It is situated north of Welling, east of Shooter's Hill, south of Plumstead, south-west of Abbey Wood and west of West Heath, and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross.

Prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965, East Wickham was in the administrative county of Kent.

The name is thought to be a corruption of the Latin 'vicus', indicating a Roman settlement along Watling Street, with the place name 'Estwycham' first being recorded in 1284.

It ceased to be a civil parish and was absorbed by the Bexley Urban District on 1 October 1902.

[2] Several Transport for London bus services connect East Wickham with areas including Welling, Eltham, Bexleyheath, Plumstead, Woolwich, Abbey Wood, North Greenwich, Thamesmead and Dartford.