Description
Eltham Park South is on land that was once part of Colonel J T North's estate at Avery Hill. It was acquired in 1902 by the LCC after North's death in 1896 and laid out for public recreation. Eltham Park North was provided in 1929, the two parks divided by the railway and now also by the Eltham Relief Road, access between the two via a pedestrian footbridge. Trees include a clump of oaks and an avenue of horse chestnuts from the footbridge south, with some paths having avenues of trees. Eltham Park Lido opened in 1924 and was a popular facility but was closed in 1988. It has now been demolished and grassed over.
Practical Information
| Site location | Glenesk Road/ footpath from Riefield Road, Eltham |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE9 1AN |
| What3Words | ///marble.bravo.fires |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Greenwich |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Tennis courts, football, playground, toilets. Permissive bridleway |
| Public Transport | Rail: Falconwood. Bus: B16. |
| Research Updated | 1 December 2006 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Eltham Park South is on land that was once part of Colonel J T North's estate at Avery Hill (q.v.) After North's death in 1896 the land remained in private ownership of the Cameron Corbet Development Company until 1902 when it was purchased by Woolwich Borough Council and the London County Council for a public park. Facilities including tennis courts, a putting green, a children's playground, and an open-air pool were added although the park is dominated by playing fields and is largely grass with perimeter and other paths. Eltham Park Lido opened on 26 April 1924, a joint venture of the LCC and Woolwich BC, costing £7,700 to construct with a pool of 150 x 60 feet. In 1936 new changing facilities and diving boards were added, designed by the Borough Engineer. It was a popular facility that was open all year round. It was used by the Eltham Training and Swimming Club, which undertook long distance swimming including Cross Channel events. The lido continued to be run by the GLC until 1986 and it was then passed to Greenwich Council, who in 1988 made the decision to close it as a result of spending cuts. There were attempts made by local campaigners to re-open it in the 1990s, who set up a charity called SPLASH for the purpose. A proposal to create an indoor tennis centre on the site also failed and the lido was eventually demolished and the site grassed over.
The park is separated from Eltham Park North (q.v.) by the railway and now also by the Eltham Relief Road, and access between the two parks is via a pedestrian bridge. There is a group of oaks left as a clump and an avenue of horse chestnuts from the footbridge south, with some paths having avenues of trees. The Glenesk Road boundary is bordered by limes with some planting of shrubs along the northern boundary. An area near the playground is on undulating ground where conifers have been planted. A pleasant C20th brick and tile pavilion located by the tennis courts provides toilets and changing room. Part of the London Cycle Network runs through the park.
The park is separated from Eltham Park North (q.v.) by the railway and now also by the Eltham Relief Road, and access between the two parks is via a pedestrian bridge. There is a group of oaks left as a clump and an avenue of horse chestnuts from the footbridge south, with some paths having avenues of trees. The Glenesk Road boundary is bordered by limes with some planting of shrubs along the northern boundary. An area near the playground is on undulating ground where conifers have been planted. A pleasant C20th brick and tile pavilion located by the tennis courts provides toilets and changing room. Part of the London Cycle Network runs through the park.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ436750 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 16.79 |
| Site Ownership | RB Greenwich |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces Department; Friends of Eltham Parks |
| Dates | 1902/3 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Greenwich |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Special Character of Metropolitan Importance |
| Other LA Designation | Green Chain (Green Chain Walk) |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Eltham Park North was once part of the estate of Avery Hill and was acquired by the LCC in 1929/30 for public open space. To the south is an earlier LCC park, Eltham Park South, accessed from a pedestrian footbridge over the railway and Eltham Relief Road that separates the two park. In 1936 Shepherdleas Wood was added to the park, a large tract of native oak woodland, which is part of the ancient Shooters Hill Woodlands. In the centre of the park is Long Pond, surrounded by willows and ornamental shrubs.
Eltham Cemetery opened in 1935 laid out as a regimented grid of plots with trees planted along the paths and around the boundary. To the south is a more wooded area with numerous mature trees and grassland. In 1956 Eltham Crematorium was added in the eastern section, with a Remembrance Chapel designed as a tiny replica of Liverpool's Roman Catholic Cathedral. To the east is a large landscaped Garden of Remembrance, planted with many trees, shrubs, paths, a pergola walk and lake with small waterfall. A series of Memorial Courts were opened in 1996.
Avery Hill was a late Victorian Italianate villa built for Colonel John Thomas North in c.1888 with fine gardens and an enormous conservatory where he housed his winter garden. North initially rented the estate and 20 acres of land but by 1891 had expanded it to over 270 ha, which included much of what is now Shooters Hill Woodlands, and it was used partly for shooting and some let for farming. On his death in 1896 the estate was auctioned, much of it eventually purchased by the LCC, part becoming Avery Hill Park. From 1906 the mansion was used as a college of education, Avery Hill College. The well-stocked Winter Garden is open to the public, and to the west are terraced flower gardens.
