Ages ago Greenwich appeared to me distant and deserted outskirts of London with no other reason to get there than to step your feet on either side of the Meridian Line. Today it still is far away from the city center, but with a character, life and feel of its own and more reasons to plan a visit. Well commuted with London by train or Uber boat, the borough transports you to a maritime world with fish and chips joints, coffee shops, pubs that serve seafood and Sunday roast alike, waterfront restaurants and condos, Royal maritime buildings and Greenwich Park with the magnificent view over the city from its hilly landscape.

Travel: South East London | Eat: Cutty Sark - Arapina Bakery | Experience: Greenwich Park -More Yoga studio - walk along the Thames - walk to Deptford - Uber boat ride along the Thames.

Greenwich Park is the place to be for idle thinkers, joggers, dog lovers, dating couples, moms pushing strollers just as it is for visitors with no clear destination like me who went there just to enjoy a morning walk with friends and the view from the hill of the foggy skyline of Canary Wharf. Add a cup of coffee from one of multiple coffee shops and a chocolate - pecan pastry or almond croissant and you will be vagabonding in no rush just to feel like a local.

For a truly local experience stay in Greenwich for a couple of days, in a rented apartment. Grab a coffee-to-go from one of the Grind coffee shops and go shopping for groceries at a local Waitrose’s, which discovered Marmite-dipped cashew nuts for me and for which my palate still has a crush on. Stroll along the Thames Path passing by the obvious suspects: the Old Royal Naval College, the University of Greenwich, the Old Brewery, the Cutty Sark ship, and dig further inland into the other charming alleys and pubs along the way. Don't forget to look at the opposite shore of the river, for a view of rows of brown brick houses, run-down industrial bridges and the skyline of the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf. 

If you don't feel like walking, take an Uber boat from Greenwich to Battersea Power Station. You will get all London tourist landmarks sitauated along the Thames in a nutshell, not even walking a single mile. Perfect views and close encounters with some of the less known London bridges guaranteed. You can hop off and hop on back any time along the way.

Have a typical Sunday roast, or a seafood meal, at the Cutty Sark. Never will I get the phenomenon of having a Sunday roast, though. If you're a fan of chewy meats, baked potatoes and some inflated dough-like pastry, go for it.

Attend a pilates class at local More Yoga studio and eat delicious pastry right after that. The Arapina Bakery was conveniently just by the yoga studio, who does that?! Their pistachio croll (croissant roll) and their almond croissant made me drool for the taste for a long time. Ok, as far as More Yoga studio, besides a variety of yoga or pilates classes to choose from you may be attracted by their gong baths, chakra flows or workshops integrating body and mind around yoga and pilates philosophy. What a great way to spend an hour or so.

For an evening experience Deptford rising restaurants and bars are a "stone's throw" away from Greenwich. Just walk there to have a drink at The Watergate and navigate to the Deptford High Street. Deptford is a whole new story, also covered on this blog, so enjoy some of the sites I ventured in the area on the separate page.

For those couple of days I trulyI felt like a local, and devoured the experience. And Greenwich is perfect for such an experience. Take it or leave it. I see myself coming back for a morning walk in the Greenwich Park, sipping my coffee.