Visit
Fancy a guided tour to make the most of your visit?
Ancient Woodland
Lesnes Abbey Woods park has around 73 hectares (180 acres) of ancient woodland, an arboretum containing over sixty species of tree and the ruins of an abbey founded in 1178. Located in the north west of the London Borough of Bexley, the park is on the border with Greenwich and just a ten minute walk from Abbey Wood station which is served by Network Rail, the Elizabeth Line and many bus routes.
Beautifully Wild
The woods hold two records: having the largest population of wild daffodils in London and the most fossil-filled fossil pit in London too. Spread across a hillside cut by dry valleys, the woods offer interesting undulating paths with a variety of habitats. The wild flowers are in fenced-off areas to protect them and look their best from February to April. Individuals and families can dig for sharks teeth in the fossil pit without booking, but groups must contact the Lodge. There is a heathland clearing at the highest point which looks similar to how the highland would have looked hundreds of years ago when deer were grazing here. There is a bronze age burial mound, or tumulus, as well, indicating that the area has been a popular place to live for millennia. Within the woods you can find a chalk quarry (entry not permitted due to the danger of old dene holes), and a pond fed by springs that was the old abbey reservoir.
The Abbey of St. Mary and Thomas the Martyr
The abbey ruins may not be as tall as some, but the floor plan is very complete and having been a farm for hundreds of years it fortunately escaped development. You can wander through the various rooms where Augustinian canons prayed for the salvation of humanity eight times every day until its dissolution in 1525. Established by Richard de Luci in 1178, once called the most powerful man in England, the abbey was monumental. The church was very slightly larger than Rochester Cathedral and would have looked very similar. Its tower was 20 metres high and would have been a landmark for ships sailing up the Thames for 350 years.
Fossil Trees and Native Trees
The arboretum is between the Monk's Garden and New Road, but there are many interesting trees throughout the grass and meadowed area. The garden provides dog-free grassy areas for children to play in as well as an interesting garden of herbs and plants used for natural dyes.
Directions
Lesnes Abbey Woods are situated at the foot of New Road and along Abbey Road close to Abbey Wood village and the railway and underground station served by SouthEastern, Thameslink, and Elizabeth Line trains. Buses 301, 469, and B11 stop in New Road, bus 229 stops in Abbey Road, and bus 472 stops in Gayton Road. Other options are bus 99 which stops in Woolwich Road (at the top end of the woods) and buses 180 and 244 which stop by Abbey Wood station.
If walking from the station it will take about 10 minutes to get to the woods and ruins. If you go the the main exit above the track where the ticket office and WH Smith shop are, leave the station, keep right and go down some stairs or use the lifts. At the bottom walk past the Abbey Arms pub and a row of shops to a junction where there is a pedestrian crossing. Cross the road and go left (east) under the flyover and along Abbey Road. After 5 minutes turn right up New Road and keep on the left-hand side. In a few minutes you will see a sign to Lesnes Abbey Woods on your left with a gate framed with a sculpture.
There is very limited on-street parking available at weekends on Abbey Road and New Road, and it may be very difficult to find a space. We recommend that you leave your car at home if possible. There is a pay car park next to Abbey Wood station under the Harrow Manorway flyover and also in Felixstowe Road.
We strongly recommend you use the Google map opposite to locate us and get directions by car or public transport.