The Norwood Ridge [1] is a landmark ridge in South London approximately five miles south of central London. It runs for approximately three miles in a north-easterly direction, from Selhurst and Streatham in the south, to Forest Hill in the north. It is a ridge of London Clay capped in places with gravel deposits known as the Claygate Beds.[2]
It includes Sydenham Hill and Crystal Palace and also parts of Dulwich and Upper Norwood. The upper parts of the ridge average a little above 110 metres (360 ft), offering views across London.
The northern slopes feed the River Effra, and the southern slopes the Pool River.
It is the location of two prominent transmitting towers, Crystal Palace transmitting station and Croydon transmitting station.
To the south, lower layers of the London Clay and Palaeocene deposits lie between the ridge and the dip slope of the North Downs.
The area has in the past had brick fields and has many railway tunnels.