Place in United KingdomRoyal Borough of GreenwichLondon borough, royal boroughGreenwich Park including the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Royal Nal CollegeThe O2 ArenaGreenwich PeninsulaBlackheath VillageEltham PalaceRoyal Arsenal in WoolwichSeverndroog Castle on Shooter's Hill Coat of armsCouncil logoMotto: We Govern by ServingGreenwich shown within Greater LondonSovereign stateUnited KingdomConstituent countryEnglandRegionLondonCeremonial countyGreater LondonCreated1 April 1965Admin HQWoolwichGovernment • TypeLondon borough council • BodyGreenwich London Borough Council • London AssemblyLen Duvall (Labour) AM for Greenwich and Lewisham • MPsAbena Oppong-Asare (Labour)Clive Efford (Labour)Matthew Pennycook (Labour)Area • Total18.28 sq mi (47.35 km2) • Rank245th (of 296)Population (2024) • Total299,528 • Rank53rd (of 296) • Density16,380/sq mi (6,326/km2)Time zoneUTC (GMT) • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)PostcodesSE, DA, BRArea code020ISO 3166 codeGB-GREONS code00ALGSS codeE09000011PoliceMetropolitan PoliceWebsitewww.royalgreenwich.gov.uk
The Royal Borough of Greenwich (/ˈɡrɛnɪtʃ/ ⓘ, /ˈɡrɪnɪdʒ/, /ˈɡrɪnɪtʃ/ or /ˈɡrɛnɪdʒ/)[1][2] is a London borough in southeast Greater London, England. The London Borough of Greenwich was formed in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. The new borough covered the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich and most of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich to the east. The local council is Greenwich London Borough Council which meets in Woolwich Town Hall.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich is a large borough covering almost 50 km² and containing a broad mix of historic, suburban, and rapidly redeveloping districts. It includes the Greenwich Town and Park, the site of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich which encompasses the Prime Meridian, the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, and the former Royal Nal College. Also in the borough, Greenwich Peninsula is known for The O2 Arena and river transport links; while Eltham is home to Eltham Palace. Other major neighbourhoods within the borough are Woolwich, a historic military and industrial centre now undergoing major regeneration; Shooter's Hill, noted for Severndroog Castle; and parts of Abbey Wood and Thamesmead in the east. The borough also home to parts of Blackheath, parts of Lee, Kidbrooke, Charlton, Plumstead, and Avery Hill, together forming a diverse urban area ranging from significant heritage districts and established residential suburbs to large waterfront redevelopment zones along the River Thames.
To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the borough became a Royal Borough on 3 February 2012, due to its historic links with the Houses of Tudor and Stuart of the royal family. Greenwich was the seat of the Palace of Placentia which was built in the 15th century under the orders of Henry VI and Henry VII. It was the birthplace of Henry VIII, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, all of whom lived at the palace. The Queen's House was gifted to the queen consort Henrietta Maria in 1629 by Charles I. The Royal Observatory was commissioned in 1675 by Charles II.
History[edit]The area of the modern borough had historically been part of the county of Kent. From 1856 the area was governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works, which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London.[3] In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London. From 1856 until 1900 the lower tier of local government within the metropolis comprised various parish vestries and district boards. In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs, two of which were called Greenwich and Woolwich.[4]
The London Borough of Greenwich was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963. It covered the combined area of the two metropolitan boroughs of Greenwich and Woolwich, with the exception that North Woolwich, on the north side of the River Thames, went instead to the London Borough of Newham.[5][6]
The name 'Charlton' was briefly considered as the name for the new borough.[7] Greenwich Council applied for city status in 2002, but was turned down.[8]
In 2012, to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the borough was given the additional honorific status of being a royal borough, in recognition of the area's historic links with the Royal Family and its status as home of the Prime Meridian and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[9][10][11]
Geography[edit]The borough lies along the south bank of the River Thames between Deptford and Thamesmead. It has an area of 5,044 hectares. Because of the bends of the river, its waterfront is as long as 8.5 miles. Trelling south away from the waterfront, the ground rises: Shooters Hill in the east and the high ground of Blackheath in the west bookend the borough, Eltham to the south of these hills falls away slightly.
Greenwich is bounded by the London Boroughs of Bexley to the east, Bromley to the south, Lewisham to the west and across the River Thames to the north lie Tower Hamlets, Newham and Barking and Dagenham.
Governance[edit] Main article: Greenwich London Borough Council Woolwich Town Hall, the meeting place of Greenwich London Borough CouncilThe local authority is Greenwich Council, which meets at Woolwich Town Hall and has its main offices at the adjoining Woolwich Centre.
Shaped like an astrolabe, the 18-carat gold badge on the mayor's chain depicts the time-ball on the principal building of the old Greenwich Royal Observatory, the meridian line, and lines of latitude and longitude. The ‘time-ball’ is set with small rubies.
Greater London representation[edit]Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly, the borough forms part of the Greenwich and Lewisham constituency.
UK parliament[edit]The borough contains the constituencies of:
Eltham Erith and Thamesmead (shared with the London Borough of Bexley) Greenwich and WoolwichAll three he been represented by Labour MPs continuously since the 1997 General Election.
Demographics[edit] Population pyramid of Greenwich in 2021The borough's population in 2011 was 254,557.[12] 52.3% of the community defined themselves as White British. The largest minority groups represented were of Black and Asian heritage.
Approximately 44,500 international migrants arrived in the Royal Borough between the years 2001 and 2011.[13] Of these, 25% arrived from EU member states, 24.5% arrived from central and western Africa, and 18.9% arrived from southern Asia.[13] The most common country of birth in this period was Nigeria.[13]
The Royal Borough in 2015 had a general fertility rate of 72.7 live births per 1,000 aged 15–44, higher than the London erage of 63.9 and the England erage of 62.5.[13]
Population censusYearPop.±% 1801 16,866— 1811 20,900+23.9% 1821 25,208+20.6% 1831 30,113+19.5% 1841 38,284+27.1% 1851 52,190+36.3% 1861 74,801+43.3% 1871 97,413+30.2% 1881 120,024+23.2% 1891 174,316+45.2% 1901 185,062+6.2% 1911 196,471+6.2% 1921 213,562+8.7% 1931 232,142+8.7% 1941 227,864−1.8% 1951 223,674−1.8% 1961 220,305−1.5% 1971 216,993−1.5% 1981 209,868−3.3% 1991 213,488+1.7% 2001 214,540+0.5% 2011 254,557+18.7%2021289,100+13.6%Note:[14] Ethnicity[edit] Ethnic Group Year 1971 estimations[15] 1981 estimations[16] 1991[17] 2001[18] 2011[19] 2021[20] Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % White: Total – 96.3% 190,718 92% 181,193 87.3% 165,357 77.1% 159,002 62.5% 161,006 55.7% White: British – – – – – – 151,291 70.6% 133,130 52.3% 119,665 41.4% White: Irish – – – – – – 4,871 % 4,291 1.7% 4,230 1.5% White: Gypsy or Irish Treller – – – – – – – – 430 0.2% 385 0.1% White: Roma – – – – – – – – – – 882 0.3% White: Other – – – – – – 9,195 4.2% 21,581 8.3% 35,844 12.4% Asian or Asian British: Total – – – – 12,765 6.14% 17,118 7.98% 29,894 11.7% 38,028 13.1% Asian or Asian British: Indian – – – – 7,107 3.4% 9,389 % 7,836 3.1% 10,128 3.5% Asian or Asian British: Pakistani – – – – 1,251 1,909 % 2,594 1.0% 3,538 1.2% Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi – – – – 381 1,236 % 1,645 0.6% 2,395 0.8% Asian or Asian British: Chinese – – – – 1,681 2,540 % 5,061 2.0% 7,125 2.5% Asian or Asian British: Other Asian – – – – 2,345 2,044 % 12,758 5.0% 14,842 5.1% Black or Black British: Total – – – – 11,119 5.35% 23,787 11.1% 48,655 19.1% 60,602 21% Black or Black British: African – – – – 3,903 1.87% 15,312 7.3% 35,164 13.8% 44,185 15.3% Black or Black British: Caribbean – – – – 5,148 2.47% 6,782 % 8,051 3.2% 8,724 3.0% Black or Black British: Other Black – – – – 2,068 1,693 % 5,440 2.1% 7,693 2.7% Mixed or British Mixed: Total – – – – – – 5,850 2.7% 12,274 4.8% 17,297 6% Mixed: White and Black Caribbean – – – – – – 2,175 % 4,011 1.6% 5,142 1.8% Mixed: White and Black African – – – – – – 933 % 2,699 1.1% 3,302 1.1% Mixed: White and Asian – – – – – – 1,353 % 2,361 0.9% 3,491 1.2% Mixed: Other Mixed – – – – – – 1,389 % 3,203 1.3% 5,362 1.9% Other: Total – – – – 2573 1.23% 2,378 1.1% 4,732 1.9% 12,132 4.2% Other: Arab – – – – – – – – 1,069 0.4% 1,462 0.5% Other: Any other ethnic group – – – – 2573 1.23% 2,378 1.1% 3,663 1.4% 10,670 3.7% Ethnic minority: Total – 3.7% 16,519 8% 26,457 12.74% 49,133 22.29% 95,555 37.5% 128,059 44.3% Total – 100% 207,237 100% 207,650 100% 214,490 100.00% 254,557 100.00% 289,065 100% Landmarks[edit] The Royal Observatory at left and the Queen's House right of centreCentral Greenwich Town contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site centred on Christopher Wren's Royal Nal College and the Old Royal Observatory.
Education[edit] Schools[edit] Main article: List of schools in the London Borough of Greenwich Further education[edit]Greenwich Community College is the main publicly funded provider of further education in the borough, offering a range of academic and vocational courses and qualifications. Anglian College London is a private college offering further and higher education courses to students from around London and overseas. In September 2013, The Royal Borough of Greenwich Equestrian Centre – a partnership between Hadlow College and the Royal Borough of Greenwich – opened. At present it offers Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications in horse care, as well as a range of part-time qualifications and a BSc (Hons) degree in Equine Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation.
Universities[edit]The University of Greenwich main campus is located in the distinctive buildings of the former Royal Nal College. There is a further campus of the university at Avery Hill in Eltham, and also, outside the borough, in Medway. The Faculty of Music of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (formerly known as Trinity College of Music) is also housed in the buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital. Rensbourne University opened its new campus in September 2010 and is located next to The O2 on Greenwich Peninsula.[21]
Sport within the borough[edit]Greenwich Council owns many sports centres and these are operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL). They also run an outdoor swimming pool, Charlton Lido.
The largest football club in the borough is Charlton Athletic F.C., a professional club playing in the EFL Championship, There are three non-League football clubs, Bridon Ropes F.C. and Meridian F.C., who both play in Charlton at Meridian Sports & Social Club and Cray Valley Paper Mills F.C. who play in Eltham at Badgers Sports Ground. There are several rugby clubs, most notably Blackheath F.C., who played at Rectory Field for 158 years, moving to Eltham in 2016. Blackheath Cricket Club still plays at Rectory Field.
Greenwich was one of the five host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and hosted 34 events in nine sports at three venues across the borough.[22] Greenwich Park hosted equestrian events and modern pentathlon; the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich hosted shooting events; and The O2 arena hosted gymnastics and basketball finals.
Transport[edit] River crossings[edit]There are foot tunnels under the River Thames between Greenwich and Island Gardens in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and between Woolwich and North Woolwich in the London Borough of Newham. The Woolwich Ferry takes vehicle traffic and links the North Circular Road to the South Circular Road which runs through the borough. A cable car crossing linking Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks opened on 28 June 2012.[23]
River transport[edit]The Thames Clippers commuter ferry service runs from Woolwich to Canary Wharf and the City.
Railway stations[edit] Abbey Wood Blackheath Charlton Eltham Greenwich Kidbrooke Maze Hill Mottingham New Eltham Plumstead Westcombe Park Woolwich Woolwich Arsenal Woolwich DockyardAll stations except Woolwich are served by Southeastern. Woolwich is served by the Elizabeth line. Abbey Wood is served by both.
Tube/DLR stations[edit]The only London Underground station in the borough is North Greenwich on the Jubilee line. It was opened in 1999 and it is close to the Millennium Dome, which is now The O2. The DLR serves Greenwich more extensively and a list of the stations is below:
Cutty Sark (DLR) Deptford Bridge (DLR) Elverson Road (DLR) Greenwich (DLR) Woolwich Arsenal (DLR) Trel to work[edit]In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to trel to work were driving a car or van, 17.5% of all residents aged 16–74; train, 10.2%; bus, minibus or coach, 10.2%; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 9.7%; on foot, 4.1%; work mainly at or from home, 2.5%; and bicycle, 1.5%.[24]
Economy[edit] Tourism[edit] Tourists at the Prime Meridian, Greenwich ObservatoryTourism is becoming an increasingly important factor in Greenwich's economy. In 2015, 18.5 million people were expected to visit the borough for a day or more, generating over £1.2 billion; this figure was expected to increase by more than 25% by 2018. Evidence of the tourism boom included the construction of a 452-room InterContinental Hotel near the O2 Arena (opening in 2015). Apart from the many museums and historic buildings in Greenwich town and Greenwich Park, the main tourist attractions are the Cutty Sark, The O2 Arena, the London Cable Car, Eltham Palace (which expected over 100,000 visitors in 2015), Charlton House and the Thames Barrier. In addition, the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich is starting to promote itself as a tourist attraction.[25]
Places[edit] Main article: List of districts in Greenwich Parks and open spaces[edit] Main article: Greenwich parks and open spacesThe borough contains the Greenwich Royal Park. A small part of the Metropolitan Green Belt is within the borough.
Entertainment district[edit]The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) is located on the Greenwich Peninsula. It includes an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars, and restaurants.
Religion[edit]The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Greenwich according to the 2021 census.
Religion 2021[26] Number % Christian 129,112 44.7 Muslim 24,715 8.5 Jewish 603 0.2 Hindu 11,647 4.0 Sikh 3,229 1.1 Buddhism 5,034 1.7 Other religion 1,802 0.6 No religion 94,208 32.7 Religion not stated 18,716 6.5 Total 289,068 100.0 Coat of arms[edit] Main article: Coat of arms of the Royal Borough of GreenwichArms were originally granted to the London Borough by letters patent dated 1 October 1965.[27] Although much of the 1965 design has been retained, the arms he been altered in 2012 by the addition of a representation of the Thames. In addition a crest and supporters were added to the arms.[28]
The Woolwich Buddy Bear Twinning[edit]The Royal Borough of Greenwich is twinned with:
Reinickendorf, Berlin, Germany (since 1965). The initiative of the twinning with this Berlin borough dates from the times of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich. A London telephone box and a red pillar box beside Lake Tegel were gifted by Greenwich borough. A Berlin Buddy Bear in General Gordon Square (Woolwich) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the twinning.[29] Maribor, Slovenia (since 1966).[29] The 50th anniversary of the town twinning with Slovenia's second largest city was celebrated with a ballet performance in Woolwich Town Hall and the revealing of a plaque in the renamed Maribor Park in the Royal Arsenal.[30] Tema, Ghana (since 2000). The town twinning with Tema has led to the opening of Tema's first Information Technology Centre (by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2000), the gifting of a mobile ICT learning centre to Tema (2005), the shipping of a converted Greenwich council passenger services bus, packed with books for school libraries and second-hand computers, as well as regular youth exchanges between Greenwich and Tema.[29] See also[edit] Greenwich parks and open spaces Grade I and II* listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Greenwich List of public art in the Royal Borough of Greenwich Greenwich Heritage Centre University of Greenwich References[edit] ^ "Greenwich". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.) ^ Roach, Peter; Setter, Jane; Esling, John, eds. (2011). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (Did Jones) (18th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ^ Metropolis Management Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120) ^ London Government Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. 14) ^ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-901050-67-9. ^ "London Government Act 1963". The National Archives. Retrieved 3 January 2022. ^ "Names for Nine New Boroughs of London" The Times, 14 September 1963 ^ "Five new cities creates row". BBC News. 14 March 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2023. ^ "Greenwich to become Royal Borough". Greenwich London Borough Council. 5 January 2010. Archived from the original on 8 January 2010. Retrieved 5 January 2010. ^ "Greenwich to become Royal Borough on 3 February". Greenwich Council. 9 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012. ^ "No. 60205". The London Gazette. 11 July 2012. p. 13300. ^ "Cenus Statistics". Office of National Statistics. ^ a b c d "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) ^ "Greenwich: Total Population". A Vision of Britain Through Time. Great Britain Historical GIS Project. Retrieved 6 September 2011. ^ "Migration and London's growth" (PDF). LSE. ^ Equality, Commission for Racial (1985). "Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement". Commission for Racial Equality: Table 2.2. ^ "1991 census – theme tables". NOMIS. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2017. ^ "KS006 – Ethnic group". NOMIS. Retrieved 30 January 2016. ^ "Ethnic Group by measures". NOMIS. Retrieved 8 January 2016. ^ "Ethnic group – Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 November 2022. ^ "Rensbourne University London". www.rensbourne.ac.uk. 9 June 2025. ^ "A thrilling year ahead - What's in store for Greenwich in 2012 - Greenwich". Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012. ^ "Thames cable car in London opens for passengers". BBC News. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012. ^ "2011 Census: QS701EW Method of trel to work, local authorities in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 23 November 2013. Percentages are of all residents aged 16–74 including those not in employment. Respondents could only pick one mode, specified as the journey’s longest part by distance. ^ Greenwich Time, No. 367, 29 September 2015, pp. 1, 4 (online text) ^ "Religion - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. ^ Briggs, Geoffrey (1971). Civic and Corporate Heraldry: A Dictionary of Impersonal Arms of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. London: Heraldry Today. pp. 184–185. ISBN 0-900455-21-7. ^ "The borough's coat of arms and crest". Greenwich Council. Retrieved 16 January 2012. ^ a b c "Town twinning". Royal Borough of Greenwich website. Retrieved 11 July 2017. ^ 'Ballet and new park as Greenwich celebrates 50 year twinning with Maribor', londonnewsonline.co.uk, 26 May 2017. "The Mayor's Green Procurement Code", Level A1. Retrieved 26 September 2007. External links[edit] Greenwich Council Greenwich Conservatives Greenwich and Woolwich Labour Party Greenwich Liberal Democrats Eltham Labour Party MP Clive Efford Greenwich Young Peoples Council Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance vteSchools and colleges in GreenwichSecondary Ark Greenwich Free School Eltham Hill School The Halley Academy Harris Academy Greenwich The John Roan School Leigh Academy Blackheath Plumstead Manor School Royal Greenwich Trust School St Mary Magdalene CE All Through School St Paul's Academy St Thomas More RC School St Ursula's Convent School Stationers' Crown Woods Academy Thomas Tallis School Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls Independent Blackheath High School Colfe's School Further education Anglian College London Greenwich Community College Shooters Hill Sixth Form College Former Bellerbys College Blackheath Bluecoat CE School Blackheath Proprietary School Royal Nal Asylum vteRoyal Borough of GreenwichDistricts Abbey Wood Avery Hill Blackheath Charlton Coldharbour Deptford Eltham Greenwich Greenwich Peninsula/North Greenwich Horn Park Kidbrooke Longlands Maze Hill Mottingham New Charlton New Eltham Plumstead Shooter's Hill Thamesmead Well Hall Westcombe Park Woolwich Attractions The Bob Hope Theatre Charlton House Cutty Sark Eltham Palace Fan Museum Greenwich Dance Greenwich Heritage Centre Greenwich Theatre London Cable Car formerly the Emirates Air Line National Maritime Museum The O2 arena formerly the Millennium Dome Old Royal Nal College Ranger's House Royal Artillery Barracks Royal Observatory Severndroog Castle St Alfege Church Thames Barrier The Valley Charlton Athletic F.C. 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