Shooters Hill
Shooters Hill packs a surprising amount into one corner of South East London. You can see farm animals, walk through ancient woodland, follow the Green Chain, climb a Gothic castle, discover old hospital history, find a playground and stop for tea — all in the same patch of South East London.
What tickles your fancy?
Animals & families
Start at Woodlands Farm for a free working-farm visit and seasonal family activity.
Walking & wildlife
Oxleas Woods, Castle Wood, Jack Wood, Eaglesfield Park and the Green Chain give you a substantial green network rather than one little park.
History & unusual places
Severndroog Castle, the Brook Hospital remains, old water towers and other landmarks give the hill far more history than you see from the main road.
Or dabble in all three
Farm first, woodland walk, Severndroog for the view and tea, then spot some of the hill’s surviving history on the way home. That is much more my kind of itinerary.
Things to do on Shooters Hill
Woodlands Farm
An 89-acre working city farm and conservation charity on the Greenwich/Bexley edge, with free general admission.
Severndroog Castle
The Grade II*-listed Gothic folly sits inside Castle Wood and gives Shooters Hill one of its most distinctive landmarks and viewpoints.
Oxleas Woods
Ancient woodland, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of a much larger woodland network threaded by the Green Chain Walk.
Eaglesfield Park
A Green Flag park at the summit with a playground, ecological pond, picnic space, Green Chain connection and big views towards Kent.
A proper Green Chain day
Royal Greenwich describes Oxleas Woods, Castle Wood and Jack Wood as an ancient woodland site of around 77 hectares and at least 8,000 years old. Together with Shepherdleas Wood they form the Shooters Hill Woodlands, while the Green Chain lets you keep moving through the landscape rather than treating each patch as an island.
Oxleas Woods
Oak, silver birch, hornbeam and coppice hazel, plus the meadow and café at the top of the hill.
Castle Wood & Jack Wood
Castle Wood wraps around Severndroog; Jack Wood includes a terrace garden, rose garden and views across London.
Eaglesfield Park
The Green Chain passes through the park, linking north towards Shrewsbury Park and south towards Oxleas Wood.
Green Chain
For more walking ideas, explore our Green Chain walks guide and check route distances, terrain and facilities before setting off.
This area is ridiculously easy to mix up
Farm animals
Woodlands Farm is the obvious free family anchor, with seasonal trails, crafts and nature activity appearing through the year.
Playground & pond
Eaglesfield Park has a well-equipped children’s playground and an ecological pond as part of the same free green-space visit.
Woodland exploring
Keep it simple: leaves, wildlife, muddy paths and a walk through genuinely ancient woodland can be the activity.
A lot of Shooters Hill costs absolutely nothing
You can spend a day exploring the woods, park and farm without paying admission. Allow for travel, food and any separately ticketed activities.
Woodlands Farm
General visiting is free; some special events and activities charge separately.
Ancient woodland
Oxleas and the surrounding woods give you hours of free walking.
Eaglesfield Park
Playground, pond, views and Green Chain walking without admission.
Local-history spotting
The Brook Hospital remains and historic landmarks turn an ordinary walk into something with a story behind it.
The hospital hill, castles and two water towers
Shooters Hill has layers of medical, military and local history hiding in plain sight.
The former Brook Hospital
The Brook opened in 1896 as a fever hospital. Much of the site was later demolished and redeveloped, but important remnants survive, including the entrance lodge, administration building, doctor’s house, pumping station and the former hospital water tower.
Brook Hospital water tower
Designed by Thomas W. Aldwinckle and built in 1894–96, the tower once held a 20,000-gallon water tank. It was later converted for residential use and remains a striking reminder of the old hospital site.
The other water tower
Do not confuse the Brook tower with the separate octagonal 1910 water tower near Cleanthus Road. That one is Grade II listed. Same hill, two different towers, two different stories.
Severndroog Castle
Built in 1784 as a memorial to Commodore Sir William James, the Gothic folly sits high in Castle Wood and is Grade II* listed.
Useful local places, not just visitor attractions
Woodlands Farm is more than a day out: it is a local conservation charity with volunteering and educational activities. Community Friends groups also help look after nearby parks and woodland.
The hill matters
Shooters Hill is exactly where vague “accessible” labels are not good enough. The area is steep and individual woodland paths, parks and attractions have very different surfaces and gradients.
Eaglesfield Park
Royal Greenwich currently lists wheelchair access.
Oxleas Woods
Paths vary from firmer tracks to uneven woodland terrain, so check your intended route if travelling with a buggy or mobility aid.
Woodlands Farm
Check the latest visitor and accessibility details in our dedicated farm guide and with Woodlands Farm before travelling.
Severndroog
The historic tower has stairs and access limitations. Check current arrangements with the venue before visiting.
No station on the hill — buses matter here
Shooters Hill is a bus-led destination, which makes our transport network especially useful. The 486 links towards North Greenwich, Charlton, Welling and Bexleyheath; the 386 connects towards Woolwich, Greenwich and Blackheath; and the 89 links Blackheath, Shooters Hill, Welling and Bexleyheath.
What’s nearby?
Eltham
Palace, parks, High Street and more of the southern Greenwich network.
Plumstead
Common, community, High Street and connections down the hill.
Blackheath
Heath, village, culture and onward transport.
Abbey Wood
Lesnes Abbey Woods and another major Green Chain/nature/history crossover.