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Hiking Greenwich - Take Your Hiking Boots to London TownI was told by my sister as I was packing for London, ‘Take your walking shoes and forget the rest. Trust me, London is best seen on feet'. She was right! The memorable walk I did was the Britain's Maritime walk, I did during my recent visit to London. From where I stood, I had a ‘satiated' view of the clipper Cutty Sark, the Gypsy Moth, entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, the Thames River, Greenwich Pier and the Tourist Information center. My cousin Lindsay and me decided, now that we were here in Maritime Greenwich – a World Heritage site, we would make the best of it and explore it our way, kind of savour it in bites. We soon found ourselves walking towards this dome-shaped red-bricked old structure. The staircase led downwards; there was an option of using the ancient lift, too. This was a fascinating walk under the Thames in the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, which we realized a later as we reached the Island Gardens on the other end. The view across the River Thames on either side is breath taking, if you are someone who enjoys history and can feel the pulse. It is a good idea to get a map and brochures as you explore. You would appreciate it much more – we did..! Our next stop was the clipper Cutty Sark and the Gypsy Moth. Cutty Sark is the last of the great tea clippers, built in Scotland in 1869. Initially she sailed between London and China, but was later re-routed onto the wool run from Australia. She was the fastest sailing ship of her day in the 1880s. Today, she is dry-docked and maintained besides the Thames. Gypsy Moth IV is the ketch-rigged fiberglass yacht that made a voyage round the world with Francis Chichester. Greenwich Park and its boundaries were our destinations for the next two days – we realized that sprinting through could not do justice. It had to be relished in time, we apprehended – unless you decide to only do places on interest, it is worth your time, exploring as much as you can. We gathered all the necessary information from the Tourist Information Centre & World Heritage Site Visitor Centre. Greenwich Park is the oldest of the London's royal parks and the town centre; both lie within the World Heritage Site boundary. Located here are many attractions that make Greenwich a place of international significance. We did them all. Passed through the Old Royal Naval College and paid a visit at the Trafalgar Tavern. We learnt that writers and artists such as Dickens and Thackeray have immortalized this place, from a writer who like us has been a visitor for a week! The Royal Naval College, we learnt from our brochures and a lady that Christopher Wren's baroque buildings were erected 300 years ago as the Greenwich Hospital, a home for the veteran sailors. Before this stood Greenwich Palace, we learnt the home of Tudor sovereigns. The hospital became a naval college in 1873 and this lasted for a 125 years. These buildings are now occupied by University of Greenwich and the Trinity College of Music, that which we also visited. Our next stops were the Chapel, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, Painted Hall and the Dreadnought Library. The Painted Hall has a breath taking painted ceiling. It took James Thornill, the painter 5 years to paint and granted him a knighthood. Our senses tingled and yearned for more, as we spent moments talking to the ‘locals' and other tourists we met – must have looked like Martians seeking information for invasion. We crossed the Romney Road to the Queen's House, the National Maritime Museum. The Museum is filled with maritime treasures and artifacts. Stories of famous mariners and explorers and the life of Admiral Lord Nelson are vividly brought to life in dramatically recreated galleries. And, the Queen's House is a perfectly proportioned classical house begun in 1616 by Inigo Jones. Apparently, this was intended as a pleasure pavilion for Queen Anne of Denmark, wife of James I. She died before it was finished and Jones completed it for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles II. These royals led in style all right. All the picture taking, suddenly seemed like too much hard work for me and the weight of our bags was getting on to us and our legs were begging for ‘take-a-break' – time to rest satisfy our hunger was the realization, we conferred. We walked the Village market pensive silence – seemed like history was doing something to us. Got us some nice souvenirs and feasted on the good old English Fish and Chips and washed it down with beer at the rustic ‘Gloucester' – a must try if you are there. It was enough for the day, we realized and decided to continue with the rest of the Park the next day. Aimlessly, we walked though the lanes, trying stuff off the racks on display and picking souvenirs. On opening our map, we felt the need to visit the Fan Museum, as we were close by.. Now, this is the only museum in the world, and we were told that was devoted to an elegant fashion accessory of more gracious days. Changing exhibitions of fans are displayed in two beautifully restored early Georgian homes. We returned the next day with a tea-picnic hamper, all charged with ‘maritime' energy – after all we had lived it through the night with the family and friends. As for the hamper, we were visiting a park! The next day, we came in more towards the afternoon, timing ourselves for an evening with the stars. We walked through the Greenwich Park to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, passing the One Tree Hill, General Wolfe Statue, gardens, boating pond, Ha-ha walk and lovely landscaping. The Greenwich Park is London's oldest royal park. We joined others to enjoy the panoramic view of London from the top of the hill. We also saw the formal gardens planted by Charles II amid the rolling landscapes (fill in funny story?). We walked to the Wilderness Deer Reserve on the other side of the Royal Observatory. Our destination and the purpose of this two-day visit, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, finally! It was an uphill panting stairway walk-up… but was worth it – every penny! Earned satisfactions come in doses, the say, huh? The Observatory is the home of the world's Prime Meridian – Longitude 0 degrees – and of Greenwich Mean Time. I have never seen so many people in a small place before!.. all clambering to take photographs standing on the Line. For me it was a possession. I never looked happier, said Lindsay as she took the picture. If you had a camera, then you became a fill-in photographer for many standing there.. We saw the most valued treasures – clocks developed by John Harrison to determine the longitude. It did not hurt to return here in the evening, after what I saw – we had to see the stars. We whiled our time at the Royal Arsenal and Firepower and visited the Wernher Collection at Ranger's House by evening and returned to the Observatory later in the evening. Quiet moments were spent at the St. Alfege's church. There is so much happening and to do here – restaurants, guided tours, concerts, chapel recitals, etc. Tours and visits are also arranged. Travelling to Greenwich is easy by any method, be it by boat, rail or road. It would be a good idea to get hold of a map before you set out. Either download it off the web or simply pick it off the little rack at the station, like I did. The best bet would be to get a Travel Card. They are of great value – one ticket lets you use the tube, bus, DLR and most National Rail service within Greater London. It also gives 1/3 off the cost on scheduled Riverboat services. There are Entry charges in some places and taking pictures are not allowed in some other. But these do not deter the historic treat you are in for.. This was an add-on to my London site seeing, and I know I will be right back to visit it again as a destination in its own right.
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