Meridian line

125 years of the Prime Meridian

22 October 2009 marked the 125th anniversary of the Greenwich Meridian as the Prime Meridian of the World.

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Have your photo taken standing on the Meridian Line  Come and stand on the world-famous Greenwich Meridian Line, which represents the Prime Meridian of the World – Longitude 0º.

Every place on Earth is measured in terms of its distance east or west from the Greenwich Meridan. The line itself divides the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth, just as the Equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres.

The centre of time

During the evenings, the position of the Meridian Line is often marked by a green laser in the sky.  Since the late 19th century, the Prime Meridian at Greenwich has served as the reference line for Greenwich Mean Time. It can now claim to be the centre of world time, and was the official starting point for the new Millennium.

Find out more

• The Prime Meridian at Greenwich
• What is a meridian? What is the Prime Meridian?
• Buy Prime Meridian mugs and t-shirts
• Take a virtual tour of the Meridian Line (360º panorama)
• 13-year circumnavigation ends at the Meridian Line