Further Afield

There are some fantastic places to visit just beyond Greenwich town centre, in Eltham, Woolwich and Charlton, that are all easy to reach and well worth a trip. Here's a selection of what Greenwich borough has to offer...

 

Eltham Palace
This is the place to immerse yourself in 1930s Art Deco decadence at Eltham Palace, just a few miles from Greenwich town centre. Built by the wealthy Courtauld family next to the remains of the childhood home of Henry VIII, it’s among the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in England. The stunning entrance hall, marvellous panelled dining room, luxurious bathroom, and the magnificent medieval Great Hall, are just some of the highlights. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, this is an enchanting place for a wonderful day out.
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Well Hall Pleasaunce and the Tudor Barn
Well Hall Pleasaunce, in Eltham, is a haven of formal gardens, ponds and woodland which dates back to the thirteenth century. It contained a manor house at the time of Henry VIII and more recently was the home of Railway Children author E Nesbit. The 16th century Tudor Barn has been renovated and is now open for functions, traditional Sunday roasts and as an evening restaurant and day-time heritage cafe.
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Charlton House
Charlton House is one of the finest specimens of Jacobean domestic architecture in the country. It illustrates a phase in the evolution of the English country house, linking the sprawling style of the Tudor age with the compact geometrical character associated with Inigo Jones. Built between 1607 and 1612, most of the house is not open to the general public, but you can visit the  beautiful gardens and the Mulberry Tea Rooms in the central foyer. There is also an exhibition area where you can find out about the history of the house.
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Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum
Firepower tells the powerful and dramatic story of artillery, scientific discoveries made through warfare and human stories of courage and endeavour. The ‘ground shaking' Field of Fire audio-visual show puts you in the midst of battle as shells whiz overhead and guns roar. With a world class collection of artillery and associated weapons, uniforms, drawings, displays of diaries and medals the museum brings together some 700 years of world artillery history and is in easy reach of Woolwich Arsenal station.
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Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park
The Greenwich Peninsula was originally made up of agricultural fields and  marshes and was historically known as Greenwich Marsh. The Ecology Park, near The O2 arena, is made up of an inner and outer lake and is home to a fascinating variety of wildlife including frogs, toads and newts and many different species of bird. Whatever the season, there is something at the Park for you - whether you enjoy bird watching, looking at wildflowers or just relaxing in beautiful surroundings.
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Thames Barrier
The Thames Barrier is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. The barrier spans 520 metres across the River Thames near Woolwich, and it protects 125 square kilometres of central London from flooding caused by tidal surges. It has 10 steel gates that can be raised into position across the river. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a five-storey building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. The Thames Barrier information centre is open most days of the year and there is also an outside picnic and children’s play area.
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Greenwich Heritage Centre
Greenwich Heritage Centre in Woolwich brings together the former Borough Museum and Local History Library to offer a wealth of information and fascinating displays about the history of Greenwich. You can look at the exhibitions, simply browse, or do your own research in the Search Room.. A visit to the Centre can be a great way to learn more about your family history, or just the history of your region.
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East Greenwich Pleasaunce
East Greenwich Pleasaunce - a formal, tree-lined garden - is a quiet haven, about a mile from Greenwich town centre, that is the  burial ground for around 3,000 sailors who spent their last days at the local Royal Hospital Greenwich. In 1875, the remains of three thousand naval pensioners were moved from central Greenwich to this new cemetery. This was to make way for the construction of a railway tunnel. It now contains a wide variety of plants and trees and fantastic eco-café.