Blackheath Common

Blackheath Common, to the south of Greenwich Park, is a World Heritage Site. It benefits from a high vantage point beside the Thames so you get some good views over the capital and from Point Hill you can see the three counties of Essex, Kent and Surrey laid out before you. There are four ponds on the site with the Hare and Billet pond having the most natural appearance. Once heathland covered with gorse, the area takes on a more managed appearance although wild flowers are still encouraged to grow. It's also steeped in history. King Henry V met Londoners here returning from his triumph at Agincourt and Wat Tyler's band of rebels grouped here during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Dick Turpin was among the highwaymen who used to prey on passengers travelling from London to Dover. The heath has a long history of hosting fairs and community gatherings, a tradition which continues to this day. Free firework displays take place each November alongside annual kite-flying festivals earlier in the year. As anyone who's braved the London marathon will know, the heath is the starting point for the annual 25-mile challenge.