Charlton factfile

How to get to Charlton
Charlton is a suburban area in south-east London between Greenwich and Woolwich. Charlton is well-served by overland rail services and has good road links into the capital.

Charlton through the ages
The area where Charlton stands today was a Roman settlement between 50 BC and 250 AD. In Saxon times, there was a village on or near the site, and there has been a church in the area since the 1100s.

How Charlton got its name
The name of Charlton is said to come from "churl town", meaning a settlement of churls, or free labourers.

Things to see and do around Charlton
Charlton village still retains its villagey feel despite now being essentially a London suburb. At its heart lies St Luke's Church, the parish church. Originally built on the site in 1077, the present building dates back to 1630, and was extended in 1840 to include a new chancel. Buried here is Spencer Perceval, who in 1812 became the only British Prime Minister ever to be assassinated.

Charlton House is widely considered to be the finest Jacobean mansion in or around London. Its design is attributed to John Thorpe (1560-1620). It was built between 1607 and 1612 for Sir Adam Newton, then Dean of Durham. The garden of Charlton House contains a mulberry tree planted in 1608 by order of James I to assist the cultivation of silkworms.

Famous landmarks in Charlton
The ultimate Charlton landmark is one of London's most distinctive: the iconic Thames Barrier, London's main flood defence, lies on the border between Charlton and Woolwich.

Sports and leisure in Charlton
Charlton is home to two long-established sports clubs. There's Championship football club Charlton Athletic, founded in 1905, and local rugby team Blackheath, founded in 1858 and the oldest open rugby club in the world.

Charlton Athletic has enjoyed an illustrious history and the team has featured many of the country's top players over the years. Their home ground for most of the club's history has been The Valley, which for many years was the largest league ground in London.

Famous people from Charlton
Darts legend Andy "The Viking" was born and brought up in Charlton. Other famous Charlton residents include poet Walter de la Mare, novelist Italo Svevo and children's author Bernard Ashley.