The South East London Green Chain, also known as the Green Chain Walk, is a linked system of open spaces between the

River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

and

Crystal Palace Park Crystal Palace Park is a Victorian pleasure ground In English gardening history, the pleasure ground or pleasure garden was the parts of a large garden designed for the use of the owners, as opposed to the kitchen garden and the wider park ...

in London, England. In 1977 four London boroughs and the Greater London Council created this Green Chain of 300 open spaces to protect them from building activity. The four London boroughs are

Bexley Bexley is an area of south-eastern Greater London, England and part of the London Borough of Bexley. It is sometimes known as Bexley Village or Old Bexley to differentiate the area from the wider borough. It is located east-southeast of Ch ...

Bromley Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011. Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, c ...

Lewisham Lewisham () is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified in the London Plan as one of ...

and

Greenwich Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...

. More recently it has been extended to include sections in Southwark. Many parts of the system are also part of the Capital Ring route. The system begins at three places on the

Thames Barrier The Thames Barrier is a retractable barrier system built to protect the floodplain of most of Greater London from exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the North Sea. It has been operational since 1982. When needed, it is c ...

Thamesmead Thamesmead is an area of south-east London, England, straddling the border between the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Bexley. It is located east of Charing Cross, north-east of Woolwich and west of Erith. It mainly con ...

, and the riverside at Erith. There are various circular walks along the route, and there is an offshoot from the main route to Chislehurst; and the next section reaches Crystal Palace via

. From there it goes north with branches to Dulwich and Nunhead. Shrewsbury Park, Shooter's Hill, London

The major open spaces in the Chain are: *

Lesnes Abbey Lesnes Abbey is a former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London, England. It is a scheduled monument, and the abbey's ruins are listed at Grade II by Historic England. The adjacent Lesnes Abbey W ...

Bostall Heath and Woods Bostall Heath and Woods is an area of 159.1 hectares of woodland with areas of heathland located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich ward of Abbey Wood and adjacent to Lesnes Abbey Woods. The area to the south of the A206 (Bostall Hill) is Bo ...

* Parks in Charlton including

Maryon Park Maryon Park is an urban public park located in Charlton in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is situated on the A206 south of the Thames Barrier. There is access from Woolwich Road, Charlton Lane and Thorntree Road. It is part of the Maryon Wil ...

, Maryon Wilson Park and Charlton Park *

Woolwich Common Woolwich Common is a common in Woolwich in southeast London, England. It is partly used as military land (less than 40%) and partly as an urban park. Woolwich Common is a conservation area. It is part of the South East London Green Chain. It is al ...

Plumstead Common Plumstead Common is a common and urban park in Plumstead in the Royal Borough of Greenwich ( SE18), south-east London. It is part of the South East London Green Chain. Location and geology Plumstead Common is bound to the north by Old Mill Roa ...

Shooters Hill Shooter's Hill (or Shooters Hill) is a district in South East London within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It borders the London Borough of Bexley. It lies north of Eltham and south of Woolwich. With a height of , it is the highest point in t ...

area, including Shrewsbury Park,

Eaglesfield Park Eaglesfield Park is a public park situated close to the top of Shooter's Hill, south of Woolwich, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich in south east London. Overview The park is in two sections divided by Eaglesfield Road. The western section is ...

Oxleas Wood Oxleas Wood is one of the few remaining areas of ancient deciduous forest in Eltham in the Royal Borough of Greenwich (with a small amount passing over the boundary into the London Borough of Bexley), in southeast London. Some parts date back ov ...

and several other woods and open spaces * Eltham Park and Common * Eltham Palace * Avery Hill Park * Chinbrook Meadows * Elmstead Wood * Parks around

Beckenham Beckenham () is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley, in Greater London. Until 1965 it was part of the historic county of Kent. It is located south-east of Charing Cross, situated north of Elmers End and E ...

, including

Beckenham Place Park Beckenham Place Park is a large park located near Beckenham in the London Borough of Lewisham. It lies close to the border with the London Borough of Bromley, and was formerly divided between the two boroughs. The Palladian-style mansion that ga ...

* Parks around

including ''Sundridge Park'' and Chislehurst Common *

The complete list and the routes are to be found on TfL's Walk London site.tfl.gov.uk
/ref>

References

External links

Official TfL siteRoute on OpenStreetMap, select your walk (takes time to load).
Walking in London Parks and open spaces in London Long-distance footpaths in England Footpaths in London {{London-geo-stub Sydenham Wells Park ( Borough of Lewisham) is in the Green chain walk. It is one of the most attractive parks in the borough with a fine water feature, ponds, water play, flowerbeds and fine species of trees and shrubs. It is on route from Crystal Palace to Sydenham Hill Woods with a Noticeboard and well signed markings...

See also

References

External links