Nature & WildlifeFREE TO VISIT

Oxleas Woods

Greenwich

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Oxleas Woods is a large ancient woodland and meadow landscape on Shooters Hill, with walking routes, views, a café, toilets, play and sports facilities, and links to Castle Wood and Jack Wood. The Green Chain Walk passes through the site, while Severndroog Castle adds a distinctive historic landmark.

Ancient woodland walksdog walkingfamily outingsGreen Chain hikesnature breaksLondon viewslocal recreation

About Oxleas Woods

Oxleas Woods is one of south-east London’s most substantial areas of ancient woodland, covering around 77 hectares on the southern side of Shooters Hill. The landscape combines mature deciduous trees, open meadow, sloping ground and adjoining areas including Castle Wood and Jack Wood. Oak, silver birch, hornbeam and coppice hazel give the woodland a varied character, with the paths changing noticeably between shaded forest, open grass and more formal garden areas. The woods are primarily a place for walking, informal recreation and contact with nature. The Green Chain Walk crosses the site, and the wider woodland network also connects with sections of the Capital Ring. Paths lead through the trees and across the meadow, although many routes are unpaved and can become muddy or uneven after wet weather. At the higher ground near the café, there are open views across parts of London and a useful place to pause before continuing into the woodland. At the centre of the main visitor area is Oxleas Wood Café, which provides refreshments and is beside the public toilets and car park. The wider site includes an outdoor gym, a multi-use games area and play areas, giving it a practical local role as well as its value as a nature site. Jack Wood contains a terrace garden and rose garden, while Castle Wood is home to Severndroog Castle, an 18th-century Gothic folly with a viewing platform and tearoom operated separately from the woodland. Oxleas Woods feels more like a working urban woodland than a formal showpiece park. Its appeal lies in the combination of accessible green space, ancient trees, hilly walking, family facilities and a memorable historic landmark. It is well suited to a walk of anything from a short circuit around the meadow to a longer exploration of the connected woodlands and Green Chain routes.

Worth knowing

Why visit?

Visit for a genuine woodland walk without leaving Greenwich, with ancient trees, open meadow and a network of routes extending into Castle Wood and Jack Wood. The site works for several kinds of outing: a short café stop, a dog walk, a family trip, a longer Green Chain hike or a visit to nearby Severndroog Castle. The elevated setting brings wider London views, while the outdoor gym, play facilities and multi-use games area make it useful for local recreation as well as nature. It is especially rewarding when you want a change from formal gardens and busy central parks.

History & character

Parts of the Oxleas woodland landscape are understood to survive from the ancient forest that once covered much of lowland Britain, with the oldest woodland areas dating back thousands of years. The woods formed part of the royal estate of Eltham from at least the early fourteenth century and later became associated with the name Crown Woods. Local land use changed over time, including estate properties, game-shooting rights and ornamental gardens on Shooters Hill. The London County Council acquired Oxleas Wood for public recreation in 1930, and it opened to the public in 1934. Today the woodland is managed as part of Greenwich’s network of public open spaces and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Nearby Castle Wood contains Severndroog Castle, a Gothic memorial folly built in 1784 by Lady Anne James for her husband, Commodore Sir William James. The castle was restored after a long period of neglect and reopened to visitors in 2014, adding a strong historic dimension to the surrounding woodland.

Gallery

Images are shown with source/photographer credit where supplied.

Useful visitor tips

Allow extra time if you want to combine the meadow, Jack Wood, Castle Wood and Severndroog Castle.

Wear shoes with good grip after wet weather.

Use the café and toilets as your main facilities base.

Check Severndroog Castle’s separate opening days before planning a visit.

Look for wider views from the open meadow and higher ground.

Choose surfaced or more level approaches if walking is difficult.

Keep dogs under control and take waste home where bins are unavailable.

Frequently asked questions

Is Oxleas Woods free to visit?

Yes. The woodland and its public paths are free to access. Severndroog Castle is a separate attraction within adjoining Castle Wood and charges for entry to its viewing platform. The café and any refreshments are also separate purchases.

Are dogs allowed at Oxleas Woods?

Yes, dogs are accepted in the woodland and it is a popular dog-walking destination. The café is inside a fenced dog-free area, except for assistance dogs. Keep dogs under control around other visitors and wildlife, and take waste home if suitable bins are not available.

Are there toilets at Oxleas Woods?

Yes. Public toilets are located beside Oxleas Wood Café in the main visitor area. An adapted toilet and parent-and-baby changing provision are available. The toilet block is reached via a slope or ramp, while the standard male facilities include steps.

Is Oxleas Woods suitable for children?

Yes. The site has play areas, open meadow, an outdoor gym and a multi-use games area, making it useful for family outings. However, woodland paths are hilly and can be muddy or uneven, so supervision and practical footwear are advisable.

Can I take a buggy around Oxleas Woods?

A buggy may be manageable around the main visitor area and some more accessible approaches, but the woodland is not consistently buggy-friendly. Many paths are unpaved, steep, narrow or uneven, and conditions can deteriorate after rain. A robust all-terrain buggy is more practical than a lightweight stroller.

Where can I park for Oxleas Woods?

The main car park is at the end of Crown Woods Lane beside the café, accessed from Shooters Hill via Kenilworth Gardens. Free parking is listed at and around the woodland, with Blue Badge parking available. Always check local signs and restrictions when you arrive.

How do I reach Oxleas Woods by public transport?

Falconwood is identified as the nearest rail station, and Woolwich Arsenal as the nearest DLR station. The woodland is also linked to local walking routes, including the Green Chain Walk. Check current TfL directions before travelling, as bus services and connections can change.

How long should I allow for a visit?

Allow around one to two hours for a relaxed woodland and meadow walk with a café stop. You will need longer if you plan to explore Jack Wood and Castle Wood, follow part of the Green Chain Walk or visit Severndroog Castle, whose viewing platform has separate opening times.

Good to know

£0 Free to visit

Dog-friendly information verified

Family-friendly information verified

Shooters Hill, London SE18

Facilities

Facilities include Oxleas Wood Café, public toilets, a picnic area, seating, an outdoor gym, a multi-use games area, play areas, woodland and meadow paths, Jack Wood terrace and rose gardens, and links to the Green Chain Walk. Severndroog Castle and its tearoom are separate visitor facilities within the adjoining woodland.

Getting there

The main car park and café are at the end of Crown Woods Lane, reached from Shooters Hill via Kenilworth Gardens. Other access points are around Shooters Hill, where the road becomes Bellegrove Road near the Greenwich and Bexley boundary. The woodland can also be reached on foot via the Green Chain Walk and connected local paths. Cyclists should expect slopes and uneven surfaces on woodland routes.

Public transport

Falconwood is identified as the nearest rail station in the site’s accessibility information. Woolwich Arsenal is identified as the nearest DLR station. From either station, the final approach involves walking or a connecting local journey; check current TfL services before travelling because routes and timetables can change.

Parking

There is a car park at the end of Crown Woods Lane beside the café, with Blue Badge parking identified in the accessibility guide. Friends of Oxleas Woodlands also lists free parking at and around the woodland, including two car parks accessed from Shooters Hill Road. On-street parking and local restrictions may vary, so check signs on arrival.

Toilets

Public toilets are available in the main visitor area beside Oxleas Wood Café. The facilities include an adapted toilet and parent-and-baby changing provision. Access to the toilet block involves a slope or ramp, and the male facilities have steps, so visitors needing step-free access should use the adapted facility.

Dogs

Dogs are accepted in the woodland and the site is commonly used for dog walking. The café sits within a fenced dog-free enclosure, apart from assistance dogs. Keep dogs under control around other visitors and wildlife, and take waste home if bins are not available. No wider lead restriction was verified for the woodland itself.

Families

The site has play areas, an outdoor gym, a multi-use games area and open meadow suitable for informal family time. Families should allow for slopes, uneven woodland paths and muddy conditions after rain. The main visitor area has toilets and parent-and-baby changing provision. The site is not uniformly suitable for buggies, particularly on woodland routes.

Access / opening

The woodland is open-access green space, with trails described as accessible daily from dawn to dusk. No separate council opening hours were verified for the wider woods. Oxleas Wood Café has published hours of 8:30am to 5pm daily, while Severndroog Castle has separate, limited opening times and admission charges. Check those facilities directly before travelling.

Practical information

This is a substantial, hilly woodland site rather than a fully surfaced urban park. Expect slopes, uneven ground, narrow sections and muddy paths after rain. Comfortable footwear is advisable. The café, toilets and main car park are concentrated around the central visitor area; the wider woods have fewer facilities. Severndroog Castle has separate opening times and admission arrangements from the free-access woodland.

Accessibility

Accessibility varies considerably across the site. Woodland paths are often unpaved, uneven, narrow or steep, and most routes are not wheelchair-accessible. Some garden areas and steps can be bypassed by steep, uneven slopes. The café and Severndroog Castle are separate facilities and should be checked individually before visiting.

Find it on the map

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Information last checked 30 Sept 2026.