How long is the Woolwich: the Arsenal and the river walk?

About 4.5 km — roughly 80 minutes at an unhurried pace, plus however long you linger.

Where does it start and end?

It starts at Woolwich Arsenal and ends at Woolwich Arsenal.

Yes. It's a self-guided route — free to follow, with no guide to book and nothing to pay.

heritageriverside

Woolwich: the Arsenal and the river

The former armaments factory, the first free cross-river ferry, and the regeneration that came last.

Distance

4.5 km

Time

~ 80 min

Difficulty

Moderate

Start

Woolwich Arsenal

End

Woolwich Arsenal

Best at

afternoon

Right now

17°C· Partly cloudy

12 nearby transit lines disrupted — Bakerloo, Central.

Open in Maps for turn-by-turn, or take it offline as GPX.

Woolwich is what most of the Thames Estuary settlements looked like before the property money arrived. The Royal Arsenal — 300 acres of Georgian and Victorian armaments factory — has been converted to apartments without losing its industrial grandeur: the main gate is 1829, the proof house is 1717, and you can walk the internal streets between them.

The Woolwich Free Ferry has been crossing the Thames at this point since 1889. Take it to North Woolwich and back — twenty minutes, free, and the best way to see this part of the river. The Elizabeth line has made Woolwich suddenly central; the streets around the market haven't caught up yet, which is in its favour.

The route

On the map.

A soft dashed line, numbered stops. It’s a suggestion, not a turn-by-turn.

Elevation

↑ 28 m·↓ 25 m·1–22 m ASL

Stops along the way

Things to notice.

1
Woolwich Arsenal station
The Elizabeth line makes Woolwich 25 minutes from Paddington. Come out and walk toward the river — the Arsenal buildings begin immediately.
Photo: mattbuck (category) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
01
Woolwich Arsenal station
The Elizabeth line makes Woolwich 25 minutes from Paddington. Come out and walk toward the river — the Arsenal buildings begin immediately.
2
Royal Arsenal
The old munitions factory, in continuous use from 1696 to 1967. The Georgian and Victorian buildings are now apartments, restaurants, and the Firepower Museum. Walk through the gated streets.
Photo: "Fin Fahey" / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.5
02
Royal Arsenal
The old munitions factory, in continuous use from 1696 to 1967. The Georgian and Victorian buildings are now apartments, restaurants, and the Firepower Museum. Walk through the gated streets.
03
3
Woolwich Free Ferry
Running since 1889, still free, still a vehicle and foot passenger ferry. The twenty-minute crossing to North Woolwich is worth doing just for the Thames experience.
03
Woolwich Free Ferry
Running since 1889, still free, still a vehicle and foot passenger ferry. The twenty-minute crossing to North Woolwich is worth doing just for the Thames experience.
4
Waterfront
The new riverside development east of the ferry terminal. The riverside walk continues east; the view of the Thames Barrier visible from the path.
Photo: Kleon3 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
04
Waterfront
The new riverside development east of the ferry terminal. The riverside walk continues east; the view of the Thames Barrier visible from the path.
5
Woolwich market
The indoor and outdoor market on General Gordon Square is one of the last functioning general markets in outer London. Saturdays are the best day.
Photo: Kleon3 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
05
Woolwich market
The indoor and outdoor market on General Gordon Square is one of the last functioning general markets in outer London. Saturdays are the best day.

Good to know

Before you go.

How long is the Woolwich: the Arsenal and the river walk?: About 4.5 km — roughly 80 minutes at an unhurried pace, plus however long you linger.
Where does it start and end?: It starts at Woolwich Arsenal and ends at Woolwich Arsenal.
Is it free?: Yes. It's a self-guided route — free to follow, with no guide to book and nothing to pay.
When is it best?: It's best in the afternoon.

Woolwich: the Arsenal and the river

On the map.

Things to notice.

Woolwich Arsenal station

Woolwich Arsenal station

Royal Arsenal

Royal Arsenal

Woolwich Free Ferry

Woolwich Free Ferry

Waterfront

Waterfront

Woolwich market

Woolwich market

Before you go.

Two more, on similar days.

Greenwich: the Observatory to the O2

Wapping: the riverside village