There is never NOT a good reason to visit Greenwich but as a local, I can tell you that there’s been a lot of changes to the area if you haven’t recently visited.
It’s also the May half-term school holidays which makes the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend even better! I will be off this weekend and am looking forward to the many festivities Greenwich is going to be dishing out, including a brilliant event at Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich on the Saturday and a day out to Kidbrooke Village’s Jubilee party on Sunday.
So, without further ado, here’s my top 5 reasons why you need to visit Greenwich this Platinum Jubilee Weekend!
1. Greenwich was Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite summer residence
Greenwich has always had historical ties to Royals since Henry VIII. One of Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite places to visit in the summer was her Greenwich residence where she spent a lot of her childhood. So, it’s only befitting that the Platinum Jubilee events are well-celebrated in the Royal borough. From street parties held by residents to community events that gather both locals and visitors together to enjoy the wonderful and vibrant town.
Greenwich will be hosting a range of parties all over town including the ‘Together 22’ event at Charlton Park on Thursday-Friday, ‘One Table, One Street’ at Royal Arsenal Riverside on Saturday and the Kidbrooke Village Jubilee Street Party at Cator Park South on Sunday.
You can find more information on Facebook (@KidbrookeVillage, @RARLondonOfficial) and on Instagram (@RAR_London, @Kidbrooke_Village)
2. Sample the local talent and what Greenwich communities have to offer
The Platinum Jubilee events at Kidbrooke Village and Woolwich’s Royal Arsenal Riverside will be showcasing LOCAL talent such as musicians, artists, storytellers, yoga and wellness experts, food vendors and much more. Whether you’re looking for full-on festival vibes or just a nice weekend to enjoy a picnic with the family, there will be something for everyone.
Further down the road from No. 1 Street at Royal Arsenal Riverside, you will find Woolwich Works. Run by Woolwich Creative District Trust who are an independently registered charity, the building was setup to advance art for the public benefit and provide facilities to improve the conditions of life of local residents. Should you need to get away from the crowds on the day or have children with additional needs, you can join in on the fun but in a relaxed setting.
3. Visit and play at the popular Cator Park North Playground
When I first wrote about the Cator Park North Playground on the blog, it was a massive hit. We’ve visited a few times and the kids have always loved it. So if you’re new to the area, make sure you manage to squeeze in some time to play here after Sunday’s event.
Cator Park South will be a first for us as we don’t usually visit this part of the park which is just down the road from Cator Park North. It’s actually very close to Sutcliffe Park which I know well as it’s close to my mum’s house. I can’t wait for the fun and games at Kidbrooke Village – it will a good laugh and a great shout for active children looking to burn off some of that bank holiday energy.
4. Step foot onboard the newly opened Elizabeth line at Woolwich Station
Right on the doorstep of Royal Arsenal Riverside is the brand, swanky and new Woolwich Elizabeth line. Connecting the community to East and Central London in a matter of minutes (under 30 minutes to Tottenham Court Road to be exact!). I had the opportunity to use it last weekend and I was very thrilled (see the IG reel below!) It’s super spacious, air-conditioned and so modern you’d be forgiven to think it was a new subway station from the States or somewhere. I am a BIG fan!
The highly anticipated One Table, One Street event will be held at No. 1 Street, Royal Arsenal Riverside, this Jubilee weekend is right on the doorstep of the Elizabeth lLine making this a fantastic option for you if you’re commuting in from anywhere in London. Don’t forget there’s lots of other ways to travel around Greenwich, and Woolwich also has it’s own port on the river for Uber Boat trips (powered by Thames Clipper). Make sure you doubled check the timings for this bank holiday weekend though.
5. There’s always something to see and do at every turn
No matter where you are in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, there’s something for the whole family to get stuck into. If you head into the main high streets of Greenwich town centre, you will find the Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory – just to name a few places of interest.
If you head to Woolwich and Royal Arsenal Riverside on Saturday, children will enjoy the water fountains at General Gordon Square and at Maribor Park. There will be plenty of other things to keep kids happy too, with an activity area for giant games along with storytellers, a face painter, and bubble shows. If you fancy a visit another time, you can check out the bi-monthly Farmers Market, the Royal Artillery artwork and the scenic Thames Path Walk.
The beautiful parks surrounding Kidbrooke Village offer the best backdrops for picnics and even sunbathing…or both! On a sunny day, locals love to walk around Cator Park South and then into Sutcliffe Park, which has a wonderfully scenic route around the River Quaggy. There’s even a small duck feeding ground at Sutcliffe Park which is a short walk from Cator Park South (Tudway Road) which little ones would really enjoy! It’s the perfect setting for the family Sports Day style event being planned for Sunday.
I will be documenting my days out at the busy Platinum Jubilee events this weekend on Instagram: @manny.wandering and Facebook: @thewanderingmother so if you can’t join in person, feel free to join us online. 😊
Weekend Overview
Royal Arsenal Riverside, Saturday 4 June
12 noon
The event begins, kicking off with a performance from the local Royal Arsenal School of music choir on the main stage, followed by other music acts throughout the day Local artist Caroline Hands will be constructing a temporary art project throughout the day, and there will also be giant games, storytellers, local food and drink traders, and an ice cream van.
12 pm – 1 pm
Demonstrations and a friendly match organised by the local tag rugby team.
1 pm – 3 pm
Community Dog Show.
4 – 6 pm
Live set from the eight-piece Mish Mash Band.
6 – 7 pm
DJ performs in Artillery Square.
7 pm onwards
Afterparty with drinks and music in the Dial Arch pub.
South Cator Park, Kidbrooke Village, Sunday 5 June
12 noon
The event begins, with local music acts playing on the main stage until 6pm. There will be a giant games area and face painter as well as a chill-out zone with storytellers for children. Local food and drink traders, including an ice cream van, will be here all day. Families can pick up something on the day or bring their own snacks along for a big community picnic.
1 pm – 3 pm
Community Dog Show.
1 pm – 5 pm
Sports activities organised by the Royal Borough of Greenwich and English Cricket Board will be taking place in South Cator Park alongside traditional Sports Day activities like sack races which are being organised by Royal Resistance Gym.
Map: Points of Interest
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NB. This post was written in collaboration with Berkeley. All photos provided by Berkeley have been credited respectively.
Manny.Wandering | The Wandering Mother Blog 
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