Thames Path : Greenwich to Woolwich Short Walk

11.0 km/6.8 mi

Start: Greenwich Station Finish: Woolwich Arsenal Station Time: 2 ½ hours

Greenwich Station is in Zone 2 and served by Main Line Services on the North Kent Line from Charing Cross and Cannon Street to the Medway area (journey time from London Bridge: 8-9 minutes) and also by the DLR from the City to Lewisham (journey time from Bank: 20 minutes). Woolwich Arsenal Station is in Zone 4 and further east along the same Main Lines as Greenwich (journey time to London Bridge: from 21 minutes) and also the terminal of another arm of the DLR, with services from/to either Bank or Stratford International (both via City Airport and Canning Town). Woolwich will also be a stop on Crossrail, on the south easterly arm to Abbey Wood (journey time to Liverpool Street will be 17 minutes).

Follow quiet lanes from Greenwich Station to the Thames by the Cutty Sark and turn right downstream along this extremely fascinating stretch of London’s main river along Maritime Greenwich and around the rapidly changing Greenwich Peninsula with the O2-Dome and the ‘Emirates Air Line’ cable car as well as its views across the river to Canary Wharf, the Mouth of the River Lea and the Royal Victoria Dock, before walking past Charlton and the Thames Barrier, with Silvertown and its Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery opposite, and on to the finish at the former Royal Arsenal site in Woolwich.

You pass reminders of Britain’s great maritime past, many historic pubs, the imposing Greenwich Power Station, some new housing developments as well as some long-established industrial sites (including some spectacular Aggregates Businesses), some large outdoor artworks, an Ecology Park, Woolwich Dockyard and the refurbished Royal Arsenal site with its mixture of historic buildings, new and old housing, food & drink establishments and an Arts Centre (in development).

Ways to shorten or (slightly) lengthen the route are described.

Alternative Starts are possible from various points along the route (from 680m to 7.1 km into the walk). For details see the start of the Main Walk Directions.

Finish at North Greenwich Underground by leaving the route:

· either at the north westerly tip of the Greenwich Peninsula, 4.0 km into the walk;

· or at the easterly side of the Greenwich Peninsula, 4.9 km into the walk.

Use the Cross-Peninsula Shortcut (cut 1.1 km).

Add a short loop through and/or around Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park.

Finish at Charlton Station, 830m off route, after 7.1 km of the walk.

Refreshments en route:
The Gipsy Moth 60 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London SE10 9BL (020 8858 0786). Located 800m into the walk. Open all day every day.
The Trafalgar Tavern Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NW (020 3887 9886).Located 1.4 km into the walk. Open all day every day.
The Yacht 5 Crane Street,Greenwich, London SE10 9NP (020 8858 0175). Located 1.4 km into the walk. Open all day every day.
Midpoint Restaurant 3 Anchor Iron Wharf, Ballast Quay, Greenwich, London SE10 9GL (020 8293 0377). Located 1.7 km into the walk. Open all day every day.
The Cutty Sark 4-6 Ballast Quay, Greenwich, London SE10 9PD (020 8858 3146). Located 1.8 km into the walk. Open all day every day.
The Pelton Arms 23-25 Pelton Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9PQ (020 8858 0572). Located 1.9 km into the walk. Open from noon Tue-Sun (from 15.00 Mon).
River Gardens Café Unit 2, 20 River Gardens Walk, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0FZ (020 8858 0369). Located 1.9 km/1.2 mi into the walk. Open to 18.00 every day.
A New Youngs Pub Enderby House, Greenwich Peninsula. Located 2.3 km into the walk. Expected to open summer 2020.
Ardoa Unit 2, 16 Cutter Lane, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0XW (020 3745 1384). Located 5.0 km into the walk. Open all day Tue-Sat and 10.00-19.00 Sun. Food served 18.00-21.30 Tue-Fri, 12.00-22.00 Sat and 12.00-17.00 Sun.
The Market Table 12-14 Cutter Lane, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0XW (020 3330 8205). Located 5.0 km into the walk. Open all day every day (Sun to 18.00).
HEJ Coffee The Jetty, Olympian Way, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0JF (020 3579 4663). Located 5.6 km into the walk. Open 10.00-16.00 Thu-Sun.
The Anchor & Hope Riverside, Charlton, London SE7 7SS (020 8858 0382). Located 7.0 km into the walk. Open all day every day.
The Thames Barrier View Café Thames Barrier Information Centre, Woolwich Riverside, London SE18 5NJ (020 8305 4188). Located 8.0 km into the walk. Open Thu-Sun 11.00-15.30.
Riverside Café Trinity Wharf, Mellish Industrial Estate, Harrington Way, Woolwich. Located 8.4 km into the walk. Food served Mon-Fri 10.00-19.00.
Arts Café Trinity Wharf, Mellish Industrial Estate, Harrington Way, Woolwich). Located 8.5 km into the walk. Open Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00.

Refreshments on the Cross-Peninsula Shortcut:
The Pilot Inn 68 River Way, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0BE (020 8858 5910). Open all day every day.
Eat Fan 44 Chandlers Avenue, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0GE. Pan-Asian Cuisine. Closed Mon and 15.30-17.30 Tue-Fri.

Refreshments near to and at the end of the walk:
Con Gusto 54 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal Riverside, Woolwich, London SE18 6ST (020 8465 7452>). Open Tue-Sun 18.00-21.30.
The Dial Arch No 1 Street, The Warren, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6GH (020 3130 0700). Open all day every day. Food served all day every day.
Boulangerie Jade 9 Major Draper Street, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6GD (020 8316 4361). Open to 18.00 Mon-Sat and to 17.00 Sun.
The Guard House No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London SE18 6GH (020 3437 0900). Open all day every day. Food served all day every day.
The Coffee Lounge Equitable House, 29 Green’s End, Woolwich, London SE18 6AB (020 8836 9075). Open to 18.00 every day.
The Woolwich Equitable Equitable House, General Gordon Square, Woolwich, London SE18 6AB (020 8309 8126). Open from 16.00 weekdays, all day weekends.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Oct-20 Thomas G