McDonald's first United Kingdom restaurant opened in Woolwich in 1974.
The restaurant opened on October 13, 1974, in Woolwich, southeast London. It marked McDonald's entry into the UK and introduced the company's familiar arches, standardized service, and American fast-food branding to British customers.
The UK launch was part of McDonald's broader European expansion. The company had already entered the Netherlands in 1971, Germany in 1971, France in 1972, and Sweden in 1973.
Woolwich is sometimes confused with Croydon because McDonald's UK history is often discussed alongside London locations. The first UK restaurant, however, was specifically in Woolwich, which was then part of Greater London.