Walking

To walk in Greenwich is to walk through centuries of maritime heritage, incredible Royal History, a picturesque World Heritage Site and the setting of many amazing films! As we’ve all been locked up indoors, we want to inspire you to get out this summer in Greenwich to see these amazing locations right here on our doorstep, that we think will make the perfect backdrop to your walks!

Greenwich is also one of London’s greenest Boroughs, with plenty of wide, open areas, so there’s plenty of room to enjoy your walks in good company, whilst maintaining your personal space.

If you aren’t a resident of the Borough, you can get here by train in just 8 minutes, but if you’d rather take your time relaxing with a bit more space, we suggest you arrive on the open river! Climb aboard City Cruises or Thames River Sightseeing for a leisurely cruise down London’s historical river, taking in the stunning London Landmarks on your way to Maritime Greenwich, or hop on Thames Clippers and speed down river in style!

Planning your journey from start to finish is the key to a great day’s walking. If arriving at Greenwich Pier, stroll past Cutty Sark into the historic Greenwich town centre, carrying on to Greenwich Park and up to the Royal Observatory. What you’ll find here is indisputably, one of London’s finest viewpoints! In actual fact it’s just one of many fantastic viewpoints of the London skyline, dotted around the Royal park.

If you want stay close to central Greenwich and finish up back by the river, we suggest circling the park, up to Georgian villa Ranger’s House and it’s exquisite Rose Garden, followed by the Flower Garden where the wonderful deer park is tucked away in a quiet corner.

Curl back round and down the sloping landscape of the park and soon you’ll find yourself in front of the magnificent Queen’s House, just moments from the Thames. Just across the road, framing Queen’s House with it’s magnificent twin domes is the Old Royal Naval College – stage for many a Hollywood blockbuster. It’s worth a stroll through the grounds on your way back to the pier.

If however, you’re feeling more adventurous and energetic once you’re up the hill, head out of Greenwich Park, across the heath to lovely Blackheath Village. This charming corner of London is full of boutique shops, cosy restaurants traditional pubs, in case you feel like stopping to enjoy the picturesque scenery whilst you’re there!

If you prefer riverside views, then Greenwich has an incredible 8.5 miles of open river frontage, stretching from Maritime Greenwich across the entire Borough. That’s miles of safe, uninterrupted walking with family & friends without crossing a single road, as the majority is along the Thames Path!

Head just a few miles down the Thames Path from historic Maritime Greenwich toward Greenwich Peninsula, home to entertainment giant The O2, Emirates Air Line, Up at The O2 and The Tide – a brand new walkway designed by the architects behind New York’s Highline. You’ll find plenty of art dotted along the river here, from Anthony Gormley’s Quantum Cloud to not one but two pieces by Damien Hirst!

There’s also Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, a peaceful oasis which makes for a lovely little detour to spot the resident birds and wildlife.

Keep heading East along the river from Greenwich Peninsula and you’ll find the mighty Thames Barrier, which spans the Thames from Charlton to London’s East End. There’s a visitor centre here, and some picnic benches outside with picturesque views looking back through the Barrier, of London’s city skyline.

A little further on from here is the historic Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, with a striking architectural combination of the original grand military design that’s undergone a stunning regeneration. A cluster of imposing buildings are now home to a vibrant new arts & cultural quarter, where a wander through impressive plazas and broad pedestrianised avenues will often be enhanced by exhilarating street performances, or the bustle of the Farmer’s Market as well as some wonderful pubs and restaurants!

There are many, many more brilliant wide open spaces to explore in Greenwich, so many that we can’t possibly list them all here, but you’ll find loads more inspiration and info about them on our Top Parks & Open Spaces page.

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