South East London Green Chain

Green Chain Walk signs in Beckenham, Cator Park

The South East London Green Chain, also known as the Green Chain Walk is a linked system of open spaces between the River Thames and Crystal Palace 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, Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich. Many parts of the system are also part of the Capital Ring route.

The system begins at three places on the River Thames: Thames Barrier, Thamesmead, 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 final section reaches Crystal Palace via Bromley.

The major open spaces in the Chain are:

• Lesnes Abbey
• Bostall Heath and Woods
• Parks in Charlton including Maryon Park, Maryon Wilson Park and Charlton Park
• Woolwich Common
• Plumstead Common
• Shooters Hill area, including Oxleas Wood and several other woods and open spaces
• Eltham Park and Common
• Eltham Palace
• Avery Hill Park
• Chinbrook Meadows
• Elmstead Wood
• Parks around Beckenham, including Beckenham Place Park
• Parks around Bromley including Sundridge Park and Chislehurst Common
• Crystal Palace Park

The complete list and the routes are to be found at www.greenchain.com.

See also

• Greenway (landscape)
• Linear Park
• Trail
• Walking in London

External links

• - official TfL site
• Review of Green Chain
• Route on OpenStreetMap, select your walk (takes time to load).