What's the big deal about the Prime Meridian?

Got 'standing on an invisible line' on your bucket list? Probably not. But, this unique activity is one of the coolest things you can do in London. Here's why you should give it a go...

By Selina Whitby
Published: April 29, 2025
Prime Meridian

First things first – what is the Prime Meridian?

We’ll explain this in the least textbook-y way possible. The Prime Meridian is the Earth’s official point where East meets West. Think of it as a line (yes, invisible, as we can’t actually see it in the air) that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole right through the centre of Greenwich in London.

Back in the day, before the official Prime Meridian was established, countries would use their own versions, meaning there were multiple meridians, but this made mapping and navigation confusing. So, they decided to make the Royal Observatory the one and only home of the Prime Meridian in 1884.

And why Greenwich? As London was a major maritime hub and ships were already using Greenwich Meridian, it seemed like the most practical location to use!

Why's it important today?

Clocks and time zones worldwide are based on the Prime Meridian, as well as all modern GPS systems and digital maps. When you see GMT +/- in relation to a time zone, it's referencing how many hours ahead or behind a country is from Greenwich Mean Time (what GMT stands for, in case you weren't sure).

...If all of that still makes no sense, just take it from us, it's a big deal. 

What does it look like?

Even though the Prime Meridian is technically invisible, if you visit the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, you’ll find a stainless steel strip marking exactly where it is. And this is the fun bit – if you stand on the strip with one leg either side, you’ll be in the East and the West at the same time.

The line continues around the courtyard and through the park, so if you fancy, you can follow it as far as it – or you – will go. Say hi to Santa from us if you end up at the North Pole!

Prime Meridian

We went for the classic photo option

What fun photos can I take there?

As you can imagine, there are plenty of fun photo opportunities you can take advantage of at this spot.

The classic ones

  • Stand across the line with one foot in each hemisphere.
  • Capture your shadow split across the line if you're there at the right time.

The daring ones

  • Do a handstand over the line with one hand in each hemisphere.
  • Do a running jump over the line and get someone to capture you mid-leap.

The group shots

  • If there are two of you, high five across the hemispheres.
  • Got a scarf handy? Try a tug of war 'across time'. 
  • And if you're brave and travelling in a group, why not try a human pyramid?

What else is there to see at the Royal Observatory?   

The Prime Meridian may be the star attraction, but once you’ve got your fill of fun photos, there are lots of other things to keep you busy.

The ball drop
Yes, this is a mini version of New York’s famous ball drop. You’ll see the ball in question on the top of Flamsteed House. At 1PM every day it drops, so be sure to get there in time to see it. The Time Ball is one of the world’s earliest public time signals and it used to be used for ships on the Thames to set their clocks accurately.

The Great Equatorial Telescope
That big dome that looks a bit like an onion on the top of the Observatory? This is home to the Great Equatorial Telescope and you can see it in all its glory here. This 28-inch refracting telescope is the only one of its kind in the UK, and was a key player in expanding our knowledge of the stars.

The Octagon Room
This impressive room is the oldest part of the observatory and was built to provide astronomers with an uninterrupted view of the night sky. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, so if you enjoyed the opulent décor of St Paul’s, you’ll love the interiors here.

The Planetarium
A visit here comes with an extra cost, but it’s well worth it if you’re a space fan. Tour the solar system and enjoy live shows with a variety to choose from – whether you’re traveling with kids or interested in a particular area of astronomy.
 

Enjoyed this? Learn all about London's famous Thames bridges and find out why Londoners love open-top bus tours (yes, they absolutely do!) 

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Selina Whitby
Content Lead

Selina is a copywriter and seasoned backpacker who has visited over 50 countries if you count Vatican City, which she does. Her most memorable travel experiences include tubing in Vang Vieng, doing New Zealand’s Nevis Bungee with a fear of heights, and taking a nine-hour flight with a toddler. On her bucket list is Rio Carnival in Brazil, walking the Camino de Santiago, and flying First Class (when she wins the EuroMillions).

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How to Visit London on a Budget

London’s reputation as one of the most expensive cities on the planet is not without justification. Grimacing out-of-towners can often be seen experiencing this first-hand as – in a state of utter bewilderment and disbelief – they count the meager change from a ten pound note after purchasing their first London pint. Luxury hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and consistently high demand due to its evergreen status as one of the world’s top bucket-list city destinations: all of these things help keep London prices sky high. Now the good news: it is possible to visit London on a budget. A little savvy here, a willingness to sleep in the suburbs there and hey presto, you have the beginnings of a wallet-friendly London adventure on your hands. Read on for our top tips on how to visit London on a budget... Budget London Accommodation Ok, so you’re going to have to manage your own expectations here. You’ll be hard-pushed to find anything but the most basic hotel room in central London for under £100 a night. And there’s no way in a zillion years you’re going to be staying at The Ritz. The key here is to focus your accommodation search outside London’s zones 1 and 2. Zones 3–6 are still well-connected, but obviously the further you get from the center of town, the more palatable the prices. Find somewhere with a Tube station nearby to keep you within reach of the main attractions and you’re sorted. You’ll find deals that won’t break the bank in the likes of Stratford, Hammersmith (pictured below), Islington and even King’s Cross. Budget hotel chains like Travelodge, Ibis and Premier Inn also help keeps cost down and, if you don’t mind sharing, hostel chains including Safestay and St Christopher’s Inns have properties in convenient locations including Greenwich, Holland Park, Camden and London Bridge. Airbnb can also be a good money-saving option, especially if you’re traveling in a group. Again, aim for the suburbs for the best bargains Getting Around London on the Cheap London’s iconic black hackney cabs are great for #humblebrag vacation selfies, but bad bad bad for the bank balance! Instead, stick to public transport. A one-day travelcard covering unlimited tube and bus travel within zones 1-3 costs less than £10. You can tap in and out of public transport to your heart’s content using your bank card, safe in the knowledge that you’ll never exceed that daily cap. If you must take a cab, apps like Uber provide cheaper alternatives to black hackneys, especially for longer trips. Walking London can be fun, too. Yes, it’s huge, but a lot of the major attractions are within a short distance of one another. For example: you could stroll from Westminster Abbey to Leicester Square, taking in Big Ben, 10 Downing Street and Trafalgar Square along the way, in around 30 minutes. Just grab a map, plan your route and off you go! Free and Discounted London Attraction Tickets Budget-conscious travelers with even a passing interest in art and history will be in clover in London, where a huge number of museums and galleries are absolutely gratis to enter. And not just any old museums and galleries either. We’re talking the likes of the National Gallery, a celebration of European art through the ages, from da Vinci to Turner. Then there’s the mighty Tate Modern, that IG-tastic former power station that houses crucial works by Pollock, Picasso, Rothko, Klee, Warhol, Lichtenstein, Monet and more. Also free is the mighty British Museum, only the largest collection of historical artifacts on the planet (eight million-ish, in case you were wondering), including the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and an Easter Island statue. Meanwhile Kensington’s neighboring Natural History and Science museums are the kinds of places kids and adults alike can lose themselves in for hours at a time – and it’s all fantastically, unbelievably free! There are further savings to be made with the London Pass. If you’re planning to visit a number of bucket-list landmarks and take a tour or two, this could be very much the option for you. Holders of the pass can access as many attractions as they like for up to 10 consecutive days, including major hitters like Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, The View from The Shard, London Zoo, the Cutty Sark and Kew Gardens. It also includes hop-on hop-off bus tickets, football stadium tours, canal cruises and much more. You can save up to 50% compared to what you’d spend on the door. An absolute boon for budget travelers, in other words. Find out more about it and get yours here. It almost goes without saying – but is worth pointing out anyway – that strolls around London’s most Instagrammable neighborhoods will also cost you absolutely nada. We’re talking Portobello Road with its candy-colored houses and lively bric-a-brac stalls; atmospheric Whitechapel and Brick Lane, the picturesque village vibes of pretty Greenwich, and the embarrassment of riches that is the Thames’s South Bank. Wander from bustling Borough Market to the London Eye for a visual feast that takes in soaring Southwark Cathedral, painstakingly replicas of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde galleon ship and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern, and stunning cross-river views of St Paul’s Cathedral. London’s Cheapest Eats If you’re visiting London on a budget, you’ll definitely want to familiarize yourself with the nicest and cheapest ways to eat. Dodge the fast food chains and give tourist traps around Covent Garden and Leicester Square as wide a berth as possible. With the exception, that is, of Chinatown, where you can still bag a satisfying bowl of noodles or fried rice for less than the cost of a London pint. Eating early or late is also a good trick. Pre-theater set menus available between around 5PM and 7PM offer genuinely good value in the heart of town, while apps like Too Good To Go are worth checking out for end-of-night bargain bites, when unsold restaurant meals are turned into pocket-friendly takeaways to avoid having to throw them away. It’s also worth checking out voucher sites like Groupon and Wowcher for discounted dining experiences in London pubs and restaurants. London’s street food is also second to none and – while perhaps not exactly cheap by international standards – means you can have a filling meal on the move for waaay less than the cost of a sit-down London pub or restaurant dinner. Hit up Brick Lane for some of the best falafel and bagels in town. The only danger in this East End foodie mecca is that you’ll be tempted into emptying your wallet at one of the many inviting Bangladeshi restaurants or vintage boutiques that line the street. Then there’s the sensory saturnalia that is Borough Market by London Bridge station. Here, beneath the atmospheric railway arches lies a whole world of gourmet treats. Think delectable duck confit sandwiches, farm-fresh pork burgers, halloumi salads, regional cheeses, giant cream-filled donuts, craft ales, freshly brewed specialty coffee and, well, pretty much anything else you can think of. Yum! Save on things to do in London Save on admission to London attractions with the London Pass. Check out @londonpass on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Madame Tussauds London
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North London Attractions
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North London Attractions

If you're looking for the best attractions in North London, check out our picks and prepare for a stellar day out! Including: What is North London known for? Is North London a good area? Is North London or South London better? North London Attractions What is North London known for? North London is one of the city's hippest areas, with tonnes of places to eat, drink, and undertake interesting experiences. Some of North London's most well-known neighborhoods include Camden and its world-renowned market, which draws thousands of people every week; Angel, with its gentrified hangouts and canal walks; and Highgate, with its famed cemetery and affluent housing. Is North London a good area? North London is a great place to live in, stay at, or visit for several reasons. Bars, restaurants, and experiences are usually cheaper than in Central while providing an equal amount of fun. Additionally, the area boasts superb public transportation options, with most neighborhoods conveniently connected to the tube and Overground services. So, when you need to head to another side of the city, you can do so with relative ease. Is North London or South London better? The North/South question is one that enrages Londoners on both sides of the Thames. Enrages might be too strong a word, but it's certainly a debate that permeates both ends. Each will insist on their own superiority, but what do we think? Well, both have pros and cons. South has quite a few more green spaces for your strolls, runs, and lounges. North has better travel connections to Central and other parts of the London. Experience-wise, we'd say it's 50:50, so you can't really make a wrong choice! North London Attractions: London Zoo ZSL London Zoo is the city's best - and only - zoo. Home to an impressive array of over 750 animal species, it features the most extensive collection in the UK. Fans of creepy crawlies will love the BUGS exhibit Venture In with the Spiders, where you can walk and talk with spiders - though they may not respond. For the more squeamish among you, instead head to Penguin Beach to see the little marvels up close, or admire the elegance of giraffes in the African habitat. The Gorilla Kingdom offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of western lowland gorillas native to the African rainforest. Even little adventurers are catered to, thanks to the Animal Adventure area - an immersive animal experience designed by children, featuring meerkats, llamas, and aardvarks. North London Attractions: Emirates Stadium Tour Football fans, rejoice! You don't get one, but two stadium tours to enjoy in North London! The first is at the Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal. Arguably London's most successful football club, a tour of the Emirates features plenty of silverware. Your tour, typically led by a club legend, will take you through the players' entrance, directors box, diamond club area, home changing room, the Tunnel and pitch-side, home dugout, Flash Interview Rooms, Press Conference Room, and Media Lounge. If you've ever wondered what the weekly life of a footballer feels like, this is a crash course of an experience! Throughout, you'll see never-seen-before footage, player recounts of famous matchdays, and finish the whole affair with a set of Arsenal headphones and a certificate primed for framing. Nice. North London Attractions: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Tour The second football tour on this list is at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, home of Tottenham Hotspur. While they may not boast the prestige and trophy cabinet of their North London neighbours, they can boast one of the most state-of-the-art football stadiums on the planet. Having opened its gates back in 2021, this billion-dollar stadium plays host to football matches, NFL games, and even live concerts. But football fans are eating good, thanks to the stadium tour. You'll explore interactive exhibits detailing the club's history, the most famous faces that have put on the shirt, and even get to walk through the players' tunnel onto the retractable pitch. North London Attractions: Warner Bros Studio Tour The books and films may have finished long ago, but Harry Potter fever is still alive and well in North London! So, why not head to Warner Bros Studio in Watford and check out The Making of Harry Potter tour? Inside, you'll explore you'll the movie studios and sets that became the backbone of the 'Harry Potter' film franchise. When the crew wasn't on location, these studios in Leavesden served as the creative hub for most of the iconic scenes. Thanks to the undying ardor of Potter enthusiasts, Warner Bros opted to preserve the sets and expand the studios, ensuring other films could be produced without disruption. For fans, it's a dream come true. You can wander through iconic locations like the Great Hall at Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and Platform 93⁄4 with the gleaming Hogwarts Express. Cinematic aficionados will relish the opportunity to explore behind-the-scenes wizardry, delving into special effects, animatronics, and the methods that brought magical characters to life. North London Attractions: Hampstead Heath Hampstead Heath offers a refreshing contrast to the manicured landscapes of London. Stretching over 791 acres from Hampstead to Highgate, it encompasses woodlands, playing fields, swimming ponds, and meadows. In keeping with its wilder side, instead of lawnmowers, the local council uses sheep to trim up the grass. And yes, you can go hang out with them. Parliament Hill's soaring heights entice kite-fliers on windy days, and the Hampstead Ponds offer a popular spot for a summer dip. All in all, a grand day out! North London Attractions: Blackhorse Beer Mile Don't worry, sud-lovers, we've got you covered too. The Blackhorse Beer Mile isn't so much an attraction but more of an undertaking. Encompassing eight taprooms along Blackhorse Road, it's the perfect remedy to this unfair game we call life. Along this delightful route, you'll encounter a lineup of exceptional breweries, from the adventurous Wild Card to the unique creations of Signature Brew. Savor delectable roasts at Big Penny Social and indulge in top-notch cuisine at Auld Hag's Exale Brewery pop-up. As for weekend entertainment, the options are as diverse as the brews. Enjoy live music, immersive film screenings, DJ sets, and even speed-dating nights that promise an all-around good time. But those were just some of the attractions in North London. If you want to see everything the city has to offer - and save money while doing it - grab a London Pass!
Dom Bewley
The London Eye
Tower of London

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