KDS presents

Did YOU know??

Greenwich became a Royal Borough on 3 February 2012, one of the first events in the year Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. Greenwich will also be a host borough for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this year!!!

Henry V created the Greenwich royal manor in the 15th century, which was later granted to his half-brother Duke Humphrey of Gloucester. In around 1433 Humphrey enclosed what is now Greenwich Park, the oldest of all the Royal Parks, and built a new riverside house. This was developed by his successors, Henry VI and Henry VII, and renamed the Palace of Placentia or ‘pleasant place’.

Henry VIII was born at Placentia in 1491. A compulsive builder and keen horseman, he made further alterations to the site including a new chapel, stables and a tiltyard with towers and a viewing gallery. He also stocked Greenwich Park

with deer in 1515 and their descendants are still there. Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves at Greenwich Palace and his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, were born there. Each went on to rule England as Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Greenwich park

This is London's oldest enclosed Royal Park, Greenwich Park is situated on a hilltop with impressive views of Greenwich and across the River Thames to Canary Wharf, The O2, the City of London and beyond. A small herd of Fallow deer live in the wilderness near Blackheath gate and there are beautiful rose, flower and herb gardens and a large children's playground. The Park is also home to the Royal Observatory and the Meridian line. Parts of the Park will be closed during 2012 when it becomes one of the venues for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

St Alfege Church

This church has stood here since 1012 on the traditional site of the martyrdom of St Alfege, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered by marauding Vikings. This church, the third to be built here, was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, who trained under Sir Christopher Wren, working with him on the Old Royal Naval College. It was dedicated in 1718.

The Cutty Sark was launched in Scotland in 1869 and sailed initially on the tea route to China. Later she brought back wool from Australia. She has been in dry dock in Greenwich since 1954. She is currently closed to the public for conservation work and due to

re-open in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Cutty Sark

Built on the site of the Tudor palace where Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were born, this is one of the country's finest examples of Baroque landscape. It was designed by some of the greatest architects of the day including Wren, Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh. The beautiful Chapel and the magnificent Painted Hall, where Nelson's body lay in state after his death at the Battle of Trafalgar, are open daily.

Old Royal Naval College

National Maritime Museum

Britain's seafaring heritage is dramatically recreated here in display rooms filled with oceangoing treasures at one of the world's leading maritime museums. The stories of naval battles, of famous mariners, adventurers and explorers and the life and heroic death of Admiral Lord Nelson are vividly brought to life in outstanding galleries and interactive displays.

River Thames

O2 Arena

Team GB