Woolwich, England

Woolwich
Beresford Square market with Royal Arsenal Gatehouse (left) and Crossrail development in the background
Woolwich
Woolwich shown within Greater London
Population	143,728 (Woolwich Common, Woolwich Riverside, Plumstead and Glyndon wards 2011)
OS grid reference	TQ435795
• Charing Cross	8.5 mi (13.7 km) WNW
London borough	Greenwich
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SE18
Dialling code	020

Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London

EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Greenwich and Woolwich
London Assembly	Greenwich and Lewisham
List of places UK England London 51°29′17″N 0°03′47″E / 51.488°N 0.063°E / 51.488; 0.063Coordinates: 51°29′17″N 0°03′47″E / 51.488°N 0.063°E / 51.488; 0.063

Woolwich (/ˈwʊlɪtʃ/ or /ˈwʊlɪdʒ/ WOUL-ich) is a district of south-east London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Originally a town in Kent, it has been part of the London metropolitan area since the 19th century. In 1965, most of the former Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich became part of Greenwich Borough, of which it remains the administrative centre.

The town is a river crossing point, with the Woolwich Ferry and the Woolwich foot tunnel crossing to North Woolwich in the London Docklands. Throughout the 17th, 18th, 19th and most of the 20th century, Woolwich was an important naval, military and industrial town. After several decades of economic hardship and social deprivation, large-scale urban renewal projects have turned its fortunes around. It is expected that the town, identified in the London Plan as "opportunity area", will evolve from "major centre" to "metropolitan centre" within Greater London in the next few decades.