Let's draw London - Find our 2023 sketchwalk programme here
Stop press!
Rail strikes are now scheduled for the weekend of 18 March.
But we will meet and sketch in Greenwich as planned, as buses and
most London Underground lines should still be in operation, albeit
busy and with delays.
Travel update
Ongoing maintenance works at Cutty Sark DLR Station are posing a
challenge for visitors. We suggest you alight at Greenwich DLR instead
-- it's just a nine minute walk from our meeting point at the National
Maritime Museum (see below).
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The City from Greenwich Photo by Mike Whalley |
[Mike Whalley writes]
This March we return to a favourite London location, Greenwich.
Set in 17th century parkland, Greenwich
feels separate from and different to London itself. Thanks to its strategic location on the River Thames, Greenwich
was a centre of trade and navigation from Tudor times to the 19th century,
and in 2022 celebrated its 25th anniversary as the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The National Maritime Museum, the Queen's House, the Royal
Observatory and the Cutty Sark are managed by Royal Museums Greenwich. The
Old Royal Naval College is a registered charity under its own
management.
The day is run by Mike Whalley and Olga Mackness.
Meeting point
We will gather near the entrance to the
National Maritime Museum SE10 9NF, in the open space beside the cannon, just to the east of the Cutty
Sark (see location map below).
If the weather is wet, meet under the colonnade that runs between the Maritime Museum and the Queens House.
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The Colonnade, our wet weather meeting place Photo by Mike Whalley |
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This plan of the site and individual site maps can be downloaded from the Royal Museums Greenwich website |
Options for drawing
Royal Museums Greenwich include the National Maritime
Museum, the Queen's House, the Royal Observatory, and the Cutty
Sark. Entry is free to the National Maritime Museum and the Queen's
House, but advance booking is recommended to guarantee entry. There
is a charge for entry to the Royal Observatory and the Cutty Sark.
Visit the Royal Museums Greenwich website to
book both paid-for and free tickets.
The Old Royal Naval College includes the Chapel (free entry)
and the Painted Hall (paid entry).
Visit their website to book your tickets.
Outdoors
- Old Royal Naval College by Sir Christopher Wren.
- Queen's House by Inigo Jones .
- Cutty Sark The last surviving tea clipper.
- The Royal Observatory designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
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The Observatory Sketch by Mike Whalley |
Indoors
If it rains (it’s March, so who knows!) there are plenty of options
to sketch and stay dry. If in your chosen venue you find there are restrictions on
drawing media (for example dry media only) do be prepared to respect
the rules.
- Old Royal Naval College is open daily from 10am till 5pm. The Chapel (free entry) is a place of prayer and worship. The Painted Hall, also known as Britain's Sistine Chapel, reopened in 2019 after a two year conservation programme and is now open for visits and tours. There is a fee to visit the Painted Hall, and advance booking is recommended.
- St Alfege Church - the historic Georgian baroque church of St Alfege, 11th century Archbishop of Canterbury
- Greenwich Market - There has been a Royal Charter Market in Greenwich for a thousand years. The Arts & Crafts Market is open on weekends, with stalls selling food and arts and crafts.
- National Maritime Museum. Entry is free, but advance booking is recommended.
Key times and meeting points
11 AM
Meet near the entrance to the National Maritime Museum, in the open
space beside the cannon, just to the east of the Cutty Sark.
If the weather is wet, meet under the colonnade that runs between the National Maritime Museum and the Queens House.
1 PM
If the weather is wet, meet under the colonnade that runs between the National Maritime Museum and the Queens House.
1 PM
Meet at the same place for the sketchbook throwdown and group photo
before lunch.
3.30 PM
3.30 PM
Meet at the same place for the afternoon throwdown and group photo.
Afterwards
For those who would like to linger, we will meet at the
Gipsy Moth for more sketching and conversation.
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Gloucester Circus, Greenwich Sketch by Olga Mackness |
Practical information
Food and drink and conveniences
There are plenty of places to get food and drink in Greenwich.
Greenwich Market opens every day 10 am to 5.30 pm, and offers a
variety of food stalls. The
Gipsy Moth
is an excellent pub with a large outdoor seating area. There are
public toilets inside the visitor centre, by the Cutty Sark, in
the National Maritime Museum, and in the park (King William
Walk).
Getting there
Public transport
Tube and DLR (Docklands Light Railway) -- UPDATE: Although Cutty Sark Station on the DLR is closest to
our meeting point, access is restricted at the moment due
to ongoing maintenance works. We suggest you alight instead at Greenwich DLR Station, which is a nine minute walk away from our meeting point
at the National Maritime Museum.
The DLR connects with other Underground lines at Bank, Tower
Gateway and Stratford stations.
National Rail -- Greenwich Station is also nearby. Trains
run direct to Greenwich Station from London Cannon Street and London Bridge. Greenwich Station platforms have step-free access via ramp,
lifts or underpass. The ticket offices and car parks at these
stations are also step free.
Accessibility -- 'Greenwich for an accessible day trip' has useful information on travel to and from
Greenwich.
River boat
Uber Boat operates the Thames Clippers service at Greenwich Pier,
next to the Cutty Sark. Boats depart from all major London piers
every 20 minutes. Travel time to Greenwich is 45 minutes from the
London Eye Pier, 25 minutes from London Bridge Pier, and 20
minutes from Tower Pier.
Greenwich Pier has installed Europe's first Ramp Rider, greatly
improving access for wheelchair users getting on and off boats
at low tide. For more information about disabled access to Royal Museums
Greenwich, please email the bookings team.
Cycle routes
Located on the National Cycle Network, Greenwich can be reached
by traffic-free routes that run through parks and alongside the
rivers Thames, Lea and Ravensbourne. Cycle racks are located in the National Maritime Museum car
park in Park Row, and you can access the Royal Observatory via
cycle paths in Greenwich Parky. Free illustrated London cycle
guides are available from Transport for London.
Accessibility
All Royal Museums Greenwich sites have accessible toilets, and cafes and gift shops are
wheelchair-accessible.
Further information
If you're new to Urban Sketchers London, have a look at Mike Whalley's brief history of the international Urban Sketchers movement.
Covid guidance
Urban Sketchers London remains alert to national guidance about
COVID-19 and its variants. Even though restrictions have been
lifted, it's sensible to take all necessary precautions to keep
ourselves and fellow sketchers safe throughout the event. The risk
of infection for outdoor events is low, but basic guidance still
applies:
- Please do not attend if you feel unwell
- Wear a face covering when you're close to others
- Give people space
- Practice good hand hygiene.
Location map
See you at Greenwich!
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