Greenwich Park Perimeter and One Tree Hill
London
Greenwich Park was the first of London's Royal Parks to be enclosed, in 1433, and dogs must be kept on a lead near its Rose Garden, roads and water, though they can range more freely on the wider grass. Today its 74 hectares form part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The Royal Observatory, founded in 1676, sits on Flamsteed Hill, the highest point in the park, beside the statue of General Wolfe, and the view over the Thames, the Isle of Dogs and the City is one of the best known in London. This 3.5km loop from the Blackheath Avenue car park follows the perimeter, roughly two miles round, then detours up One Tree Hill and past the Observatory before returning along the tree lined avenues. The paths are tarmac and firm gravel, with a steep drop and climb between the upper plateau and the lower park by the river, around 50 metres of ascent in total.
This is a dog friendly walk in a busy city park, and dogs do not need to be on a lead as long as they stay under control. They are not allowed in the Flower Garden, the Wilderness enclosure or the Royal Observatory Garden, and must be on a lead in the Rose Garden, near roads and near water. There is no livestock and the deer that once lived in the Wilderness moved to Richmond Park in 2021. Expect crowds, cyclists and picnickers on sunny weekends. The Pavilion Cafe and several kiosks are inside the park.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.5 km (2.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 10 min
- Walk Type
- Park, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Pavilion Cafe and several kiosks in the park; accessible toilets on The Avenue, at Blackheath Gate and by the playground.
- Parking
- Blackheath Avenue car park, The Royal Parks, pay and display (free for blue badge holders, 4 hour limit). Greenwich station and Cutty Sark DLR are nearby.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Greenwich Park Perimeter and One Tree Hill, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Greenwich Park Perimeter and One Tree Hill dog friendly?
Greenwich Park is a dog-friendly walk, though there are a few areas where dogs aren't permitted, including the Flower Garden, the Wilderness enclosure and the Royal Observatory Garden. It earns a 7 out of 10 on our dog-friendly rating, reflecting the fact that it's a busy city park with some restrictions in place. On the whole, it's a well-suited destination for a dog walk, with 74 hectares to explore and a 3.5km loop taking in some of the best views in London.
Can dogs be off lead at Greenwich Park Perimeter and One Tree Hill?
Dogs don't need to be on a lead across most of the park, provided they stay under control. However, leads are required near the Rose Garden, roads and any water. There's no livestock to worry about, and the deer that previously lived in the Wilderness enclosure moved to Richmond Park in 2021, so that's one less concern for dog owners.
What should I know before visiting Greenwich Park Perimeter and One Tree Hill with my dog?
The route is around 3.5km on tarmac and firm gravel paths, with a steep climb of roughly 50 metres between the lower park and the upper plateau near the Observatory — worth bearing in mind if your dog isn't a fan of hills. On sunny weekends the park gets busy with cyclists and picnickers, so confident recall is useful. There's a Pavilion Cafe and several kiosks inside the park if you need refreshments, and parking is available at the Blackheath Avenue pay and display car park, with Greenwich station and Cutty Sark DLR also nearby.
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