Severndroog Castle and Tearoom
ENTRY
from £3.50
WHERE
London
What it’s like
A woodland climb up to an octagonal tower, with 86 spiral steps to a viewing platform that shows off London on a clear day.
The big draw here is the climb. Get to the top of Severndroog Castle and you're looking out over London from a proper 360-degree viewing platform, with binoculars you can borrow if you haven't brought your own. It's 86 steps up a narrow spiral staircase to get there, which is a fair old trek with a small kid on your hip, and it's only open to the public on Sundays between 10am and 3pm, last entry 2.45pm. Miss that window and you're not getting up the tower this visit.
Downstairs there's more to see: the castle rooms themselves, and woods and trails around the building that are free to wander whether you've paid for the tower or not. The tea room doesn't need a ticket at all, so if the viewing platform's shut or you've got a toddler who's had enough of stairs, you can still turn up, sit in the courtyard or inside the castle, and get cake. They do vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options too.
Admission for the castle and platform is £5 for an adult and £3.50 for a child aged 5 to 15, or £12.50 for a family of up to five with two adults, which feels reasonable for a National Trust-style day out. There's an annual pass if you reckon you'll come back, and at £50 for a family it pays for itself after a handful of visits.
Worth flagging: the building's currently under structural investigation, with engineers monitoring some cracks, and the platform can close in bad weather regardless of the day. Wheelchair users won't get up the tower because of the spiral stairs, and even the ground floor tea room needs four steps with a handrail. Dogs on leads are welcome in the tea room and courtyard, and there's a local authority car park about 200 metres away if you're driving.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Kids old enough to manage 86 spiral steps for the view
- Last entry
- 2:45pm (Viewing Platform Sunday)
- Parking
- Local authority car park around 200 metres away at SE18 3RU
- Food
- Independent tea room with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free options
- Wheelchairs
- Not suitable for wheelchair users due to 86-step spiral staircase
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome in tea room and courtyard during opening hours
- Getting there by bus or train
- Closest station is Woolwich (trains and Elizabeth Line), then 244 bus to Memorial Hospital (5-min walk)
- Worth knowing
- Annual Pass valid for repeated entry free of additional charge for one year from date of purchase
- The viewing platform is Sunday-only for the public; group visits can be arranged Thursday or Friday
- The building's under structural investigation with engineers keeping an eye on cracks
- You don't need a ticket for the tea room, only for the castle and platform
- Baby change and high chairs are available if you're bringing a little one for cake rather than the climb
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£5 for an adult, £3.50 for a child aged 5 to 15, £4 concession. A family ticket for up to five people with two adults is £12.50.
Do we need to book?
There's nothing to say you need a booking for general admission, but the viewing platform only opens to the public on Sundays.
When can we go up the viewing platform?
Sundays only, 10am to 3pm, with last entry at 2.45pm. Groups can arrange Thursday or Friday visits instead.
Is the tea room open other days?
Yes, Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 3.30pm, and you don't need a ticket to visit it.
Is it suitable for a pushchair or wheelchair?
The viewing platform isn't, since it's 86 steps up a narrow spiral staircase. The ground floor tea room is reached by four steps with a handrail either side.
What if the weather's bad?
The viewing platform may close in adverse weather, so a Sunday trip up top isn't guaranteed even if the tea room stays open.
Is there parking?
A local authority car park sits about 200 metres away at SE18 3RU. Check the gate times, as it opens and closes seasonally.
What's the food like?
It's an independent tea room with cakes, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus a water refill station.
Are dogs allowed?
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the tea room and courtyard during opening hours, and assistance dogs are allowed throughout.
Is there an annual pass?
£25 for an adult, £17.50 for a child and £50 for a family, giving you repeat entry free for a year.
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