Romans, Royalty and the Industrial Revolution have all shaped the history of Greenwich. It is the birthplace of many in the House of Tudor, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

The maritime connections of Greenwich were celebrated in the 20th century, with the sitting of the Cutty Sark and Gipsy Moth IV next to the river front.

The borough is also known worldwide as the home of Greenwich Mean Time.

Greenwich is traditionally said to have been called, by the Romans, Grenovicum, though there is no historical evidence of this. In Saxon, it was called Grenewic or The Green Village. In 1417 Greenwich was known as a small fishing town.