Greenwich Village

If you're thinking of booking a hotel near Greenwich Village you won't want to miss all that the area which is steeped in history has to offer including the world-famous Greenwich Royal Observatory.

Greenwich Village is just five-and-a-half-miles from Charing Cross in the West End but it can feel like a world away offering a quiet and relaxed location from which to enjoy the town centre. This is dominated by Georgian and Victorian architecture and the many attractions of the area include Greenwich Park, the National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Cutty Sark. Hire a bike and cycle along the river. Hop on a commuter catamaran and take the time-honoured way into London.

Arts and culture

Queen's House in Greenwich is one of the most architecturally important buildings being the first to emulate the Classical revival style and was the first major commission for Inigo Jones in 1616. Today, the building forms part of the National Maritime Museum complex and displays part of the museum's collection of maritime-themed paintings and portraits. It is a Grade I listed building.

Another local cultural attraction is the Fan Museum which forms part of Greenwich World Heritage Site and which holds a collection of more than 4,000 fans. Most are from the 18th and 19th centuries although the oldest dates back to the 10th century. There is a Japanese-style garden.

And you don't have to head into the West End if you fancy a night at the theatre. Greenwich Theatre is one of the premier off West End venues and stages drama, comedies and family shows.

Things to see and do

No visit to Greenwich Village would be complete without a visit to Greenwich Royal Observatory which forms part of the World Heritage Site. Stand on the Meridian Line which marks precisely the prime meridian of the world, Longitude 0 degrees. Roam the universe at the Planetarium. Visit the original observatory, the 17th-century Flamsteed House, which was designed by Christopher Wren. See the Great Equatorial Telescope and explore the collections of scientific instruments.

The other must-see is the National Maritime Museum, the largest of its kind in the world which is packed to the gunwales with things to see and do. Youngsters can get hands-on with interactive exhibits. And a series of galleries chart the history of London and Britain's maritime relationship.

Eating and drinking

There's lots of great places to eat and drink in Greenwich Village. Inside is often referred to the best restaurant. Think modern imaginative European food in a friendly, modern setting. Or sample San Miguel, conveniently located for the National Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark, which is a tapas bar and restaurant dedicated to authentic Spanish cooking. And for a good local away from the tourist spots, head to The Greenwich Union, Royal Hill, which has a beer garden. There's a tongue-in-cheek take on traditional pub fare and the ales which include chocolate and raspberry flavours.

Nightlife

Take in a film at Greenwich Picturehouse, a five-screen cinema that shows a mix of the best mainstream, art house, foreign language and classic cult films.