some of the items if you know someone who'd enjoy a wooly Yule, and frankly, who wouldn't? There are books too, so you can spend the Christmas holidays whipping up your own downy delicatessen.
The Tourist Information Centre has a different exhibition every month or two so it's always worth dropping in when you're visiting, and if you've never seen kniited food, you know where to come.
Knitted food. Genius.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Park - A Winter's Tale 2
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- Published on Thursday, 09 December 2010 20:49
9 December 2010
Winter Wanderland
This was sent to us today and it's absolutely gorgeous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OUiASq5dtM
It's already appeared on the Greenwich Phantom and Greenwich.co.uk websites - local bloggers of distinction - but I make no excuses for re-posting it here. Shot by Greenwich resident Mary, it's just a lovely film. Not simply snow but some fabulous Greenwich locations in Autumn and Winter.
Make sure you have the sound on because the music is pretty special too. It comes from Togetherness of Joycourts and you can hear some more from them by making good use of your mouse and checking their myspace page.
You can also read the story behind Lauren's park bench, told far better than I could, from the Phantom who was the first to become aware of her.
Even if you're so tired of the snow it makes you spit, this film makes it special. And that's enough gushing - have a look for yourself.
Add a comment Add a commentGreenwich Park - A Winter's Tale
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- Published on Thursday, 02 December 2010 22:07
3 December 2010
Dickensian Dreams
Winter has definitely arrived in Greenwich over the last few days and although it's cold and blustery, it's beautiful. Greenwich Park really does look like the picture above - taken a couple of days ago. People are stomping through the snow and sledging the slopes as the white stuff transforms our already classic landscape into a Dickensian dreamland.
Come and have a wander this weekend - wrap up and enjoy what us south east London dwellers are lucky enough to have just outside our door. The trains are a bit dodgy but the Docklands Light Railway can get you here in the time it takes a snowflake to fall. Chilly but cheerful...and there's lots of places to warm up.
Check before you travel though, it's still snowing!
Add a comment Add a commentYou WILL go to the ball!
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- Published on Thursday, 02 December 2010 19:51
26 November
This blogging business is trickier than you might think, you know...
We seem to have got a bit behind on the news. But we definitely plan to keep up to date from now on so, as David Soul might say, don't give up on us.
Christmas is creeping up on us and Greenwich Theatre opened their fabulous panto yesterday night. This year the talented team are pulling out all the stops when Cinderella comes to town. Here's a taster...
Nothing ever goes right at Hard-Up Hall. With Baron Hard-Up spending stacks of money on his conniving step-daughters, poor Cinderella just ends up cooking and cleaning all day long. But then a ticket to the Royal Ball arrives, Cinderella discovers she has a fairy godmother, and everything starts to change...
Gosh. I wonder what happens next?
Seriously, these chaps have a reputation for producing one of the funniest and most magical pantomimes in London. Don't miss it!
Add a comment Add a commentAnd the winner is...The Old Brewery!
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- Published on Thursday, 16 September 2010 10:01
16 September
The Old Brewery has won the Best New Design award and is runner-up for the Best New Local Restaurant category in the Time Out 2010 Eating and Drinking awards. The awards, from Time Out magazine and now in their 21st year, are London's most respected restaurant and bar accolades. The Old Brewery is next to the Tourist Information Centre and Discover Greenwich exhibition in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich town centre. It's already hugely popular with both residents and visitors and describes itself as "a relaxed café during the day and convivial restaurant in the evening.There’s also a cosy bar for lazy days and sociable evenings and large alfresco courtyard for those magical times when the sun shines." It also showcases the splendid beers made by local brewers Meantime Brewing Company who produce a wide range of traditional beers and ales - there's even a micro-brewery on site brewing up some of the fine pints which will later be served in the restaurant and bar. So, congratulations to the Old Brewery on their triumphant 2010 and keep those beers a-coming!
Shooting Stars
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- Published on Wednesday, 15 September 2010 14:21
12 September
Here’s something different to do this weekend: The Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition has just opened at the Royal Observatory and it’s free to go in. The competition started last year during the International Year of Astronomy and was so popular that the organizers and sponsors decided to do it all again this year. With everything from vast nebulae and distant galaxies to an evening’s star gazing by the camp fire, the exhibition reflects our enduring fascination with the night sky. The competition saw back-garden enthusiasts pit themselves against professional photographers in locations as diverse as
You can see all the winning images in the six categories here or you can take a look at every one of the pictures entered in the competition on the Flickr Astronomy Photographer of the Year page here. They are, of course, completely out of this world. By the way, if you’re inspired to go out shooting stars yourself there are stacks of tips on how to do it on the Royal Observatory website. Tom Lowe was the overall winner of the competition with the fabulously named Blazing Bristlecone, below. Next year, it could be you.
Whale Meat Again
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- Published on Thursday, 09 September 2010 14:41
Archaeologists have discovered the 200-year-old remains of a 7 metre-long, half-tonne whale on the foreshore of the river Thames in Greenwich. According to The Independent it was, like Moby Dick in Herman Melville's novel, a whale of great age and it probably became stranded on the beach or was harpooned in the Thames estuary. The skeleton will eventually be taken to the Natural History Museum but it's going on display in the foyer at the Museum in Docklands from today until the 14th of September. Interestingly, around the time that this prince of whales met its maker, Greenwich was the centre of the London whaling industry - 78 British whalers out of 140 all told were based here, around Enderby's Wharf on Greenwich Peninsula near The O2. You've got less than a week if you want to see this ex-giant of the deep so dash off to Canary Wharf for a look. If you want to find out more about the whaling business, or any other maritime matters, then it's the National Maritime Museum you want, right here in Greenwich - they know everything.
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Pre- Nuptial Posing
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- Published on Thursday, 09 September 2010 11:57
22 August
Here's a new one on me. A link arrived in my inbox the other day which took me to a website where there were a number of snaps of a happy-looking couple posing for pictures in Greenwich Park. They were, it turns out, about to get married and were taking part in their pre-wedding photo shoot. I had a quick flick around the web and found quite a few more examples of pre-wedding shoots, all of which featured similarly smiley people about a week or two before they were due to get hitched. I've never come across pre-wedding shoots before, has anybody else? With all the wedding pics themselves plus the inevitable reception shots of mad uncle Kevin drinking a bottle of Champagne in one and then falling in the pond, you must end up with an awful lot of pictures. Perhaps it's some ghastly 'before and after' game, in which family members bet on the differences between the pre-wedding shots, when the happy couple are blissed out with love, and a set of photos taken two years after the blessed event, when they're perhaps not in exactly the same state. I reckon that's definitely it. Anyway, if you're going to get some done, Greenwich Park is a great place to do it. Look:
See?
Add a comment Add a commentAh, Humbugs!
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- Published on Thursday, 09 September 2010 10:14
16 August 2010
A new traditional sweet shop has opened recently in Greenwich town centre which will nicely compliment Mr Humbug, the one we already have, in Greenwich Market . Both Mr Humbug and Mr Simms sell old-fashioned sweets your granddad used to buy - humbugs, (obviously) gobstoppers, mint balls, boiled sweets, toffee, lollipops, fudge - stuff that gets your pulse beating just that bit faster. The shops themselves look like something a sugar-hungry child magicked up during a particularly delicious dream, and are a pleasure to visit. Now that Greenwich has got two of these confectionery nirvanas, it strikes me that it would be a fine plan if a few more sprung up. Perhaps not more sweet shops but some hand-made chocolate makers, maybe, or a few fudge emporiums. As well as the place where time begins, Greenwich could become the Candy Capital of the world. It has a ring to it, don't you think, the Candy Capital? You can't have too many sweet shops, you know.
Inside the Olympic Park
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- Published on Thursday, 12 August 2010 15:41
7 August
As I'm sure most people know, Greenwich will be hosting a number of events during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games including the equestrian, shooting and the basketball finals. As part of Greenwich's preparations for the Games some of us visited the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, this week to have a look at how things are shaping up. With less than two years to go we were expecting to get a real idea of how the Park is going to look in 2012 and we absolutely weren't disappointed. Nearly all of the main structures are, externally at least, nearing completion and looking great, particularly the beautiful Aquatic Centre and the gorgeously elliptical Velodrome which, idiotically, I failed to photograph. Here's a couple of pictures of the main stadium instead, one of which was taken from inside the arena.
Just behind where this shot was taken from were teeny workmen putting in some of the 80, 000 seats. I bet that's a laugh: "Which one's this, Terry?", "Number 6,567, I think", "Brilliant. Only 73,433 to go" It is a seriously impressive site, though, and apparently well on course to be finished and ready for test events by the summer of 2011. If you'd like to take a look for yourself there are still places to be had on the free bus tours of the Park, although there's a bit of a waiting list. If you'd like to go, call the booking line on 0300 2012 001.
Greenwich Weightlifter goes to the Commonwealth Games
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- Published on Tuesday, 03 August 2010 14:54
1 August 2010Greenwich athlete Zoe Smith, 16, is set to be the youngest ever English weightlifter to qualify for the Commonwealth Games. Her combined lift of 188kg, at the British Weightlifting Championships in Kilmarnock, was enough to win her a place on the plane to Delhi in October, with final ratification expected to be a formality.
Zoe's just 5ft 2in (157.5cm) tall and was competing in Scotland in the 63kg category, although she is expected to lift in the 58kg group at the Commonwealths. Zoe's success comes just a month after winning a silver medal at the European Weightlifting Youth Championships in Valencia, Spain. Her achievements are even more fantastic when you remember that she has to juggle training and competing with studying for her GCSEs. Zoe was helped on her way by Greenwich Starting Blocks Trust - a charity committed to helping young people's sporting dreams come true. It provides bursaries to give young athletes a chance to develop their talents. Lots of luck in India, Zoe!
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Looking forward to London 2012
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- Published on Tuesday, 03 August 2010 14:38
27 July 2010
There's only two years to go until London 2012 when Greenwich will be home to some of the most exciting and entertaining sporting events in a series of pretty impressive and unusual venues. Greenwich will see competition in 34 events in 2012 which include six Olympic sports and three Paralympic sports.Greenwich Park has the horses with the Equestrian and Paralympic Equestrian events and parts of the Modern Pentathlon while the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich gets the gun for the Shooting, Paralympic Shooting and Paralympic Archery.
The O2 arena, which will be known as North Greenwich Arena during the Games because of sponsorship deals, also gets in on the act and will be staging the Basketball finals, Artistic Gymnastics, Trampoline Gymnastics and Wheelchair Basketball. The London 2012 Games kick off on 27 July 2012 and close on 12 August and the Paralympic Games begin on 29 August with the closing ceremony on 9 September.
Add a comment Add a commentWho are we?
Visit Greenwich is the official tourism information guide to the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Find out more about us here.
Greenwich Events Calendar
With The O2, Greenwich Theatre, Greenwich Dance, Up the Creek, Blackheath Halls, Olivers Music Bar and a stack of free concerts in St Alfege church and the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich is one of London's entertainment hotspots. Check our Events Calendar for details of every performance, including when, where and what it'll cost.