The Green Chain Walk Guide & Insider Tips

These 11 little routes go all the way from the weird dinosaur statues in Crystal Palace Park to the Clockwork Orange film location of Thamesmead and then on to the River Thames. Great for when you need a break from the city, or just life in general.

The routes can be a bit hit and miss, as there’s often a quite a bit of walking along roads, but there’s definitely gems to find here and it’s especially magical if you don’t know the areas, and feel like your exploring a hidden route with the only clues being cute little signposts every so often to guide you on your way.

My particular highlights were the Lesnes Abbey Ruins and Woods, Oxleas Woods with Severndroog Castle, plus the route by Eltham Palace, which is a must-see in its own right.

Things to keep in mind before walking the Green Chain:

It’s not a linear route – sections don’t always end where the following section starts. So if you want to combine two routes you might need to do a bit of planning in advance
In parks, woods and open spaces you’ll find the signage on solid wooden posts with a yellow arrow on top
On streets, follow the metal signs with a white logo and text on a green background
The Green Chain Walk was set up in 1977 and as you can imagine, routes which were once green, have since been replaced by grey concrete and red-brick housing developments.
Some sections, especially the woodlands, can be very muddy, so best to keep those for when it hasn’t rained for a while or take some heavy duty wellington boots if you enjoy a bit of wading.

The Green Chain trail passes by these attractions and landmarks:

Severndroog Castle: An 18th century Gothic-style tower.
Eltham Palace: 1930s Art Deco decadence
Winter Garden: A Victorian conservatory
Crystal Palace Park: Including its Victorian Dinosaurs park and hedge maze
Beckenham Place Swimming Lake: Wild Swimming Lake
The Horniman Museum and Gardens: A quirky anthropological museum
The Thames Barrier: The capital’s alien-like flood barriers
Nunhead Cemetery: One of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London
Shooters Hill Water Tower: A brick and terracotta Gothic Revival water tower

This 50 mile / 82 km route is divided into 11 sections:

Green Chain Walk Section 1: Thamesmead to Lesnes Abbey

How Far? 2.6 miles / 4.2 km

The route takes you from the brutalist beauty of Thamesmead to the historic ruins of Lesnes Abbey

Insider Tip: You’ll recognise the iconic four tower blocks from movies and TV shows including A Clockwork Orange and Misfits.

Green Chain Walk Section 2: Erith to Bostall Woods

How Far? 3.4 miles / 5.5 km

This section starts in Erith along the Thames Path and takes you through woodlands of Lesnes Abbey and ends at Bostall Woods.

Insider Tip: Doing this walk in mid-April to late May allows you to witness the beautiful bluebells in full bloom.

Green Chain Walk Section 3: Bostall Woods to Oxleas Meadows

How Far? 2.9 miles / 4.7 km

Section 3 takes you from the beautiful Bostall Woods to Oxleas Meadows via East Wickham.

Insider Tip: If you venture to Bostall Woods from mid-April to late May you can enjoy the bluebells in bloom.

Green Chain Walk Section 4: Charlton Park to Bostall Woods

How Far? Part A 1.7 miles / 2.7 km and Part B 3.6 miles / 5.8 km

Going To Bostall Woods via Charlton Park or Plumstead Common

Green Chain Walk Section 5: Thames Barrier to Oxleas Meadows

How Far? 3.9 miles / 6.3 km

Going from the iconic Thames Barrier to Oxleas Meadows with a lot of parks and other green spaces in between.

Insider Tip: Pack a lunch with you to feast on while enjoying the views from Shooters Hill. Alternatively, get coffee or an iced drink at the Severndroog Castle Cafe.