Erith

Erith is on the banks of the River Thames, and a major district centre in the north of the borough.

Located within the Thames Gateway, Erith is the subject of significant regeneration activity by the Council and its partners, with a number of major housing and retail developments recently completed, under construction or at the planning stage.

About Erith

Erith town centre fronts the River Thames in south east London. At one time, it was the site of one of Henry VIII's naval dockyards and grew significantly in the nineteenth century with the coming of the railway.

The town was redeveloped during the 1960s and 1970s but suffered from a decline in surrounding manufacturing industry.

However things are beginning to change in a big way.

Over the last 10 years Erith town has attracted many developments with new retailing, housing and recreational attractions now on offer. In 1999 Morrison's supermarket opened on the fringe of the town centre and was an instant success, drawing people in from as far away as Maidstone.

New housing developments off West Street and James Watt Way are also bringing more people to the locality. The opening of the pier and riverside walks are offering Erith's shoppers a distinctive experience.

An active theatre group, an eight-lane athletics track, a health centre and a brand new swimming pool add to the mix of amenities.

The old 1960s precinct centre has undergone a multi-million pound renovation and extension to provide 80,000 sq ft of new retail floor space, new car parking and residential accommodation in the heart of the new town centre. Shops include Matalan, Wilkinson's and Peacocks, with numerous small retailers providing a wide shopping choice.

A new library is under construction on the High Street and the former police boathouse has been adapted to serve the local rowing club.

In the longer term, a series of developments along the town's riverside are planned to bring forward new leisure, commercial and residential opportunities including a hotel, community facilities and enhanced riverside gardens.

If you think you know Erith, think again. If you haven't been before, come and enjoy a unique town centre!

Public transport and car parking

Erith town centre has a couple of car parks (see right hand menu for further car park information) and is a short walk from Erith railway station. It is also a main stop on many bus routes, including 99, 229, 428, 469, B12 and N89.

Transport for London's spider maps provide clear and up-to-date information on the local bus routes (see right hand menu).

Please note that these maps are designed to be printed for large posters. If you would like to print a small area of a map, select that area (eg. using the snapshot tool in Adobe Reader) and chose to print the selected area.