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View over flats at Greenwich Heights to distant City skylinePhoto: David Martin · CC BY-SA 2.0
A−Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Greenwich · parks, paths & countryside

Greenwich has more footpath per square kilometre than 9 in 10 UK towns

620 km of footpaths run through the borough and the kilometre around it, 7.1 for every square kilometre. The Kent Downs National Landscape begins 5.4 mi from the borough’s edge. 90% of residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park or playing field. Greenwich grades A− for the outdoors: #9 of 33 in London. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.

Green space
2.7 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
90%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
620 km
7.1 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Kent Downs starts 5.4 mi out, past the 5 km
Character

What kind of outdoors borough is Greenwich?

Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.

Greenwich’s strongest suit is dense footpaths, followed by the Kent Downs National Landscape close by.

Outdoors grade

Greenwich grades A− for the outdoors

Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Greenwich, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.

A−
Better than 77% of UK towns#9 of 33 in London · 12th of 43 UK boroughs its size
Public green space2.7 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
typical 2.1 ha010+
63out of
100
A park within a walk90%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
typical 83%0100+
67out of
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · Kent Downs begins just past 5 km
none100+
31out of
100
Footpaths7.1 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
typical 3.0 km010+
99out of
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland: 4.9% sea, under the 5% that counts
none80+
42out of
100

Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.

Boroughs its size

Greenwich is 12th of 43 UK boroughs its size for the outdoors

The 43 UK towns and cities of 202,000 to 389,000 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.

0255075100Wolverhampton (West Midlands): C · 1.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 76% near a park · 2.8 km path per km²Brent (London): C · 1.5 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 3.5 km path per km²Waltham Forest (London): C+ · 1 ha green space per 1,000 · 80% near a park · 6.1 km path per km²Barking and Dagenham (London): C+ · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 2.8 km path per km²Harrow (London): C+ · 1.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 81% near a park · 4.1 km path per km²Havering (London): C+ · 2.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 72% near a park · 3.3 km path per km²Newham (London): C+ · 1 ha green space per 1,000 · 83% near a park · 7.1 km path per km²Bradford (West Yorkshire): C+ · 1.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 4 km path per km²Lambeth (London): B− · 1.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 6.4 km path per km²Enfield (London): B− · 2 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 4.1 km path per km²Islington (London): B− · 0.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 98% near a park · 7.7 km path per km²Barnet (London): B− · 2 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 4.4 km path per km²Derby (Derbyshire): B− · 2.3 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 3.8 km path per km²Coventry (West Midlands): B− · 1.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 84% near a park · 4.5 km path per km²Haringey (London): B− · 1.5 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 5.9 km path per km²Ealing (London): B− · 1.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 4.3 km path per km²Tower Hamlets (London): B− · 0.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 98% near a park · 10.5 km path per km²Lewisham (London): B · 1.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 5.8 km path per km²Wandsworth (London): B · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 77% near a park · 6.8 km path per km²Redbridge (London): B · 3 ha green space per 1,000 · 76% near a park · 4.5 km path per km²Southwark (London): B · 1.3 ha green space per 1,000 · 96% near a park · 7.8 km path per km²Northampton (Northamptonshire): B · 2.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 85% near a park · 4.1 km path per km²Hackney (London): B · 1.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 97% near a park · 8.6 km path per km²Kingston upon Hull (East Riding of Yorkshire): B+ · 1.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 3.8 km path per km²Reading (Berkshire): B+ · 1.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 73% near a park · 4.6 km path per km²Camden (London): B+ · 2 ha green space per 1,000 · 90% near a park · 7.9 km path per km²Nottingham (Nottinghamshire): B+ · 2.4 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 7 km path per km²Hounslow (London): B+ · 3 ha green space per 1,000 · 83% near a park · 5.7 km path per km²Portsmouth (Hampshire): A− · 1.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 82% near a park · 3.5 km path per km²Luton (Bedfordshire): A− · 1.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 78% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear): A− · 2.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 91% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²Greenwich (London): A− · 2.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 90% near a park · 7.1 km path per km²Sutton (London): A− · 2.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 85% near a park · 3.8 km path per km²Merton (London): A− · 3.3 ha green space per 1,000 · 89% near a park · 5.5 km path per km²Stoke-on-Trent (Staffordshire): A− · 5.5 ha green space per 1,000 · 95% near a park · 3.6 km path per km²Westminster (London): A− · 2.6 ha green space per 1,000 · 98% near a park · 8.2 km path per km²Cardiff (South Glamorgan): A− · 2.2 ha green space per 1,000 · 88% near a park · 4 km path per km²Bromley (London): A− · 3.1 ha green space per 1,000 · 81% near a park · 4.1 km path per km²Hillingdon (London): A · 2.9 ha green space per 1,000 · 86% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²Brighton and Hove (East Sussex): A · 1 ha green space per 1,000 · 77% near a park · 5.2 km path per km²Southampton (Hampshire): A · 2.3 ha green space per 1,000 · 80% near a park · 5.6 km path per km²Bexley (London): A+ · 2.8 ha green space per 1,000 · 84% near a park · 5.2 km path per km²Plymouth (Devon): A+ · 1.7 ha green space per 1,000 · 87% near a park · 4.9 km path per km²Greenwich
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Greenwich7.1
Boroughs its size4.9
London towns5.7
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Greenwich2.7
Boroughs its size2.0
London towns2.0
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Greenwich90%
Boroughs its size84%
London towns85%
All UK towns83%

Against boroughs its size, Greenwich stands out most for path per km²: only 7 of the other 42 have more.

Show as a table
TownOutdoorsGreen spaceNear a parkPath per km²Protected
1Plymouth DevonA+1.787%4.935%
2Bexley LondonA+2.884%5.20%
3Southampton HampshireA2.380%5.613%
4Brighton and Hove East SussexA177%5.251%
5Hillingdon LondonA2.986%4.92%
6Bromley LondonA−3.181%4.118%
7Cardiff South GlamorganA−2.288%40%
8Westminster LondonA−2.698%8.20%
9Stoke-on-Trent StaffordshireA−5.595%3.60%
10Merton LondonA−3.389%5.50%
11Sutton LondonA−2.985%3.81%
12Greenwich LondonA−2.790%7.10%
13Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and WearA−2.991%4.90%
14Luton BedfordshireA−1.978%4.926%
15Portsmouth HampshireA−1.282%3.52%
16Hounslow LondonB+383%5.70%
17Nottingham NottinghamshireB+2.487%70%
18Camden LondonB+290%7.90%
19Reading BerkshireB+1.773%4.626%
20Kingston upon Hull East Riding of YorkshireB+1.782%3.80%
21Hackney LondonB1.497%8.60%
22Northampton NorthamptonshireB2.685%4.10%
23Southwark LondonB1.396%7.80%
24Redbridge LondonB376%4.50%
25Wandsworth LondonB2.477%6.80%
26Lewisham LondonB1.688%5.80%
27Tower Hamlets LondonB−0.898%10.50%
28Ealing LondonB−1.887%4.30%
29Haringey LondonB−1.587%5.90%
30Coventry West MidlandsB−1.984%4.50%
31Derby DerbyshireB−2.382%3.80%
32Barnet LondonB−282%4.40%
33Islington LondonB−0.698%7.70%
34Enfield LondonB−282%4.10%
35Lambeth LondonB−1.287%6.40%
36Bradford West YorkshireC+1.488%40%
37Havering LondonC+2.672%3.30%
38Newham LondonC+183%7.10%
39Harrow LondonC+1.681%4.10%
40Barking and Dagenham LondonC+2.482%2.80%
41Waltham Forest LondonC+180%6.10%
42Brent LondonC1.582%3.50%
43Wolverhampton West MidlandsC1.876%2.80%
The map

Parks, footpaths & countryside

Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Greenwich’s built-up area.

12345678
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk

Parks to walk in, in and around Greenwich

The biggest is Bostall Heath, 72 ha (178 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.

All 30 named parks by size: 700 ha (1,730 acres) and 154 km of pathBlackheath80 ha · 18 km of pathBlackheath: 80 ha, 18 km of pathGreenwich Park73 ha · 15 km of pathGreenwich Park: 73 ha, 15 km of pathBostall Heath72 ha · 22.7 km of…Bostall Heath: 72 ha, 22.7 km of pathLesnes Abbey Pa…67 ha · 17.7 km of…Lesnes Abbey Park: 67 ha, 17.7 km of pathWoolwich Comm…48 ha · 8.9 km of…Woolwich Common: 48 ha, 8.9 km of pathAvery Hill Pa…43 ha · 3.7 km of…Avery Hill Park: 43 ha, 3.7 km of pathPlumstead Com…38 ha · 8.3 km of…Plumstead Common: 38 ha, 8.3 km of path30 haEltham Park North: 30 ha, 7.7 km of path29 haEast Wickham Open Space: 29 ha, 8.2 km of path18 haFootscray Playing Fields: 18 ha, 0.2 km of path17 haSutcliffe Park: 17 ha, 4.5 km of path14 haBarrack Field: 14 ha, 0.4 km of path14 haCharlton Park: 14 ha, 2.6 km of path14 haCharlton Park: 14 ha, 2.6 km of path14 haShrewsbury Park: 14 ha, 3.9 km of path12 haMaryon Park: 12 ha, 3 km of path11 haSouthmere Park: 11 ha, 1.3 km of path11 haSouthmere Park: 11 ha, 1.3 km of path11 haSouthmere Park: 11 ha, 1.3 km of path10 haHornfair Park: 10.0 ha, 3.4 km of path10 haOxleas Meadows: 9.9 ha, 1.3 km of path10 haEltham Park South: 9.7 ha, 2.8 km of path9 haBirchmere Park: 9.3 ha, 0.7 km of path8 haCator Park: 8.4 ha, 2.2 km of path7 haHorn Park: 6.7 ha, 3.1 km of path6 haFalconwood Field: 5.9 ha, 0.9 km of path6 haCharlton House Grounds: 5.6 ha, 1.5 km of path6 haGallions Reach Park: 5.5 ha, 2.1 km of path5 haQueenscroft Recreation Ground: 5.1 ha, 2.7 km of path5 haAbbey Wood Park: 5.0 ha, 2 km of path
Parks & gardens 662 haPlaying fields 38 ha

The biggest is Bostall Heath, 72 ha (178 acres); no single park dominates.

Greenwich’s biggest

Bostall Heath

Park or garden
72 ha (178 acres)22.7 km of path
5 hto walk all 22.7 km of path
101 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.9 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Blackheath

Park or garden
80 ha (198 acres)18.0 km of path
4 hto walk all 18 km of path
112 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2 mi westfrom the centre
The Ranger's House Grade I West Grove, Conduit House, Blackheath monument +5 listedChesterfield Walk
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Historic park · Grade I

Greenwich Park

Park or garden
73 ha (182 acres)15.0 km of path
3 h 20 minto walk all 15 km of path
103 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
2.2 mi westfrom the centre
Playground The Ranger's House Grade I +18 listedCross AvenueLovers WalkTemple Walk
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Lesnes Abbey Park

Park or garden · 250 m outside town
67 ha (166 acres)17.7 km of path
3 h 55 minto walk all 17.7 km of path
94 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
3 mi eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Woolwich Common

Park or garden
48 ha (120 acres)8.9 km of path
2 hto walk all 8.9 km of path
68 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Greenwich
2 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Plumstead Common

Park or garden
38 ha (94 acres)8.3 km of path
1 h 50 minto walk all 8.3 km of path
54 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.8 mi north-eastfrom the centre
2 playgrounds Burial mound on Winns Common, Plumstead monument +1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance

Avery Hill Park

Park or garden
43 ha (105 acres)3.7 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.7 km of path
60 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.7 mi southfrom the centre
Playground Conduit Head, Eltham monument +2 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance

East Wickham Open Space

Park or garden
29 ha (71 acres)8.2 km of path
1 h 50 minto walk all 8.2 km of path
40 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.7 mi eastfrom the centre
Radial Path
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Bostall HeathPark or garden · 72 ha · 22.7 km of path
Directions
BlackheathPark or garden · 80 ha · 18.0 km of path
Directions
Greenwich ParkPark or garden · 73 ha · 15.0 km of path
Directions
Lesnes Abbey ParkPark or garden · 67 ha · 17.7 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Woolwich CommonPark or garden · 48 ha · 8.9 km of path
Directions
Plumstead CommonPark or garden · 38 ha · 8.3 km of path
Directions
Avery Hill ParkPark or garden · 43 ha · 3.7 km of path
Directions
East Wickham Open SpacePark or garden · 29 ha · 8.2 km of path
Directions
Eltham Park NorthPark or garden · 30 ha · 7.7 km of path
Directions
Sutcliffe ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 4.5 km of path
Directions
Shrewsbury ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 3.9 km of path
Directions
Charlton ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 2.6 km of path
Directions
Charlton ParkPark or garden · 14 ha · 2.6 km of path
Directions
Maryon ParkPark or garden · 12 ha · 3.0 km of path
Directions
Hornfair ParkPark or garden · 10.0 ha · 3.4 km of path
Directions
Eltham Park SouthPark or garden · 9.7 ha · 2.8 km of path
Directions
Southmere ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Southmere ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Southmere ParkPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
Directions
Horn ParkPark or garden · 6.7 ha · 3.1 km of path
Directions
Cator ParkPark or garden · 8.4 ha · 2.2 km of path
Directions
Oxleas MeadowsPark or garden · 9.9 ha · 1.3 km of path
Directions
Footscray Playing FieldsPlaying field · 18 ha · 0.2 km of path
Directions
Birchmere ParkPark or garden · 9.3 ha · 0.7 km of path
Directions
Gallions Reach ParkPark or garden · 5.5 ha · 2.1 km of path
Directions
Barrack FieldPlaying field · 14 ha · 0.4 km of path
Directions
Abbey Wood ParkPark or garden · 5.0 ha · 2.0 km of path
Directions
Queenscroft Recreation GroundPlaying field · 5.1 ha · 2.7 km of path
Directions
Charlton House GroundsPark or garden · 5.6 ha · 1.5 km of path
Directions
Falconwood FieldPark or garden · 5.9 ha · 0.9 km of path
Directions
Close to home

9 in 10 Greenwich residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park

Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).

Within 400 m (90%)Further (10%)
Greenwich90%
Boroughs its size84%
London towns85%
All UK towns83%

About 28,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 435 playgrounds are mapped in and around the borough, about one for every 662 residents.

National Parks & National Landscapes

The Kent Downs National Landscape is 5.4 mi away

Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.

4.5 mi9 mi13.5 mi18 miNKent Downs5.4 mi south-eastKent Downs National Landscape: 5.4 mi south-east of Greenwich’s edge · 879 km² · since 1968Surrey Hills9.4 mi southSurrey Hills National Landscape: 9.4 mi south of Greenwich’s edge · 422 km² · since 1958High Weald16 mi southHigh Weald National Landscape: 16 mi south of Greenwich’s edge · 1,462 km² · since 1983Greenwich
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Landscape

Kent Downs

5.4 mi south-east879 km²since 1968
Official site
National Landscape

Surrey Hills

9.4 mi south422 km²since 1958
Official site
National Landscape

High Weald

16 mi south1,462 km²since 1983
Official site

Protected landscape begins just outside the 5 km ring the Outdoors Grade measures, so Greenwich scores 0% on it even though the Kent Downs National Landscape is 5.4 mi away.

Footpaths & waymarked walks

56 waymarked walks pass through or near Greenwich

620 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Greenwich and the kilometre around it, 7.1 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the borough.

NationalRegionalLocal
Thames Path21.0 km
Southwark Cathedral to Otford13.5 km
Greenwich Meridian Trail11.0 km
Capital Ring (Section 01)10.0 km
Jubilee Greenway (section 6)9.3 km
King Charles III England Coast Path: Grain to Woolwich7.4 km
Green Chain Walk section 77.1 km
Green Chain Walk section 56.2 km
Capital Ring (Section 15)6.1 km
Green Chain Walk section 66.1 km
Capital Ring (Section 02)5.8 km
Green Chain Walk section 4A5.7 km
Jubilee Greenway (section 5)5.4 km
Green Chain Walk section 35.1 km
Jubilee Greenway (section 7)5.0 km
Waterlink Way4.9 km

Plus 40 more waymarked walks on the map.

The Thames Path, a national route, passes Greenwich. 43 regional routes pass through, including the Southwark Cathedral to Otford, Greenwich Meridian Trail, Capital Ring (Section 01) and Jubilee Greenway (section 6).

Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.

History along the way

4 historic parks, and what stands in them

Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Greenwich’s named parks.

Registered park · Grade I

Greenwich Park

73 ha. A registered historic park (Grade I). 19 listed structures and monuments stand inside it or at its edge, including The Ranger's House (Grade I).

IThe Ranger's HouseIIBoundary Wall Along South SideIIBoundary Wall Surrounding the ParkIIDetached Portion of Boundary Wall at West End of South SideIIFront Garden Wall to Number 52 and GazeboIIMacartney HouseIIMausoleum of Greenwich Hospital in Grounds of Number 40IIPark HallIISt Alfege's VicarageIISt Mary's Gate to Greenwich ParkIISt Mary's Lodge (In North West Corner of Park)IIStatue of William IV to North East of St Mary's GateIIThe White House and Garden Walls to East, South and WestIIWar Memorial and Attached Railings and Piers
Registered · Grade II*Eltham Palace8.3 ha
Registered · Grade IIRepository Woods7.2 ha
Registered · Grade IIWell Hall Pleasaunce4.5 ha
Listed buildings insideBlackheathThe Ranger's House, West Grove, Conduit House, Blackheath and Conduit House (At Junction with West Grove) and 4 more
Listed buildings insideCharlton House GroundsCharlton House and Stable Buildings to South West of Charlton House
Listed buildings insideAvery Hill ParkConduit Head, Eltham, Avery Hill Training College (Entrance Gate and Adjoining Lodge) and Conduit Head on Waste Land at Rear of Numbers 53 to 57 (Odd)
Heritage walks
Southwark Cathedral to Otford 13.5 km Literary Heritage Trail 1.8 km link to Abbey Wood station 0.8 km Silk Mill Path 0.6 km

A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.

When to get out

The best walking months in Greenwich: May to September

The borough’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daylight (h)8.39.911.713.815.616.616.214.612.510.58.87.9
High (°C)891215182124232016129
Rain (mm)554438424647445347656357

March is the driest month (38 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 24 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 65 mm of rain falls in October, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 26 nights a year. The climate in Greenwich →

The coast

Beaches near Greenwich

5% of the area within 5 km of Greenwich is sea, so the Outdoors Grade counts it as inland. 9 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 2 with a name.

Kelson Beach0.2 mi from town
Directions
Dock Beach0.4 mi from town
Directions

The King Charles III England Coast Path passes the town.

Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.

Things to do

32 viewpoints and 435 playgrounds

Mapped within 2 km of the borough in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK borough its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.

Every named place, with directions

Viewpoints 32

The Pointin town
Directions
Lookout Hill0.0 mi from town
Directions
Gallions Hill0.0 mi from town
Directions
View of O2 Arena0.3 mi from town
Directions

Plus 28 viewpoints without a name on the map.

Hills and peaks 2

Cox's Mount27 m (89 ft) · in town
Directions
Shooters Hill132 m (433 ft) · 0.0 mi from town
Directions

Waterfalls 1

Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.

Nature reserves 19

Birdbrook Nature Reserve0.8 ha · in town
Directions
Gilbert's Pit5.2 ha · in town
Directions
Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park2.3 ha · in town
Directions
The Tarn Bird Sanctuary1.7 ha · in town
Directions
Northern Ecology Area0.2 ha · 0.0 mi from town
Directions
Sue Godfrey Nature Park0.6 ha · 0.0 mi from town
Directions
Creekside Discovery Centre0.3 ha · 0.0 mi from town
Directions
Burst Ash Pond0.1 ha · 0.1 mi from town
Directions

Plus 11 nature reserves without a name on the map.

Picnic sites 8

Picnic Area0.0 mi from town
Directions

Plus 7 picnic sites without a name on the map.

Playgrounds 435

Abbey Wood Park Playgroundin town
Directions
Avery Hill Park Playgroundin town
Directions
Chiswell Square Playsitein town
Directions
Dabin Crescent Play Areain town
Directions
Gallions Reach Play Areain town
Directions
Greenwich Park Playgroundin town
Directions
Meridian Adventure Play Centrein town
Directions
New Capital Quay Playgroundin town
Directions

Plus 427 playgrounds without a name on the map.

Dog parks 16

Mudchute Dog Park0.6 mi from town
Directions
Newby Place Dog Park0.6 mi from town
Directions
Storey House Green Dog Park0.7 mi from town
Directions
Duff Street Dog Park0.9 mi from town
Directions
Birchfield Dog Walking Area 11.1 mi from town
Directions
Bartlett Dog Park1.1 mi from town
Directions

Plus 10 dog parks without a name on the map.

Slipways 15

Johnson's Drawdock0.1 mi from town
Directions
Bargehouse Causeway0.2 mi from town
Directions

Plus 13 slipways without a name on the map.

Next door

The outdoors in nearby towns

The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.

ABCDOutdoors Grade
TownOutdoorsGreen space, ha per 1,000Near a parkProtected within 5 km
GreenwichA−2.790%0%
Bexley 3.4 miA+2.884%0%
Lewisham 4.0 miB1.688%0%
Newham 4.1 miC+1.083%0%
Tower Hamlets 5.0 miB−0.898%0%
Bromley 5.8 miA−3.181%18%
Barking and Dagenham 5.8 miC+2.482%0%

Bexley, 3.4 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: 84% of its residents live within 400 m of a park.

Questions about the outdoors in Greenwich

What is the biggest park in Greenwich?

Bostall Heath, 72 ha (178 acres), with 22.7 km of path. Blackheath (80 ha) is second. 30 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the borough or within 400 m of it.

Is Greenwich near a National Park?

The nearest protected landscape is the Kent Downs National Landscape, 5.4 mi south-east of the borough’s edge. It covers 879 km² and was designated in 1968.

What are the best walks near Greenwich?

56 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the borough, including the Thames Path, Southwark Cathedral to Otford and Greenwich Meridian Trail. Bostall Heath alone has 22.7 km of path.

How many people in Greenwich live near a park?

90% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.

When is the best time of year for walking in Greenwich?

May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.

Which parks in Greenwich are historic?

Greenwich Park (Grade I), Repository Woods (Grade II), Well Hall Pleasaunce (Grade II) and Eltham Palace (Grade II*) are on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.

Is Greenwich good for walking?

For paths, yes: 7.1 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 99% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 63% (2.7 ha per 1,000 residents).

How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?

From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Greenwich’s overall grade.

Sources

Where Greenwich’s outdoors figures come from

  • Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
  • Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
  • Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
  • The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
  • Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.