Winter Walks in Greenwich, London and Blackheath, Plus the Solstice Festival 2026

Short days, low sun and big views make winter a lovely time to walk in Greenwich, London and Blackheath. Here are four winter walks using some of the best-loved parks and paths in the area, plus a free family festival at the National Maritime Museum to mark the solstice. Event details were checked 1 November 2026 on the official pages.

Winter Solstice Family Festival at the National Maritime Museum

Saturday 19 December 2026, 10:30am to 5pm, free. Royal Museums Greenwich is marking the shortest days of the year with a family festival at the National Maritime Museum. The programme includes solstice storytelling, crown making, lantern making, shadow puppetry and a Cornish solstice celebration inspired by Penzance's Montol Festival. Timings for most activities are still to be announced.

Astronomers will run solar observing from 11am to 2pm and lunar observing from 2pm to 4:45pm, with the Flamsteed Astronomy Society, weather permitting. The festival is run by the museum's astronomy team while the Royal Observatory is closed for its transformation project. See our story on the Royal Observatory closure and the festival page.

Walk 1: Greenwich Park and the heath

Start at Cutty Sark Gardens and walk up through Greenwich Park to the Statue of General James Wolfe, at the top of the park's Grand Ascent. It's one of London's classic views, looking over the Queen's House and the Old Royal Naval College to Canary Wharf. For a quieter view, try One Tree Hill Vista Point to the east, reached by a steep path.

Carry on through the park past The Wilderness Deer Park and out on to Blackheath, then across the heath to Blackheath Village. When we checked, the Royal Parks page listed Greenwich Park's pedestrian gates as open 6am to 6pm, so plan to be out of the park before closing. Warm up at The Pavilion Café in the park, or at The Hare & Billet and The Crown - Blackheath on the Blackheath side.

Featured local business

The Pavilion Café

Cafe & Coffee · Greenwich

A refurbished 1906 octagonal café at the top of Greenwich Park by the Royal Observatory, serving breakfast, pizzas, burgers and cakes, with big gardens and step-free access.

Featured local business

The Hare & Billet

Pub & Bar · Blackheath

A dog-friendly Blackheath pub on the edge of the heath, serving seasonal pub classics, bar snacks and Sunday roasts, with a garden and regular events.

Featured local business

The Crown - Blackheath

Pub & Bar · Blackheath

Historic 16th-century coaching inn in Blackheath Village, serving award-winning Kentish real ales from Shepherd Neame, homemade pub classics and sharing roasts, with a function room and live music.

Walk 2: The Thames Path to the Peninsula

From the Cutty Sark, follow Greenwich Riverside and Thames Path east past the Old Royal Naval College and along the river towards the Greenwich Peninsula. It's a flat walk with river views most of the way. On the Peninsula, look in at Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, a freshwater wetland reserve beside the Thames Path, before heading towards The O2.

Walk 3: Under the river to Island Gardens

For a short walk with a big payoff, take the Greenwich Foot Tunnel from Cutty Sark Gardens under the Thames to Island Gardens View of Greenwich. The view back across the river takes in the whole Greenwich waterfront, including the Old Royal Naval College. It's lovely late on a clear winter afternoon. Back in Greenwich, The Plume of Feathers on Park Vista is a short walk from the park.

Featured local business

The Plume of Feathers

Pub & Bar · Greenwich

Greenwich's oldest pub, built in 1691 beside Greenwich Park: CAMRA-listed real ales, a candlelit mirrored restaurant, Sunday roasts and an award-winning garden.

Walk 4: Oxleas Woods and Shooters Hill

For something wilder, head to Oxleas Woods, one of south-east London's largest areas of ancient woodland, on the southern side of Shooters Hill. Nearby is Severndroog Castle Viewpoint, a Gothic tower in Castle Wood. Check the castle's opening times before you go. Paths here can be steep and muddy in winter, so wear good boots.

Winter walking tips

Daylight is short in December, so set off early and carry a torch if you'll be out near dusk. Paths across the heath and in the woods can be muddy after rain. Before you go, check park gate times on the Royal Parks Greenwich Park page. For more festive days out, see our guide to Christmas in Greenwich and Blackheath.

Where we checked

All details were checked on 1 November 2026.

Winter Solstice Family Festival: Royal Museums Greenwich

Greenwich Park gate times: The Royal Parks

Photos: Greenwich Park in winter (1987) by EuroAsia Vizion, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Greenwich Park view over the Queen's House by Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.