Bexley factfile

How to get to Bexley
Bexley, part of the London Borough of Bexley, is situated in the southeast of the capital. Bexley is a commuter's favourite, with good connections to the centre of London by overland rail, bus and road.

Bexley through the ages
The area of Bexley has been settled since the earliest times. Artefacts from the stone, bronze and iron ages have been discovered in the area, as well as extensive Roman remains.

There are several well-preserved historic churches in and around Bexley, such as the 12th-century church of St Paulinus in Crayford, and St Mary's in Bexley, which dates back to the 11th century.

Bexley remained a collection of small rural villages until the coming of the railways in the late 1800s, and it was not until the 1920s and 1930s that the area began to develop into the urban centre it is today.

Shopping in Bexley
Most of the retail outlets in Bexley can be found in the Broadway Centre at Bexleyheath, where you'll find a good selection of high street names names. Nearby Sidcup or Welling offer a more traditional high-street shopping environment, and neighbouring Erith has a street market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Famous people from Bexley
Many famous names both past and present have been associated with Bexley.

Roald Dahl, the much-loved writer of books for both children and adults, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, lived in the town for many years. Singer and songwriter Kate Bush was born in the area too.

Former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath spent years in the area as a schoolboy, later returning as MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, his first parliamentary constituency. Victorian artist, poet and designer William Morris built his home at Red House in Bexleyheath in 1859.

Things to see and do around Bexley
Hall Place and Gardens in Bourne Place is a fine Grade I-listed country house built in 1540 for Sir John Champney, a former Lord Mayor of London. Admission is free, and visitors can also wander through the beautiful gardens and visit the topiary lawn and rose garden.

Fans of the Victorian artist and designer William Morris will want to visit Red House in Bexleyheath, Morris's former home, where you can enjoy a wide range of his furniture designs, as well as the garden he created.

Newly open to the public after an extensive restoration, Danson Park is a fine example of English Palladian architecture. The house was built by Sir John Boyd in 1766 and designed by architect Sir Robert Taylor, who designed the Bank of England.

Natural beauty spots around Bexley
Fossil hunters will enjoy a visit to Lesnes Abbey Woods' exposed fossil bed, which has been found to contain the fossilised remains of various shells, fish, mammals and reptiles. The woods also offer nature trails and orienteering courses, and have a colourful display of bluebells and daffodils in season.

Foots Cray meadows offer the visitor both woodland and open grassland along the banks of the River Cray. The area is home to a wealth of wildlife, in particular kingfishers and other birds.