A free woodland wander around Severndroog Castle and Oxleas Wood, with a flask, family memories and some of the loveliest views in south-east London.
Shooters Hill, Royal Greenwich · Free woodland and grounds · Bring a flask or visit a café · Woodland paths, steps and viewpoints · Castle interior admission extra
A little piece of my childhood
Some places stay with you. I used to come here with Mum when I was younger, and we’d sit on the benches looking out into the distance. She’d make me a chicken Oxo drink in a flask, and there’s something about that simple tradition I’ve never forgotten.
Coming back with Evie meant I could share a little bit of that childhood with her. We brought our own flasks, wandered around the woods and grounds, and sat looking out at the view. We didn’t need an expensive day out or a packed itinerary. Sometimes just being there is enough.
Our walk around Severndroog Castle and Oxleas Wood
We explored outside the castle and through the surrounding woodland, rather than going inside Severndroog itself. There are paths, steps, trees and places to stop and take everything in. The castle makes a wonderfully atmospheric landmark among the trees, even if you don’t buy an admission ticket.
The wider Oxleas Woodlands includes Oxleas Wood, Castle Wood and Jack Wood, with open meadows and the Green Chain Walk running through the area. The Royal Borough of Greenwich describes the ancient woodland as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Read the council’s park information.
Park, play areas and viewpoints
There’s more than just the woodland paths. Around the wider site you’ll find meadow space, play and sports areas, an outdoor gym and viewpoints. Jack Wood also has a terrace garden and rose garden. If you’re visiting with children, the grassy areas make a nice change of pace from the woodland walk. Not every part of the site is flat: expect uneven ground, slopes and some steps.
Where to get a drink or something to eat
We brought flasks rather than buying anything on our visit. For anyone who fancies a café stop, there are two options:
- Oxleas Wood Café: by Oxleas Meadow, listed by the Friends of Oxleas Woodlands as open daily, usually 8am–4pm.
- Severndroog Castle Tea Room: inside the castle’s ground floor, currently listed Thursday–Sunday, 9am–3:30pm. You don’t need a viewing-platform ticket just to use the tea room.
Check Oxleas Woodlands visitor information and Severndroog’s official website for changes before setting off.
Parking and getting here
For Severndroog Castle: the council’s Castle Wood car park is around 200 metres away. Use SE18 3RU for the car park, rather than the castle’s own postcode (SE18 3RT). The approach to the castle follows a tarmac path on a gentle incline. Parking is generally free, but pay attention to seasonal gate closing times.
For Oxleas Meadow and café: another free car park is accessible from Crown Woods Lane, near the café. Other parking around the wider woodland includes some pay-as-you-go areas, so check signs before leaving your car. See the Friends of Oxleas Woodlands parking guide.
By public transport: routes 89, 244 and 486 serve the Shooters Hill area; check TfL for the best stop and current journey. We also have a guide to places along the 486 bus route.
Can you go inside Severndroog Castle?
Yes, when it is open for visitors, although we only explored outside on our trip. The viewing platform and galleries are currently advertised for Sundays, 10am–3pm (last entry 2:45pm), subject to weather and special events. Current single-entry prices are £5 for adults, £3.50 for children aged 5–15 and £12.50 for a family ticket (up to five people, maximum two adults). Under-fives and carers/companions are listed as free. Check official opening and ticket information before travelling.
Accessibility: the viewing platform is reached by a spiral staircase with 86 steps. The castle says the ground-floor tea room and toilet have four entrance steps with handrails. Contact the venue directly about access arrangements, and bear in mind that woodland paths can be muddy or uneven.
Events at Severndroog Castle and Oxleas Wood
The castle isn’t just somewhere to look at from outside. It also runs seasonal activities, including a monthly producers’ market, history events, occasional evening viewing-platform visits and festive workshops. The official What’s On calendar is the best place for up-to-date dates and tickets. We also have an existing autumn 2026 events guide, so there’s no need to repeat every event here.
The Friends of Oxleas Woodlands also organise guided walks and family nature activities. Walks are generally free with donations welcome, but some require advance booking.
Three woodland walks to try
The Friends of Oxleas Woodlands publish free self-guided walks, including a 1.2-mile ramble around Jack Wood (around an hour), a 1.9-mile stroll through Oxleas Wood (around 75 minutes), and a 1.2–1.6-mile walk from Oxleas Café to Severndroog Castle and back (around 50–65 minutes). These are suggestions for a future visit, not routes we followed exactly. Find the walking guides.
Is it worth visiting?
For me, absolutely. We had a lovely wander, but the part I’ll remember most is sitting on the benches and sharing that view with Evie, just as I once did with Mum. The chicken Oxo in the flask made it feel even more familiar. A free local day out can mean an awful lot.
Our experience covers the grounds and woodland, not the inside of the castle or the cafés. Visitor information checked October 2026; always confirm details before visiting.
