The Best View In London?
On Easter Monday, I took a stroll up to the Point. I love going there - it's full of those country lanes I've been promising to flag up (some more coming soon, promise...) It doesn't matter how you approach it, it always feels slightly edgy, slightly secret.
It certainly was on Monday. As you can see, the place was deserted. Admittedly it had that certain extra, added-edginess - that 'will-it-won't-it-pour-with-rain-before-I-get-to-the-Union' feel about it. But for that short while, despite its being a bank holiday, it was empty up there. A magical, flat, tree-surrounded fairy glade, with a fabulous view.Of course the view's getting a little more obscure these days as the shrubs on the hill below grow to maturity - they could do with a spot of judicious pruning here and there - but hey - this has to be one of (if not the) best view around.
If you can imagine, through the rapidly-approaching clouds in this picture, the London Eye is bang in the middle, with Wembley, the Gherkin, that strange building over Spitalfields, Tower 42 and Canary Wharf all silhouetted to the right (not that they're mentioned in the charmingly out-of-date info board up there...) but there are lovely little extras too - chimney pots and higgledy-piggledy roofs, church spires and curiosities, the DLR and sundry train lines (sadly no St Nicholas, Deptford, any more - new builds conceal it now...)
That same day, the crowds to view London fromThe Phantom General Wolfe's Statue were several-people-deep. And - I'll grant you - it IS a good view. As is the one from that lonesome bench to the west of Greenwich Park, just at the brow of Greenwich Hill. I'm even partial to the vista you get from outside the Amylum chemical works on the Thames Path, looking back at the ORNC. From the top of Maze Hill, by Vanbrugh Castle's another good one. But none of them can beat The Point, IMHO.
Sadly, by the time I took the photo above, those clouds were approaching a bit scarily fast (though in the event came to nothing) and the view was rapidly fading but if you've never been there, hive yourself up there pronto.
And then - hell, why not - let's have a poll. What IS the best view in Greenwich? Have I missed any out? Vote Here
That same day, the crowds to view London from
Sadly, by the time I took the photo above, those clouds were approaching a bit scarily fast (though in the event came to nothing) and the view was rapidly fading but if you've never been there, hive yourself up there pronto.
And then - hell, why not - let's have a poll. What IS the best view in Greenwich? Have I missed any out? Vote Here
Labels: Green Greenwich, The Point, views
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:18
16 Comments:
The best view of Greenwich is the first sighting of our beloved borough when one returns from somewhere that's not in it. So there.
The view from the Point gets my vote too. Part of its charm is that there's rarely anyone up there so you're free to look out over London without being disturbed. So don't you all go up there at once, you'll spoil it!
Actually, I still remember the time I discovered there's another view, that in its own way is just as good.
I don't think I'd ever given much thought to whether people north of the Thames had 'anything nice' to look at, until I took a trip over to Alexandra Palace some years ago, for a motorbike show.
It's on a hill, possibly part of the same ring of hills that encircles the whole capital.
Yup, you can see all the usual central London features in the middle distance.
But then it gets better. Look further and - on a good day - you'll be able to spot the water tower that tells you you're looking at Shooters Hill, and from there it's not so hard to pick out other favourite landmarks.
So yes, the people of north London do get something good to look at.
South London :)
What a coincidence! I wrote a similar blog article a couple of weeks ago with similar photos at http://deptfordvisions.com/2009/04/04/point-hill/
I've got the excuse of taking my dog up there every day :)
The thing about Greenwich is that there are lots of vantage points, so with luck we won't be queuing up for our turn. On the heath,top of Crooms Hill/HydeVale, is a good deputy for the Point, and most people are rushing past in cars. And Snow Hill in the Park is usually a beatufully-framed-with-foliage view of the City.
There are so many great views round here I sometimes feel a bit spoilt.I would also love to have a peek out of one of the top floors of the houses in Diamond Terrace, one house in particular that has a big old gnarly pine in the front yard and looks like it belongs to a relative of Miss Havisham.
With you on the Point - it's a great place to go on a summer's evening and look out on the twinkly city. And walking down Point Hill to the pubs is always a great experience, as is Maze Hill.
Oddly enough, the properties that have the best views in the area are probably at the top of the Springfield Estate blocks in Charlton. (If you stand at the door of St Luke's Church you can see right across London, over to Wembley.) And a little futher out, Nunhead rail station has a wonderful view, and Hilly Fields in Brockley has some unexpected views south.
Roger - agreed on Alexandra Park and Shooters Hill. Pains me to say it, but it may actually the best view in London. But yeah, it is looking south... same goes for Parliament Hill and Primrose Hill.
Dear Phantom, We included The Point on our Easter Monday walk too.......absolutely delightful albeit a little misty that day.... but The BEST BEST view in Greenwich is seeing all the lovely families of ALL sorts of nationalities ages & persuasions enjoying the spring sunshine in Greenwich Park this weekend - I can't get my camera to upload right now but the wealth of humanity enjoying a beautiful urban green (and gosh how achingly green is it right now!! )space is joyful. Sadly Greenwich Council don't like JOY. Our MP shies away from joy & humanity - much preferring a non-socialist elite making money from some TV companies, sipping champagne with Tim Barnes & Liz Coyle on The Queen's House Balcony in 2012. I do think that Greenwich Council and most of the local amenity societies aren't up to the challenge - oh pleeeese...we all know what next Sunday means and that's just a one day day fun run without horses or the ODA!!!
How about the view from the top of Shooter's Hill, looking over Kent?
Some friends came to stay over easter with their young daughter, which gave me the excuse to visit the Mudchute farm for the first time.
Which was great fun, but one thing that I didn't expect was how good the view would be once I came out of the tunnel and looked back at Greenwich: I see a similar view from the boat most days of the week, but the view from across the river is somehow fuller, more complete.
So technically that's a view of, rather than from, Greenwich, but I just thought I'd make a case for it.
That's a good call - it's nearly 10 years since the DLR extension opened, and in that decade the view from Island Gardens has returned to being the secret it was before the railway opened at all.
Before the land was built on, there were always amazing views of the Dome from the DLR around East India/ Blackwall stations.
The view down Point Hill looks surreal when there's one of those massive ships stopping at Greenwich. As you can't actually see the river from there, the ship just seems to crop up between the houses.
853, I expect you know Canaletto's view from the Isle of Dogs.
The point is a very good viewpoint and is a great place to enjoy a summer sunset or some champagne with your friends on New Years Eve or Bonfire night. We lived on Trinity Grove, for a number of years and visited the Point frequently. There are many views in Greenwich that are better framed with greenery and pleasant architecture but none capture Greenwich quite as well as the Point. We're stuck in horrible DC now, so your blog keeps us sane. Thank you Phantom.
I'm fond of the long steps and path that lead from Hyde Vale, through the woody bit to the heath. Looking up you see a curving handrail and a magical void. To see it at night with a full moon looking in is very special. Would someone like to take and post a photograph for me?
Hi! Just a couple of questions - The Point is, as I understand, the top of Point Hill, right? :)
Also, since the view is pretty much looking West, I assume the sunsets there must look spectacular? :)
Does the area adjacent to The Point get locked at night? I have been looking for a nice view of night London and night Canary Wharf for quite a long time now...
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