The Clooper Guide To Woolwich
Woolwich might not be a name that you’re familiar with, but it definitely should be!
Sitting on the riverside is a London locale that’s been given a new lease of life through recent developments. Once quite a quiet, unassuming place to live, Woolwich is quickly becoming one of the more favourable places to live in London.
PROPERTIES AND PRICES
TO BUY: As we stated, Woolwich is an up and coming area. This is often reflected in the prices, without boosting them to be too unaffordable. There are various small flats available for around the £99,000 – £200,000 mark. There are also houses available for significantly higher prices, and even bungalows available usually starting at around £500,000.
TO RENT: Again, as this is a freshly popular area, there is demand for renting as well as purchasing properties. Flatshares typically start at around £700 per month because of this reason. Studio apartments usually cost anywhere from £1000 per month & upwards, with apartments being much the same.
TO STAY: Typically, luxury serviced apartments in Woolwich and the surrounding area start at around £130 per night. You can browse through some of our available properties here.
GREEN SPACES
Woolwich is a very aesthetically pleasing place. There is much greenery to be found, and wide-open spaces available to roam. This locale tends to be quite popular with young families especially, due to the opportunities for enrichment and outside play for children.
Woolwich Arsenal Park is a local favourite. It’s a grass common sporting lush greenery, various sitting areas to catch up with friends or host a picnic, and even a large billboard. On this billboard, you can sometimes catch the news! Locals praise it for being a lovely community melting pot. There’s even a small fountain attraction. While there’s no play area or sporting areas, this green space is still worth a visit for its relaxing appeal alone.
Another popular choice is Woolwich Common. Many praise it for being a slice of countryside, a circular path surrounded by high bushes and trees, hidden away from busy roads and huge crowds. It’s very popular with dog walkers for this reason. Not only this, Woolwich Common sometimes hosts a funfair for the family to enjoy! There are even fresh milkshakes available now and then. We’d visit just for those alone! If you tire of wandering the paths, you can make your way to Shooters Hill, to sit for a while and take in the London skyline.
Our final recommendation is Maryon Park. This park is another hidden gem, much like locals claim Woolwich Common to be. Maryon Park is more family-oriented in that it offers a playground, as well as ample space to kick a football around. This park also sports ( if you’ll mind the pun ) its own tennis and basketball courts.
THINGS TO DO
Woolwich is a very quaint locale, with many independently-owned stores and restaurants, and a real community-driven feel. Here are some recommendations from its locals. Plus a few that we’d recommend, and are even keen to visit ourselves!
- Shooters Hill Golf Club is an incredibly well cared for golf course. It’s so visually stunning and lushly green that it’s easy to forget you’re in a central London location.
- The ExCel Centre can be found in Woolwich. If you’re a comics fan you’ll already know that this is a popular location for ComicCon, so having it on your doorstep would surely come in handy.
- The Cutty Sark is not far, with Greenwich neighbouring Woolwich you can visit this nautical attraction and its homely pub with ease.
- Zerodegrees Microbrewery is a restaurant and bar that brews its own beer. How’s that for authenticity?
- The British Museum itself isn’t far; the museum is also largely free for entry save for specific exhibitions. There’s also a souvenir shop, restaurant and various small coffee bars.
- St Georges Garrison Church is a partially conserved ruin and it is truly a lovely sight. You can find art and architectural beauty alike within its crumbled walls.
AMENITIES
As we stated, Woolwich is a melting pot of many different cultures. There also seems to be a highlight on sport in the area, with many gyms and a popular leisure centre available. All this as well as the outside sporting areas of course.
There are two retail parks to choose from. Stone Lake Retail Park is popular for its large B&M, Currys and Bensons Beds. Locals often praise the shops, especially for their lovely staff and clean interiors. One notable point is that the car park has a very short time limit, which locals have voiced their concern with. We suppose it’s good that there’s another option nearby!
Greenwich Shopping Park has considerably more shops to choose from. The parking stay is also longer, which allows for more time spent in said shops. Here you can find many popular chain brand stores and also restaurants. There is a Frankie & Bennys, a Homesense, a Lidl, a Poundland and a Starbucks Coffee simply to name a few. As well as the larger shopping malls, Woolwich has its fair share of Sainsbury Locals and Tesco Expresses. There are also many corner stores and grocery stores, often with halal options available.
SCHOOLS
Woolwich is again a popular choice for young families. Its plentiful outdoor spaces and a wide variety of amenities are appealing enough in themselves. There is also the added appeal of Woolwich’s superb schools.
In and around the area, many primary and secondary schools alike have received an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. Some to name are Eastcote Primary Academy, Bexley Day Nursery, and Britannia Village Primary School. There are also further education opportunities in The Woolwich College, London, and the London College of Engineering and Management (LCEM).
Looking for something even more central? Why not try Oxford Circus?
