{"id":19606,"date":"2020-09-15T11:00:50","date_gmt":"2020-09-15T10:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=19606"},"modified":"2021-06-01T00:09:14","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T23:09:14","slug":"green-spaces-trees-parks-tunnel-and-stunning-london-vistas-a-walk-from-blackheath-to-greenwich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/green-spaces-trees-parks-tunnel-and-stunning-london-vistas-a-walk-from-blackheath-to-greenwich\/","title":{"rendered":"Green spaces, parks, a foot tunnel and stunning views: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-01.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For such a short walk (around 6.5k\/4 miles), this south-east London stroll offers a lot of variety, with magnificent views, plenty of greenery and even a walk through a foot tunnel under the River Thames.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-02.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The walk started at Blackheath station, which is a short train ride from London Bridge station.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s plenty of things of interest around the town, but today we headed straight for the open spaces of the heath.<\/p>\n<p>Above can be seen <a title=\"All Saints' Blackheath\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/All_Saints%27_Blackheath\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">All Saints&#8217; Church<\/a>,\u00a0 which was designed by the architect Benjamin Ferrey in 1857.<\/p>\n<p>Its tower is named the Needle of Kent on account of its tall, thin spire (it also goes under the names of the Devil&#8217;s Pick or the Devil&#8217;s Toothpick).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-03.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The wide open spaces of the heath makes it popular with kite flyers, with some whizzing about on wheels.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-06.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Multiple modes of transport happening in Greenwich Park, which is directly opposite the heath.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-04.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The hexagonal Greenwich Park Bandstand regularly hosts concerts in the summer.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-05.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Dancers on the bandstand.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-07.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Acorn&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-08.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It was a beautiful late summer afternoon.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-09.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There are some stunning old trees in the park.\u00a0 This was my favourite.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-10.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-11.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When you reach the middle of the park, you can enjoy some stunning views across London.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-12.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking north to the City of London.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-13.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-14.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/in-photos-river-walk-from-north-greenwich-to-the-thames-barrier-via-the-o2-millennium-dome\/\">Millennium Dome\/O2<\/a> which I visited a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-15.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Old and new.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-16.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Queen&#8217;s House, a <span style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">16th century mansion now used to display items from the National Maritime Museum&#8217;s collection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-17.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-18.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Taking in the sunshine in Greenwich Park.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-19.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Site of the Prime Meridian by Flamsteed House.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-20.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rmg.co.uk\/explore\/greenwich-time-ball-and-one-time-all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Greenwich Time Bal<\/a>l sits on the roof of Flamsteed House &#8211; installed in 1833 and still in use today, the ball is used to tell passing ships the time:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Each day, at 12.55, the time ball rises half way up its mast. At 12.58 it rises all the way to the top.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>At 13.00 exactly, the ball falls, and so provides a signal to anyone who happens to be looking.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Time Ball drops at 13.00 GMT during the winter months and 13.00 BST during the summer. Please note: the time ball will not be run if the weather is too windy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-21.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-23.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Greenwich Boating Lake.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-22.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Dog enjoys a swim.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-24.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Maritime Museum views.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-25.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-26.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-27.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking towards the river.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-28.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the men&#8217;s loos at the Trafalgar pub there&#8217;s a wonderful collection of original artwork for pub signs.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-29.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>By the river.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-30.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sunset over the Thames.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-31.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-32.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-33.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Photographing the sunset.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-34.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-35.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-36.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On the &#8216;beach.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-37.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-38.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Railings reflecting the dying light.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-39.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sunlight and lamps.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-40.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We decided to take a stroll through the Greenwich foot tunnel and back.<\/p>\n<p>As is often the case, the lifts weren&#8217;t walking, so pedestrians had\u00a0 to walk down the 100 steps on the south tower, and then up 87 steps at the other end.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-43.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The tunnel was designed by civil engineer Sir Alexander Binnie and opened on 4 August 1902.<\/p>\n<p>It replaced an expensive and sometimes unreliable ferry service allowing workers living south of the Thames to reach their workplaces in the London docks and shipyards in or near the Isle of Dogs.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-42.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greenwich_foot_tunnel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wikipedia<\/a> has the facts:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The entrance shafts at both ends are beneath glazed domes. Lifts, installed in 1904, were upgraded in 1992 and again in 2012, and helical staircases allow pedestrians to access the sloping, tile-lined tunnel.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The cast-iron tunnel is 1,215 feet (370.2 m) long, 50 feet (15.2 m) deep[2] and has an internal diameter of about 9 feet (2.74 m).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The cast-iron rings are coated with concrete and surfaced with some 200,000 white glazed tiles.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-41.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The northern end was damaged by bombs during the Second World War and repairs included a thick steel and concrete inner lining that reduces the diameter substantially for a short distance.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-44.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-45.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The sun sets over The Shard.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/images\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-46.jpg\" alt=\"Open spaces and stunning London vistas: a walk from Blackheath to Greenwich\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A last view taken at Greenwich railway station.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For such a short walk (around 6.5k\/4 miles), this south-east London stroll offers a lot of variety, with magnificent views, plenty of greenery and even a walk through a foot &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":19607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1765,194,456,17,193],"tags":[2331,1426,132,2330,2329,10,2332,18,1195,1151,21],"class_list":["post-19606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-london-features","category-news","category-photos","category-places","tag-blackheath","tag-free","tag-greenwich","tag-greenwich-foot-tunnel","tag-greenwich-park","tag-london","tag-london-walk","tag-photography","tag-photos","tag-walk","tag-walks"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/blackheath-greenwich-walk-01.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-56e","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19606"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19611,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19606\/revisions\/19611"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}