National Maritime Museum and the Isle of Dogs

Seen from the Royal Observatory which also forms part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage site, the National Maritime Museum is down the hill. Over the river obscured by mist and rain is the Isle of Dogs, which includes Canary Wharf and is part of the east end of London.

 

After containerisation took off in the 1970's the Isle was struck by massive unemployment. In the late 1980's the desperate council relaxed building restrictions to stimulate growth. Investment banks seized an opportunity to create one of the financial centres of London.

 

While the Maritime Museum is relatively new being established in 1934, the area is known for the Royal Observatory which was commissioned by Charles II in 1675, and designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

 

Some of the attractions in the area are:

 

- The Greenwich Meridian line, from where the world's time zones are measured;

- The Old Royal Naval College's Painted Hall ceiling which has King William III and Queen Mary II surrounded by the Five Virtues;

- Flamsteed House's Time and Longitude Gallery showing measurement of longitude;

- Tulip Staircase at Queen’s House, especially if you like those curling staircases;

- The Nelson part of the National Maritime Museum and also some early paintings of Australia by William Westall, who sailed on Matthew Flinders’ voyage;

- The 1869 Cutty Sark clipper, the last of its kind to do the China tea run.

 

As a child, I went to the Prime Meridian 0° longitude line on a school excursion and none of the clutter on the other side of the river was there!

Done