Group or Private Tours
Bring friends, a club or a work group on a date of your own.
A tour just for your group
Have Crossness to yourselves. One of our knowledgeable guides takes your friends, family, club or work group through the story of the Great Stink and the engines built to save London.
Visits are arranged in advance and can run in the morning, afternoon or evening. We welcome groups of any size. Larger parties can be split between two or more guides so everyone can hear and see.
Prices
Tours last about two to three hours. Tell us if you need a shorter visit.
| Group size | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 8 people | £200 |
| 9–19 people | £25 per person |
| 20 people or more | £22.50 per person |
What’s included
- Tea, coffee and biscuits
- A short talk or film on the sanitation crisis that led to Crossness
- A guided tour of the site and the historic engines
Accessibility
Most of the tour is step-free. The upper floor of the Beam Engine House has steep stairs. We can show that floor on a screen and we can build in seating and breaks. Tell us about access needs when you enquire. See Accessibility.
Preparing for your visit
- Dress for the weather. It is a draughty Victorian building and parts of the tour are outside.
- Wear flat shoes. The upper Beam Engine House floor is perforated iron and is not suitable for heels.
- We confirm arrival, parking and the programme by email. Coach and minibus parking is available by arrangement. See Getting Here on this page.
Optional extras
- RANG railway: Usually available on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Ask when you book.
- Cold buffet at Crossness: sandwiches, salads, cakes and fruit, £17.50 per person.
- Lunch nearby: we can help you book Thamesmead Social, a lakeside café.
- Extended day: add a two-hour tour of Thamesmead and 12th-century Lesnes Abbey for £10 per person extra. Lunch is arranged separately.
What groups say
“The tour guide was so informative, precise with dates and facts, and illustrating the history and functions, it kept everyone in the party rapt and attentive. His enthusiasm, willingness to make tea, take money was all noted, and before we departed, I commented that he must be a true ambassador for Crossness, as he certainly made our visit so memorable and interesting!” — Chris, Stour Valley U3A
“Our tour leader was a brilliant guide; I’ve led our history group since 2018 and he is in the top three of guides we’ve had in the time. Enthusiastic, passionate, knowledgeable and engaging, what more could you ask for? Thoroughly enjoyed our visit as did the rest of my group.” — Mike, Limebrook Malden U3A
“We learned so much about this amazing place and the incredible history behind it, I know that we were all completely absorbed and frequently surprised. The guide was so kind, making sure that we were all comfortable and looked after, doing an incredible job of herding cats, and filling us with fascinating information in such an enjoyable way.” — Joanna, Cripplegate Ward Club
Read a group-day write-up on the Reinterred blog (opens in a new tab).
Getting Here
There is no free vintage bus for group or private tours. We confirm parking when we book you. Open a tab below for how you are travelling.
Abbey Wood Station is the closest station (Elizabeth Line, Southeastern and Thameslink).
- There is no free vintage bus. Take a taxi to the visitor car park, or walk. We may ask you to drive on site instead.
There is no free vintage bus for group or private tours.
- Local buses from the station can look close on a map, then leave you with no clear walk in. We would skip them.
- Drive or take a taxi, or walk from Abbey Wood Station. We confirm the way in when we book you.
Park in the visitor car park on Bazalgette Way, then walk in through the pedestrian entrance. Taxis can use What3words charmingly.cure.tone (opens in a new tab).
- Use the visitor car park unless we have asked you to drive on site. Coach and minibus parking is by arrangement.
- If a taxi is bringing your group, send the driver the directions we gave you.
From Abbey Wood Station it is about a 40–45 minute walk. Ask us first if that is the plan.
- Picturesque route (opens in a new tab)
- Past the lake and Thamesmead Social café (opens in a new tab)
- The Thames Path Gate (opens in a new tab) is usually shut unless we say otherwise.
We are within cycling distance of Woolwich, with Uber Boat, DLR and Elizabeth Line connections. The Thames Path is a pleasant ride along the river.
There is secure cycle parking on site, by the large pond next to the Thames Path.
- Follow the pedestrian way in from Abbey Wood Station or the visitor car park, unless we have given you another route.
- The Thames Path Gate (opens in a new tab) is usually shut unless we say otherwise.
Blue Badge bays sit beside the pedestrian gate in the visitor car park on Bazalgette Way. From there, a handrail path leads towards the railway when it is running.
If you need to park beside the museum, email us when you book at [email protected]. Tell us about access needs so we can plan the best route with you.
Tell us about access needs when you book so we can plan the best parking with you.
Enquiry
Tell us preferred dates, group size and anything you particularly want to see. We will reply to confirm what is possible and the next steps.