Cities
United Kingdom London Borough of Ealing Observatory

UCL Observatory

UCL Observatory
About

UCL Observatory, located in Mill Hill, North London, is one of the UK’s leading astronomical teaching facilities. Established in 1929 and managed by University College London since 1951, it offers hands-on training in observational techniques, astrophysical theory, and data analysis. The site houses five permanently mounted telescopes, including a 24-inch Ritchey-Chrétien reflector, and features lecture rooms and a specialist astronomy library. Originally known as the University of London Observatory, it was renamed in 2015 to reflect its longstanding affiliation with UCL. The observatory also hosts public tours and outreach events, making cutting-edge astronomy accessible to all.

London United Kingdom
Location

The UCL Observatory, also known as University College London Observatory (UCLO), is located in Mill Hill, North West London, at 553 Watford Way, Mill Hill Park, NW7 2QS. It sits off the northbound carriageway of the A1 and is accessible primarily by public transport, with the nearest rail station being Mill Hill Broadway on the Thameslink line, about a 10–15 minute walk away. The observatory is part of UCL’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and is a significant facility for student training and research in astrophysics, housing a variety of historic and modern telescopes, including an 80 cm Ritchey–Chrétien reflecting telescope. Nearby, the area is largely residential and suburban, with Mill Hill featuring green spaces and parks that enhance the quiet, observational setting necessary for astronomy. While the observatory itself is somewhat removed from central London’s main tourist sites, its location within a leafy, suburban district offers a peaceful environment for both study and public outreach events. The observatory hosts regular public open evenings and educational visits, attracting those interested in practical astrophysics and astronomy without the light pollution of central London.

Tower Bridge Tower Bridge London Tower of London Tower of London London Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace London The National Gallery The National Gallery London Big Ben Big Ben London Palace of Westminster Palace of Westminster London Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum London The London Eye The London Eye London Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square London Tate Modern Tate Modern London British Museum British Museum London Tate Britain Tate Britain London Natural History Museum Natural History Museum London Science Museum Science Museum London Millennium Bridge Millennium Bridge London St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral London The National Portrait Gallery The National Portrait Gallery London Covent Garden Covent Garden London Royal Opera House Royal Opera House London Neal's Yard Neal's Yard London Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus London Soho Soho London Hyde Park Hyde Park London Regent's Park Regent's Park London Richmond Park Richmond Park London Kew Gardens Kew Gardens London Greenwich Park Greenwich Park London Royal Obervatory Greenwich Royal Obervatory Greenwich London Leadenhall Market Leadenhall Market London Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre London Old Royal Naval College Old Royal Naval College London Borough Market Borough Market London Camden Market Camden Market London Portobello Road Market Portobello Road Market London Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum London Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Art Gallery London William Morris Gallery William Morris Gallery London Sky Garden Sky Garden London Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey London Kensington Palace Kensington Palace London Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace London St. James's Palace St. James's Palace London Clarence House Clarence House London Imperial War Museum Imperial War Museum London Jewel Tower Jewel Tower London Museum of London Museum of London London Sir John Soane's Museum Sir John Soane's Museum London Wallace Collection Wallace Collection London Courtauld Gallery Courtauld Gallery London National Maritime Museum National Maritime Museum London Queen's House Queen's House London BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London London The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities London Design Museum Design Museum London Bank of England Museum Bank of England Museum London Churchill War Rooms Churchill War Rooms London Florence Nightingale Museum Florence Nightingale Museum London Postal Museum Postal Museum London Museum of Childhood Museum of Childhood London Jewish Museum London Jewish Museum London London St James's Park St James's Park London Green Park Green Park London Hampstead Heath Hampstead Heath London Battersea Park Battersea Park London Holland Park Holland Park London National Theatre National Theatre London Barbican Centre Barbican Centre London Charles Dickens Museum Charles Dickens Museum London Brixton Academy Brixton Academy London Brick Lane Market Brick Lane Market London Columbia Road Columbia Road London Spitalfields Market Spitalfields Market London Maltby Street Market Maltby Street Market London Sherlock Holmes Museum Sherlock Holmes Museum London Madame Tussauds London Madame Tussauds London London London Dungeon London Dungeon London Hampstead Pergola Hampstead Pergola London SEA LIFE SEA LIFE London ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo London Crystal Palace Park Crystal Palace Park London Dennis Severs' House Dennis Severs' House London Wilton's Music Hall Wilton's Music Hall London Electric Cinema Electric Cinema London God's Own Junkyard God's Own Junkyard London Museum of Brands Museum of Brands London Cartoon Museum Cartoon Museum London Severndroog Castle Severndroog Castle London Eltham Palace Eltham Palace London Fulham Palace Fulham Palace London Lambeth Palace Lambeth Palace London Royal Observatory Greenwich Royal Observatory Greenwich London Hampstead Observatory Hampstead Observatory London Norman Fisher Observatory Norman Fisher Observatory London King’s Observatory King’s Observatory London Serpentine Gallery Serpentine Gallery London Whitechapel Gallery Whitechapel Gallery London Camden Art Centre Camden Art Centre London South London Gallery South London Gallery London The Photographers’ Gallery The Photographers’ Gallery London Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art London Dulwich Picture Gallery Dulwich Picture Gallery London Institute of Contemporary Arts Institute of Contemporary Arts London King’s Gallery King’s Gallery London Newport Street Gallery Newport Street Gallery London

User attributes