The Petts Wood and Hawkwood estates in outer Southeast London are favourite open spaces of mine. They are not parkland, but a piece of deep rural countryside, albeit lying entirely within Greater London. They are managed by the National Trust. It has a large area of woodland, fields and even and a farm, served by a network of paths. A circuit of the Hawkwood estate and Petts Wood takes a fairly relaxed 90 minutes. Leaflet maps are usually available from a dispenser. Two granite obelisk memorials can be found hidden in Petts Wood woodland. The first is dedicated to William Willet, who campaigned for British Summer Time; the second to Colonel Francis Edlmann, who saved woodland from housing development. This was later bequeathed to the National Trust. The nearest stations are Chislehurst and Petts Wood.

Delightful, quiet place with plenty to observe and nothing whatsoever in terms of amusements. If you're after fun and entertaining forest walkabout, just go to Kew Gardens or something. Petts Wood is more suitable to stick your eyes onto the crooked branch and freeze, pondering the lives of bugs and leaves for 45 minutes, hardly moving a muscle. The place is full of bona-fide wildlife, various living and dead junk and forms of mushroom gorging on dead matter and drizzle regularly falling from above.

It’s a bit abandoned and tracks are not always clear. However it a good walk and immersion in the nature. It worth going only if you are in the area.Great location for walks, very close to Croydon, Addington, Bromley! Our girls absolutely loved it! We have parked on the street (free) a l tittle bit further than the post code shows on the web. From that point there was 3 minutes walk to park entrance.

We are retired (in 70s) and this was our first visit. Its an easy walk and the place is superb. However, we have two major issues. 1. The map machine was jammed and it was impossible to work out the routes from the signposts. Not much info. 2. No toilets !!!!!. We were in agony and had to curtail our visit! PLEASE take note because the place is terrific!

An excellent wood managed by national trust. It’s a great place to have a relaxing walk. The area is huge, there are three recommended routes: green, orange and red. You can follow the map to have a better walking experience. No charge. No entry barriers. Open 24 hours a day. You can park your car at Hazelmere road for free (street parking).

A beautiful woodland to explore and connect with nature. I parked at the car park on St Paul's Wood Hill (free). Being owned by National Trust the woodland is very clean with well defined paths and information boards. Popular with dog walkers, runners and the odd cyclist. Hidden in the woods are a couple of historic monuments.

A beautiful woodland experience with great trails, wildlife and fungi. Would definitely return for another enjoyable ramble in the countryside. Conveniently close to London. No parking on site and no looks so be prepared. Benches dotted around for a nice packed lunch.

Great walk for those who like it as easygoing as myself. Parked in St Paul’s Wood car park for free, google maps shows it rather well but the area itself has no directions to the car park so do keep your eyes peeled as it’s just off of St Paul’s Wood Hill.

Great location for walks, very close to Croydon, Addington, Bromley! Our girls absolutely loved it! We have parked on the street (free) a l tittle bit further than the post code shows on the web. From that point there was 3 minutes walk to park entrance.

Beautiful forest Park... felt like I wasn't in London and more in the countryside. Really enjoyed it... you will if you like somewhere peaceful and quiet and beautiful.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Amazing greenery and excellent place especially for kids. I think there are three entrances so depending on where are you coming from, there are plenty of free street parking. Great to have such a massive wood in Zone 5 of London area.

Acres of woodland that make it a joy to get lost in. Conservation area also includes farmland. This is somewhere where you can truly get away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours. Quiet, secluded and devoted to nature.

A lovely green tranquil place to have a walk. It gets really muddy in the rain. You can spot a lot of unique mushrooms. Good for dog walks.
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Lovely place to go for a walk with family and friends. During lockdown, I visited them multiple times for fresh air, nice walks and a bike ride through the woods. Would recommend this place to anyone with dogs and children.

Lovely walk through here from Chislehurst station connecting through to Scadbury Park. Picked up a useful leaflet containing a map halfway along the path aswell full of interesting information.

Nice woods and a farm to walk in. Not like other National Trust attractions, it is just a local woods area.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Large uncrowded and well maintained paths. Dog owners are friendly and considerate iro dog waste. Plenty of seats along the main routes.
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait

An excellent place for countryside walks, it offers a variety of easy and scenic routes, some paths could be quite muddy, so proper walking shoes or wellies are needed!

Lovely woods for a stroll. Lots of space to social distance and so many paths to choose. You could spend hours walking around. Thoroughly recommend …

A beautiful gem of a woodland in SE London. Tranquil and peaceful
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

It’s a bit abandoned and tracks are not always clear. However it a good walk and immersion in the nature. It worth going only if you are in the area.

Lovely place to relax and unwind. No facilities so you'll have to plan your visit especially with young ones, but lots to explore and see.

Beautiful and quiet woodland area to walk
Visited on
Weekend
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
Not sure

Spent 3 days surveying for OPM. Nice place for a walk, just not when you have to walk through the undergrowth rather than the paths.

Went for a bike ride not to busy so I could pick up speed with a mix of wide paths and some narrow proper though the woods paths

A lot of rain recently... Was quite boggy... Lovely to see all the different birds and the bulbs starting to come through...

I visited here in May 2022 as part of walking the London Loop route around London. This is a nice woodland area to explore.

Just the prettiest spot of woodland with glorious Heather patches, Rhododendron walks and access to Hawkswood and Scadbury

Walked through the forest. So quiet
Visited on
Weekday
Wait time
No wait
Reservation recommended
No

Went for a broke ride here, amazing trails, some small jumps and varied terrain and Rhoderdendrums in bloom, fantastic!

A glorious, well managed, not too busy wood. Fallen trees for kids, streams, wide paths and bluebells. Gorgeous.

Love walking here with the dog. You completely forget that you are just outside London. Peaceful and relaxing

Very quickly feel immersed in the woods. Good variety of paths so you can take different routes each time.

Small wood and we can always hear the trains not far away. Good side of it is that it is close to London.

A hidden gem I did not know existed. Beautiful walk and you would not know you were in an urban area.

Fabulous for a lovely stroll with the dog. Also found a pair of womens sunglasses on my route.

Great place to walk with dogs. Also great for kids to run around. There is a sun watch there!

Lovely nature spot, with plenty of trails through woods and the adjacent farmland

Beautiful and calm place to go for a walk, have a picnic and capture some photos.

A beautiful peaceful wood for walking, running and even horse riding through.

Simply love here! Very green, well preserved, nice place to go with family!

Plenty of paths and woods to explore. We will be back there again for sure

Lovely woodland for kids to explore nature, climb, walk and search fungi.

It's lovely piece of woodland. Great for a quiet walk with dogs or kids.

Lovely walks beautiful scenery and the I'd pokemon well worth a trip out

Amazing place with hidden gems all over love it there my dog adores it.

Stunning country land nestled in the suburbs of south east London.

Feel the air and keeping walking through the lush green woods.

Lovely, well marked rambling paths.

Great for dog walks