Greenwich Park: A brief history and where to live nearby

The view across Greenwich Park and the Isle of Dogs

The oldest of London’s eight Royal Parks and the site of the famous Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich Park is a significant London landmark. The park features wide open spaces and stunning, elevated viewing positions, taking in the dramatic East London skyline. Read our guide to the park to learn about this beloved landmark and discover the best places to live nearby.

A brief history of London’s oldest Royal Park

The view north from Greenwich Park across to the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf

Like much of London’s parkland, Greenwich Park’s history begins as a hunting park. The land reverted to the Crown in 1427 and Henry VI built a house and a castle on the site. James I enclosed the park with brick walls, while in 1675, Charles II chose the park for his Royal Observatory.

The site of the observatory is where the Greenwich Meridian passes through the park. This is the geographical reference line that stretches around the globe from top to bottom, and indicates zero degrees longitude. At the northern edge of the park, the handsome structures of the Old Royal Naval College and the National Maritime Museum hint at the historic significance of this grand old site.

The park’s role in modern Greenwich life

Greenwich Park remains extremely popular, and a central aspect of life in the community of Greenwich. With its undulating slopes, tree-lined avenues, peaceful gardens, playground and boating pond, the park is a hive of continual activity. It also provides a magnificent view of the East London skyline, with its elevated viewpoint a must-visit for snap-happy tourists.

On a clear summer’s day, you’ll find many Greenwich residents joining the tourists on the park’s green lawns. It’s an ideal spot to soak up some sun and relax in the peaceful atmosphere across the park. The park also benefits from proximity from Greenwich’s vibrant town centre, with its famous market and various cafés, restaurants and bars.

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Where to live near Greenwich Park

The areas surrounding the vast perimeter of Greenwich Park take in all facets of London life. There’s something to suit most budgets, and a good mix of grand, historic housing and modern, urban developments.

To the south, there’s the upmarket, trendy village vibe of Blackheath. East of the park, South London suburbia stretches for miles, while the diverse, urban communities of Lewisham, Deptford and New Cross are to the west. Slightly north of the park, the centre of Greenwich is home to a variety of handsome period houses and contemporary developments.

The average price of a property in Greenwich is £711,205, according to Zoopla. This is slightly below the London average of £727,743. In Blackheath, properties cost a similar average of £729,282, while Deptford property comes in at £823,773. Other options nearby include Lewisham at £550,238 and Charlton at £512,444.

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Best new build developments near Greenwich Park

Let’s take a look at the highest-rated new build homes near Greenwich Park. If you’re interested in moving to the area, there are plenty of modern developments within easy reach of the park’s wide open spaces. Take a look below at the best new homes close to Greenwich Park, according to the reviews of verified residents.

Union Wharf, SE8

Essential Living
4.65 (247 reviews) 4.65 (247 reviews)
Area guide to Deptford
Image of Union Wharf, SE8
Union Wharf is a development from London property developer Essential Living. It features 249 rental-only apartments on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre.  It houses a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. In addition, Union Wharf is close to the Cutty Sark DLR station for fast and frequent connections to Canary […] Read reviews and details of Union Wharf, SE8

Royal Arsenal Riverside, SE18

Berkeley Homes, Berkeley Group
4.21 (380 reviews) 4.21 (380 reviews)
Area guide to Woolwich
Image of Royal Arsenal Riverside, SE18
Royal Arsenal Riverside is one of South East London’s most exciting riverside addresses occupying a prime location along the River Thames. These stunning homes are enhanced by captivating riverside views with a buzzing retail hub and more on their doorstep, establishing the development one of London’s newest and rapidly emerging bright spots. With an on-site […] Read reviews and details of Royal Arsenal Riverside, SE18

Kidbrooke Village, SE3

Berkeley Homes, Berkeley Group
4.20 (217 reviews) 4.20 (217 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of Kidbrooke Village, SE3
Kidbrooke Village is located within one of London’s most sought-after locations, the Royal Borough of Greenwich (London Zone 3). An established, welcoming community with excellent amenities, short commutes to London Bridge and beyond, and many fantastic retail and commercial operators (and more to come soon). The award-winning green spaces creates a natural oasis within the […] Read reviews and details of Kidbrooke Village, SE3

Synergy, SE7

Fairview New Homes
4.12 (57 reviews) 4.12 (57 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of Synergy, SE7
Synergy, a development by Fairview New Homes is a development located in Charlton. Both Westcombe Park and Charlton Overground stations are around a 10-minute walk away offering links into the City. There are a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments as well as four-bedroom homes on offer. In addition, Help to Buy is in […] Read reviews and details of Synergy, SE7

No.5 Upper Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

Greenwich Peninsula, Upper Riverside
4.13 (21 reviews) 4.13 (21 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of No.5 Upper Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10
Find No.5 Upper Riverside in Greenwich Peninsula’s latest neighbourhood – Upper Riverside. Sitting on the waterfront the building’s make the most of the water location designed by architects SOM . Residents have access to a wide range of facilities. These include a swimming pool, gym, spa and also, a cinema room. As well as this, […] Read reviews and details of No.5 Upper Riverside, Greenwich Peninsula, SE10

Greenwich Square, SE10

Hadley Property Group
4.05 (11 reviews) 4.05 (11 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of Greenwich Square, SE10
Situated just a short walk from Greenwich Park and Blackheath, Greenwich Square is a collection of apartments and townhouses, ranging from one to four bedrooms. Completed by Hadley Property Group, the development is set on the banks of the River Thames and close to Maze Hill train station, which provides good links in and out […] Read reviews and details of Greenwich Square, SE10

New Capital Quay, SE10

Galliard Homes
4.19 (41 reviews) 4.19 (41 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of New Capital Quay, SE10
New Capital Quay is a £300 million riverside development on a peninsula in Greenwich. Galliard Homes took on the UK launch of the development in 2013, with many properties available as part of the Help to Buy scheme. The development is made up of several blocks of different sizes, including a flagship curved tower on […] Read reviews and details of New Capital Quay, SE10

Greenwich View, SE10

Bellway Homes
3.76 (7 reviews) 3.76 (7 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of Greenwich View, SE10
Greenwich View is a residential development by Bellway Homes. It features 510 units with a range of apartments and houses on site. The development is only a 5-minute walk away from Greenwich station, which has links to the DLR as well as Thameslink and southeastern rail services. Read reviews and details of Greenwich View, SE10

The Movement, SE10

U+I Group
4.12 (10 reviews) 4.12 (10 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Greenwich
Image of The Movement, SE10
The Movement is an Ecoworld and U+I development comprising of 181 residential apartments, 358 student apartments and a gym, nursery and convenience food store. The development is also in prime location for commuters as it is positioned adjacent to Greenwich DLR and Mainline Station. Read reviews and details of The Movement, SE10

Greenwich Creekside, SE8

Telford Living
4.23 (19 reviews) 4.23 (19 reviews)
Area guide to Deptford
Image of Greenwich Creekside, SE8
Greenwich Creekside is a residential development by Telford Homes located in Greenwich. The development features a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments only a short distance away from Deptford Creek. Also, Deptford station is only a 9-minute walk away with connections to Thameslink and southeastern services. Read reviews and details of Greenwich Creekside, SE8

Would you like to find out more about life in Greenwich? This sought-after corner of South East London offers vibrant community, a laid-back atmosphere and easy access to Central London. Take a look at our Greenwich guide below for more on life in this popular neighbourhood, and the best new build properties in the area.

Borough of Greenwich

Borough of Greenwich
It may be just a few miles from Central London; but emerald-hued Greenwich can feel a world away from the buzz of the capital. This south-east slice sits close to the River Thames looking out towards Canary Wharf, and is blanketed in green. A Read more about Borough of Greenwich

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written by

Jan Moys

A residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content... Read all

A residential property expert with ov... Read all