Hidden in South East London, Avery Hill awaits discovery. Avery Hill is mainly within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Some parts reside in the London Borough of Bexley. It sits east of Eltham and northwest of Sidcup. The name “Avery Hill” likely comes from a former aviary in the area.
Avery Hill House is a key feature. John Thomas North, a wealthy businessman, built this palatial dwelling. He made his fortune in Chile’s sodium nitrate trade. After North’s death, the London County Council acquired the house in 1902. The grounds were expanded to create Avery Hill Park in 1903.
In 1906, North’s house transformed into Avery Hill College of Education. Two neighboring buildings were later incorporated. Within a year, it became the LCC’s largest training college. It trained over 15,000 teachers in 79 years. In 1985, the college merged with Thames Polytechnic. It was renamed the University of Greenwich in 1993. The university has facilities at the nearby Southwood site too. The university planned to leave the Mansion site in summer 2020.
Don’t miss the Winter Garden. It’s the second-largest Victorian glasshouse in the UK after Kew Gardens’ Temperate House. It was part of an extensive garden arrangement. This garden was one of the most expensive ever constructed for a private house in England. In the early 21st century, the Winter Garden declined. A campaign began to restore it. The goal was to protect the Mansion’s heritage. This effort aimed to make it open to the public.
Avery Hill Park is a public park open 24/7. Since 2010, the park has hosted a Parkrun on Saturdays. Avery Hill Park has won the Green Flag Award.
The park offers lots of space for ball games. You can find a hard standing, floodlit multi-use games area here. There is also an outdoor gym. The Royal Borough of Greenwich installed it as part of the Olympic legacy. Outdoor table tennis tables were funded by the English Table Tennis Association. A cafe with public toilets sits in the park. It is next to the children’s playground.
Cricket and football pitches are available for hire. Changing facilities are provided for formal sports matches. The London Cycle Network has funded a shared cycle and pedestrian route. This route runs around the park’s perimeter. The Green Chain Walk also runs through the park.
Getting here is easy. Falconwood and New Eltham are the closest National Rail stations. Several TFL bus routes serve Avery Hill. These include routes 132, 162, 286, B13, B15, and N21. Avery Hill borders several areas. These include Falconwood, Blackfen, Sidcup, New Eltham, and Eltham. Avery Hill offers a blend of history, education, and recreation.