Daily Daydream: Greenwich, England

Did you miss the ball dropping this New Year’s Eve? Reenact the magic in Greenwich, England, where a ball drops every day at exactly 1:00 p.m. You may recognize the district’s name, after hearing about Greenwich Mean Time and the Greenwich Meridian. This district in London is at zero degrees longitude and is generally used as the reference point for telling time. Visit the Royal Observatory and stand on the well-marked Greenwich Meridian Line for a cheesy photo op.

Once you’ve spent enough time learning about time, visit the preserved Cutty Sark clipper ship. Or, do some shopping at the eccentric Greenwich Market, which sells different specialties on different days of the week.

The best (and free) part of Greenwich is the park, which offers magnificent views of the River Thames and downtown London.

Where is it? Southeast London, England.
Where to stay? For location, it’s tough to beat the Hotel Ibis London Greenwich, which is located in central Greenwich near the Maritime Museum. Plus, it’s cheap for London, with rates starting around $110.
What else should I know? You can take the tube to Greenwich, but it’s more picturesque to take a Thames Clipper boat down the river.
Who’s it for? Photographers, clock-watchers, history buffs, and stargazers.

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• Rick Steves: ‘Back-Door’ Strategies for London Trips
• Daily Daydream: South Bank, London, England