Time and space. In any trip these are essential qualities. The time to relax, explore, unwind. The space to wander, meander, stretch out. Where better than to experience both than Greenwich, the epicentre of time and space and the home of zero degrees longitude?

I am staying at the Mercure, just a short walk away from the maritime town centre. Situated in Catherine Grove, the hotel’s location manages to achieve a feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle of London’s streets despite its proximity to Greenwich High Road.

Greenwich’s maritime history is inescapable and walking through the narrow cobbled streets, similar to Brighton’s Lanes, you can imagine a busy landing post for ships laden with exotic goods ready to be bartered for in the marketplace.

The Mercure has tried to be sympathetic to its surroundings and certainly the majesty of its lobby is in keeping with the old corn exchange buildings and merchant houses.

Cool marble flooring beneath rich red, plump carpet adorns the central staircase that leads from the colonnaded entrance, overlooked by a Royal cypher and the engraved Psalm, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”

History comes to fore in the decor of the room with the bathroom door etched with a timeline of Greenwich’s Royal past dating back to 1082. A simple touch but one in keeping with the noble surroundings of the area.

The rest of the room is neat and well-designed to create space in a small area, with simple but effective furnishings.

An essential for a stay at the Mercure is to allow time to wonder at the space outside, for once you head to the upper floors, the view is tremendous.

For those without floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal the busy urbanscape, there is a viewing platform. But opening the curtains to see the flurry of activity below as the capital carries on its unrelenting business, from the DLR chuntering past to planes on final approach into London City airport, is a wonderful experience.

Thankfully, the thick glass ensures you don’t hear the traffic and chaos below.

Amid said chaos are some tourist gems which make Greenwich such a desirable destination.

A frequent visitor down under picking up wool, the Cutty Sark has become a truly spectacular attraction since it was ravaged by fire in 2007. The blaze of course was not intentional, but it added to the determination to complete the restoration work started in 2006.

The result of the £50m project is a stunning example of a 19th-century tea clipper preserved for generations to come.

Imbued with the heady scent of tea below deck, the ship still manages to transport as visitors experience the old East India teak floorboards creaking under foot in the cramped conditions.

On deck, the blustery, rain-drenched weather was perhaps too close to the tropical storms encountered as the ship sped from China to East India quays in London a century ago.

That the Cutty Sark could navigate the high seas back then is down to another of Greenwich’s finest attractions – the Royal Observatory.

In the meticulous surrounds of the Octagon Room, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, our guide impressively distils 200 years of history, explaining the east west problem that vexed eminent scientists of the day and why Greenwich is indeed the epicentre of time and space.

The Mercure is certainly worth your time for a stay in the Royal borough, though you may lose track of it once plunged into the rich history around you.

  • Rooms at the Greenwich Mercure start at £119 for a standard room. Upgrading to a Privilege Room costs an extra £40, while upgrading to a suite costs £100. To book, visit www.thegreenwichlondon.com
     
  • A single ticket to the Cutty Sark costs £13.50 for an adult and £7 for a child under 16. Admission to the Royal Obser-vatory costs £7 for an adult and £2.50 for a child. A combined ticket for both plus the current Turner And The Sea exhibition costs £22 for an adult and £11 for a child. For more details, visit www.rmg.co.uk