The Elizabeth Line service to Central London and on to Heathrow and Reading was fully instated in November 2022. Cycles are accepted on this fast service off-peak; Tottenham Court Road is less than 30 minutes away. Take the lift down to Gayton Road.
The link dips south to include the ruins of Lesnes Abbey, in fine parkland and backed by substantial woodland slopes, from where an elevated walkway heads north to South Mere and the Erith marshes. You can follow the signs for the Green Chain Walk from now.
A brief ride on the Southern Outfall sewer takes you below an overpass, where you can choose: either continue northwest on the Green Chain Walk, which takes an interesting meandering path through Thamesmead estates to reach the Thames and Arc 3 directly across from Barking Riverside Pier, or take an unsurfaced path NE through two stiles to Crossness Southern Outfall Works. The latter route might be a little forbidding and muddy in poor weather.
