Page 249 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

GREENWICH AND BLA CKHEA TH  247

became too bright and the park hosted the
astronomers moved to darker London Olympic
Sussex. There is also a state-of- eques trian events.
the-art planetarium here, the only To the south of
one in London, and free exhibits the park, on the
on space exploration and the edge of the park’s
Big Bang in the Astronomy rose garden, is the
Centre in the south building. Ranger’s House
(1688), which now
houses the art
collection of Ranger’s House in Greenwich Park
Julius Wernher
(see p245). From here the walk streets in London. The oldest
to the charming village of buildings are at the Blackheath
Blackheath is flat, compared end: the original Manor House
with the steep walk down of 1695; No. 68, from about
the hill to Greenwich town. the same date; and No. 66, the
oldest of all (c. 1630). The actor
Daniel Day Lewis grew up in No. 6.
q Blackheath
SE3. Map 24 D5. 3 Blackheath.
e The Fan Museum
This open heath used to be a 12 Croom’s Hill SE10. Map 23 B3. Tel
rallying point for large groups 020 8305 1441. 3 Greenwich. Open
who were entering London 11am–5pm Tue–Sat, noon–5pm Sun.
from the east, including Wat Closed 1 Jan, 24–26 Dec. & no flash.
Tyler’s band of rebels at the time 8 by appt. - Afternoon tea Tue, Fri,
of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. Sat & Sun (booking advised Tue & Sun)
Blackheath is also the place = 7 Lectures, fan-making
where King James I of England workshops first Sat of the month.
A rare 24-hour clock at the Royal (James VI of Scotland) introduced ∑ thefanmuseum.org.uk
Observatory Greenwich the game of golf from his native
Scotland to the then largely One of London’s most unusual
sceptical English. museums – the only one of
0 Greenwich Park Today the heath is well worth its kind in the UK – this opened
exploring for the stately Georgian in 1991. It owes its existence
SE10. Map 23 C3. Tel 0300 061 2380.
1 Cutty Sark DLR, Greenwich DLR. houses and terraces that surround and appeal to the enthusiasm
3 Greenwich, Maze Hill, Blackheath. it. The prettily named Tranquil of Helene Alexander, whose
Open from 6am until 6pm–9:30pm Vale to the south of the heath personal collection of about
depending on season. - 7 is Blackheath village’s main 4,000 fans from the 17th
Children’s shows, playground, shopping strip. cen tury onwards has been
boating lake and sports facilities. augmented by donations.
∑ royalparks.org.uk A small permanent exhibition
w Croom’s Hill looks at types of fans and
Originally the grounds of a SE10. Map 23 C3. 1 Cutty Sark DLR, fan-making, while the large
royal palace and still a Royal Greenwich DLR. 3 Greenwich. collection is rotated in temporary
Park, Greenwich Park was displays. On some days, after-
enclosed in 1433 and its brick Croom’s Hill is one of the best noon tea is served in the pretty
wall built in the reign of James I. kept 17th- to early 19th-century orangery at the back.
Later, in the 17th century,
the French royal landscape
gardener André Le Nôtre, of
Versailles and Fontaine bleau
fame, was invited to redesign
the park. The broad
avenue, rising south
up the hill, was part
of his plan.
There are great
river views from the
hilltop and on a
fine day, most of
London can be
seen. In 2012, the Stage fan used in a D’Oyly Carte operetta

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