THE UK’s most famous observatory will soon close for two years for a massive renovation project.
Royal Greenwich Observatory in London dates back 350 years and will close for two years on November 2 to undergo a £77million upgrade.
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The project, dubbed ‘First Light’, “will bring the story of this historic site to life”, according to the Observatory, as well as “give everyone the chance to experience the wonders of space and time for themselves”.
The Observatory will be home to new galleries, refreshed displays, innovative architecture, as well as improved access for visitors.
As part of the project, there will be a new visitor centre which will be “the jewel in the crown of Greenwich’s UNESCO World Heritage Site”.
Inside the pavilion, there will be a gateway to the rest of the site, which will also have improved access overall, including full accessibility to the Great Equatorial Telescope for the first time.
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There will be new galleries too, in which visitors can explore observation and scientific work that took place at the Observatory.
And there will be new, interactive astronomer galleries, ideal for kids who want to become scientists themselves.
They will explore the fundamentals of astronomy: Light, Matter and Motion.
Many of the existing displays at the attraction will get a refresh including John Harrison’s timekeepers and instruments used for the Prime Meridian line itself.
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Visitors can meet astronomers and scientists as well, in the ‘Astronomers’ Court’, with events including live science shows.
Outside the Observatory, Greenwich Park will get new landscaping as well as plants.
The First Light project already began in autumn last year and it is set to be complete by spring 2028
The Royal Observatory will close on November 2, 2026 but parts of the attraction such as the Meridian Courtyard, are expected to reopen in summer 2027.