Greenwich
The place where the whole planet agreed what time it is. A racing ship named after a witch's nightie, nearly destroyed by a vacuum cleaner. A palace Wren sliced in half so a queen could keep her view. A self-taught carpenter who beat Britain's top scientists — who cheated to stop him. And an anarchist who tried to bomb time itself and only blew up his own hand. Time, longitude and the Prime Meridian — with a few details the Bad Historian invented.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 50 min · ~0.7 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 8 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
8 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"You've come to Greenwich, which is where the entire planet agreed what time it is. Not a metaphor. There is a line painted on the ground at the top of the hill above you, and by international treaty, that line is zero."
"You're climbing through Greenwich Park now, up toward the Observatory at the top. This is one of the oldest enclosed royal parks in London — walled off back in the fourteen hundreds as a private hunti..."
"You made it to the top of the hill and to the middle of the world. Let's set the clocks straight — what was real, and which ones I ran fast. Real, all of it, the big stuff."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionYou've come to Greenwich, which is where the entire planet agreed what time it is. Not a metaphor.51.4827, -0.0096 Read this stop
- 22The Cutty SarkYou are standing underneath a ship. A real one — thirty-odd metres of Victorian sailing clipper, hoisted three metres into the air so you...51.4827, -0.0096 Read this stop
- 33The Old Royal Naval College & the Painted HallLook at these two enormous matching buildings with the two matching domes, facing each other across a wide gap.51.4826, -0.0075 Read this stop
- 44The Queen's House & the Tulip StairsThis is the Queen's House — the very view Wren had to split a palace in half to protect. It looks calm and plain, almost modern.51.4809, -0.0057 Read this stop
- 55Greenwich Park — Time & the AnarchistYou're climbing through Greenwich Park now, up toward the Observatory at the top. This is one of the oldest enclosed royal parks in London —...51.4785, -0.0015 Read this stop
- 66The Royal Observatory — Harrison's ClocksYou've reached the Observatory, and inside it are four clocks that represent one of the great underdog victories in the history of anything.51.4769, -0.0005 Read this stop
- 77The Prime MeridianThis is it. The line. That brass strip running across the courtyard is the Prime Meridian — zero degrees longitude — and it is the single...51.4779, -0.0014 Read this stop
- 88The RevealYou made it to the top of the hill and to the middle of the world. Let's set the clocks straight — what was real, and which ones I ran fast.51.4779, -0.0014 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The London city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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Greenwich
$9.99 · one-time