The Capital Ring - Woolwich to Mottingham

The Capital Ring is a 120km/75 mile footpath orbiting central London at a distance of up to 10 miles from Big Ben. It was a collaboration between all of London's local authorities, and was completed in 2005. The route runs through urban and suburban outer London, utilising green space as much as possible.

This linear walk comprises section 1 and part of section 2 in the south-east, running a little under 16km/10 miles from Woolwich to Mottingham, and passing through Charlton, Shooters Hill & Eltham. It is entirely within the London borough of Greenwich.

The sights

Royal Arsenal, Woolwich: Since the mid-16th century, this part of London has been used for the manufacture & storage of armaments & munitions for the British armed forces. At its peak in the First World War, the site covered 1,285 acres and employed 80,000 people. The MoD finally left in 1994, and the area is gradually being redeveloped for commercial & housing purposes.

Woolwich Ferry & Foot Tunnel: A ferry has linked Woolwich & North Woolwich across the Thames for more than 700 years, and since 1889 has operated as a free service carrying vehicles & foot passengers. The Woolwich foot tunnel was opened in 1912, and links the official beginning & end of the Capital Ring footpath.

Thames Barrier: Completed in 1982 following floods in 1928 & 1953, the barrier protects central London from tidal & storm surges in the North Sea. Since becoming operational, it has been raised 221 times.

Maryon & Maryon Wilson Parks: These well-wooded public parks were donated to the London County Council in 1891 & 1924 by the Maryon-Wilson family. The parks are remnants of an ancient forest known as Hanging Wood.

Charlton House: Built in 1607-12 for Sir Adam Newton, this is one of the finest examples of Jacobean architecture in London. It eventually passed into the Maryon-Wilson family, and after service as a WW1 hospital, was sold to Greenwich council in 1925. It is now open to the public.

Severndroog Castle: This 18th-century folly was built in 1784 by his widow to commemorate Commodore Sir William James, who in 1755 captured the pirate fortress of Suvarnadurg in India. It is 18m/63 feet high, and features a tearoom & viewing platform.

Oxleas Wood: Parts of this ancient area of deciduous woodland date back 8,000 years to the end of the last Ice Age, and form a 72ha/180 acre Site of Special Scientific Interest. The café at the top of Oxleas Meadow is at a height of 105m/350 feet, and commands magnificent views over western Kent & eastern Surrey.

Conduit Head: This brick structure is part of the water supply system for Eltham Palace about 0.5 miles away, and was built in the late 15th century.

Eltham Palace: Originally built around 1300, the palace was a royal residence from the 14th to the 16th centuries - the future Henry VIII grew up here. With the completion of the much grander Greenwich Palace in 1500, Eltham was used less and less, and by the 1650s was in a ruinous state apart from the Great Hall of 1470. The lease was acquired by Stephen & Virginia Courtauld in 1933, who proceeded to  construct a fine modern house in the Art Deco style, incorporating the restored Great Hall. After wartime Army use, the palace passed to English Heritage in 1995.

The route (see location section for OS link):

Starting at Woolwich Elizabeth Line station, we'll head north through Woolwich Arsenal to reach the Thames Path and follow it west, past the Woolwich ferry to the Thames Barrier. We'll then turn south, heading through Maryon-Wilson, Charlton & Hornfair Parks and crossing Woolwich Common to reach the A207 at Shooters Hill. Crossing this road into Eltham Common, we will pass Severndroog Castle, Jackwood to arrive at Oxleas Wood Café, where we will pause for lunch.

After the break, we will head down through Oxleas Wood to Rochester Way and cross it to reach Shepherdleas Wood, Eltham Park North, and the footbridge over the A2 which marks the start of Capital Ring section 2. We'll then walk around Eltham Park South, Avery Hill Park, past Conduit Head, and along Footscray Road and North Park to reach Eltham Palace. Finally, we'll follow King John's Walk around the perimeter of the palace and beside fields to reach Middle Park Avenue leading to Mottingham station.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but they will need to be on a lead along busy roads and footpaths and in proximity to livestock. At all other times, a dog must be obedient.

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Photos: Severndroog Castle (header) / Thames Barrier / Woolwich Elizabeth Line station (meeting point) / Woolwich Arsenal / Woolwich Ferry / Woolwich gun battery (1847) / Maryon Wilson Park / Charlton House / Severndroog Castle (S) / Castle Wood / Oxleas Wood Café / Eltham Park South / Conduit Head / Eltham Palace / Eltham Palace moat / Kings John's Fields, Eltham.

All photos taken by the leader 19th May 2025 and permission given to OutdoorLads for use.