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National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Companionship careGreenwich

Days out in Greenwich for an older parent

Eight places in Greenwich that make a good day out for an older parent, from National Maritime Museum to Eltham Palace and Gardens. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

National Maritime Museum. Photo: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 3.0

Eight days out across two towns

The best places to take an older parent in Greenwich

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for three describes a step-free route, and one confirms an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Photo: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Greenwich

National Maritime Museum

The National Maritime Museum tells the story of Britain and the sea through ship models, paintings, uniforms and objects such as the coat Nelson wore at Trafalgar. Entry to the main galleries is free, with paid special exhibitions.

There are lifts to every floor, wheelchairs can be booked free before the visit, and carers of disabled visitors get free admission to paid exhibitions.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free entry, carers free to paid exhibitions

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Queen's House, Greenwich

Photo: Bill Bertram, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Greenwich

Queen's House

The Queen's House is a 17th-century royal villa designed by Inigo Jones, now a free art gallery known for its spiral Tulip Stairs and the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I. It stands between the Maritime Museum and Greenwich Park.

All floors have lift access, wheelchairs can be booked free, and staff will set up portable ramps for the few steps into the Orangery.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Cutty Sark, Greenwich

Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Greenwich

Cutty Sark

Cutty Sark is the last surviving tea clipper, raised up in a dry dock so you can walk underneath her copper hull as well as explore the decks above. Displays tell the story of her record-breaking voyages and the crew who sailed her.

Lifts link the decks along the recommended route, wheelchairs can be pre-booked free and carers of disabled visitors go free, with disabled parking in Greenwich town centre.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Photo: Dmitry Tonkonog, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Greenwich

Old Royal Naval College

The Old Royal Naval College is Wren's riverside group of buildings, with the Painted Hall, often called the Sistine Chapel of the UK, and the chapel open to visitors. The grounds by the Thames are free to walk around.

The visitor centre has level access, a lift and an accessible toilet, and there is a step-free route across the site, though the Painted Hall lift was out of action at the time of writing, so check before going.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Grounds free, Painted Hall paid

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Greenwich Park, Greenwich

Photo: Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Greenwich

Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is a Royal Park on a hillside above the Thames, with famous views over London from the top of the hill, historic tree avenues and a Flower Garden. It is the setting for the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House.

The hill is steep, so a carer can use the car park inside the park near the top to reach the viewpoint and Flower Garden without the climb.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Royal Observatory Greenwich, Greenwich

Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Greenwich

Royal Observatory Greenwich

The Royal Observatory at the top of Greenwich Park is home of the Prime Meridian, where you can stand across the line between east and west, and of Flamsteed House and the Great Equatorial Telescope. The views over London are among the best in the city.

Blue Badge holders can park free for four hours in the Greenwich Park car park, about 500 metres away on a route that avoids the steep hill, and wheelchairs can be pre-booked.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Greenwich Market, Greenwich

Photo: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Greenwich

Greenwich Market

Greenwich Market is a covered market in the centre of Greenwich with more than 120 shops and stalls selling arts, crafts, antiques and street food. The nearby Cutty Sark Street Food Market adds riverside food stalls.

The main market hall is under cover, so it works in any weather and pairs easily with the museums a short walk away.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Greenwich

Eltham Palace and Gardens, Eltham

Photo: [Duncan], CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Eltham

Eltham Palace and Gardens

Eltham Palace combines a medieval royal palace, with its great hall and moat, and a 1930s Art Deco house built by the millionaire Courtaulds, complete with its original interiors. The gardens include a rose garden and walks around the moat.

There are three disabled parking bays by the visitor centre with a ramp, but the lift in the house is out of service, so the upper floors are only reached by stairs.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Eltham

Regular groups and events in Greenwich

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Greenwich.

  • Gardening · CharltonGarden volunteers at Charlton HouseA volunteer gardening group works in the walled gardens and Old Pond Garden at Jacobean Charlton House, alongside the local horticultural society and the heritage trust. A carer could enquire about a short session of potting or deadheading, or simply sit with someone while the group works and talks plants.Details
  • Dancing · WoolwichDancing to the Music of Time for older adultsGreenwich Dance runs a weekly creative movement session for older adults, with some sessions followed by free tea and coffee. A carer can help with the journey and stay for the session, which is seated and standing movement rather than set steps.Details
  • Photography · GreenwichFriends of Greenwich Park Photography GroupA group for Friends of the park who like taking and discussing photographs, with any equipment from a phone to a camera. A carer can help with membership and transport, then carry kit and find a bench while photographs are taken.Details
  • Reading · WoolwichReading groups at Woolwich Centre LibraryThe borough's main library in Love Lane hosts reading groups and other regular activities alongside its lending stock and computers. A carer can check the current timetable, arrange the journey and help pick up the group's title in large print or audio if needed.Details
  • ReadingRoyal Greenwich Home Library ServiceA free monthly delivery service for Greenwich residents who find it hard to get to a library, with staff choosing items to match someone's tastes. Carers and family members can refer a person themselves, then use the monthly visit as a fixed point to talk about what has been read.Details
  • Sports · ElthamWalking football with Charlton Athletic Community TrustCharlton Athletic Community Trust runs weekly walking football for men aged 50 and over, with a Tuesday morning session at Eltham Goals. A carer can handle the booking and transport and stay pitchside, which makes a first session much less daunting.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Greenwich

At a glance

The eight places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
National Maritime MuseumGreenwichhalf a dayFreeYesAskAsk
Queen's HouseGreenwichan hour or twoFreeYesAskAsk
Cutty SarkGreenwichan hour or twoPaid entryYesAskAsk
Old Royal Naval CollegeGreenwichhalf a dayFree outside, paid insidePartlyYesAsk
Greenwich ParkGreenwichan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Royal Observatory GreenwichGreenwichan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Greenwich MarketGreenwichan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Eltham Palace and GardensElthamhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyAskAsk

Where the places are in Greenwich

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

Abbey WoodDeptfordNew ElthamShooters HillCharltonHorn ParkPlumsteadMaze HillEltham12345678
  1. 1National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
  2. 2Queen's House, Greenwich
  3. 3Cutty Sark, Greenwich
  4. 4Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
  5. 5Greenwich Park, Greenwich
  6. 6Royal Observatory Greenwich, Greenwich
  7. 7Greenwich Market, Greenwich
  8. 8Eltham Palace and Gardens, Eltham

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Greenwich

Carers in Greenwich charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Greenwich has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Greenwich

National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, Queen's House in Greenwich, Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, Greenwich Park in Greenwich, Royal Observatory Greenwich in Greenwich, Greenwich Market in Greenwich and Eltham Palace and Gardens in Eltham. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for National Maritime Museum, Queen's House and Cutty Sark describes a step-free route. Old Royal Naval College has an accessible toilet. National Maritime Museum, Queen's House, Cutty Sark, Old Royal Naval College and Royal Observatory Greenwich lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

National Maritime Museum, Queen's House, Old Royal Naval College (outside free, inside paid), Greenwich Park and Greenwich Market. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 15 of the carers with a rate near Greenwich drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Greenwich shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Greenwich

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Greenwich

Days out in the areas around Greenwich

Companionship care by town in Greenwich

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Greenwich

See carers near Greenwich who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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