Greenwich facelift: Help to Buy homes with floor-to-ceiling windows are just moments from the Cutty Sark

The historic centre of the naval town of Greenwich — already a Unesco World Heritage Site, being the “finest and most dramatically sited architectural and landscape assembly in the British Isles”— has had a facelift, with the medieval market square and prized Georgian buildings refurbished as part of a project focused on attracting more shops and residents to the area.

Thames Street, a sleek new waterfront block of 26 apartments, could not be better located if you want to live amid the town centre tourist attractions and the transport links.

Part of an upgraded riverside path, the homes are moments from Cutty Sark, the world-renowned clipper ship, pictured during the London Marathon; a Docklands Light Railway station and a National Rail station; a Thames Clipper pier, plus an Edwardian pedestrian tunnel to Docklands.

The tunnel replaced an unreliable ferry service and allowed dockers living south of the river to reach the shipyards, whereas today it is used by Canary Wharf employees.

A sweeping panorama of the gleaming steel-and-glass skyscrapers of Canary Wharf can be enjoyed from the top of Greenwich Park.

Thames Street flats with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies start at £487,500, rising to £785,000 for three-bedroom homes.

Help to Buy is available, while shared-ownership flats will be released later. Call L&Q on 0333 003 3770.

Head east out of the town centre, and Greenwich Peninsula quickly looms into view. This new neighbourhood surrounding The O2 arena is being built on an old gasworks.

Industrial legacy eyesores will take some years yet to eliminate but a new design district with low cost space for creatives is set to open next year, while new apartments are rapidly coming on line.

Upper Riverside is the latest phase of high-rise flats. Prices from £550,000. Call 020 3813 9205.