Discover Bexley: History and Walking Routes

Bexley combines impressive architectural heritage with walking routes and a vivid village history. Anyone looking for a blend of culture and activity for their holiday can discover historic buildings here, explore the Cray Riverway, which follows the course of the river through Bexley, and learn about the development of the area on a themed walk. These highlights can also help you choose suitable holiday accommodation or a holiday home: the key consideration is whether you mainly want to include historic sights, gardens and events, or walking routes, in your travel plans.

Historic Places in Bexley

One of the notable buildings is Hall Place. The country house was built in 1537 and is listed as a Grade I building. Hall Place and Gardens combines the historic house with gardens, exhibitions and public events. This gives you various ways to plan a day of your holiday: you can explore the building's history, schedule a visit to an exhibition or set aside time for the gardens as a separate activity. The gardens are also an important part of a local wildlife area.

Another highlight is St Mary the Virgin, Bexley's old parish church. It dates largely from the 13th century and contains older structural elements. The churchyard also tells the story of the area: it contains chest tombs and gravestones from the 17th century and later. Details like these make a visit especially interesting if you want to explore historical traces not just through a single building, but in the context of the area's development over time.

Old Bexley and Paths Along the River Cray

Old Bexley is an old settlement in south-east London. The historic street pattern and layout of the village form part of the Old Bexley Conservation Area. Old Bexley is also located at a crossing point on the River Cray. In Bexley, the Cray Riverway follows the course of the river, providing a landscape contrast to the historic buildings.

For a more in-depth exploration, the Bexley Village Walk is ideal. It explores the development of the village over more than a thousand years, begins at Bexley railway station and ends at Freemantle Hall. You can therefore treat the walk as a separate activity and take your time appreciating each stop. A section of the London LOOP also ends near Bexley station in the historic village of Old Bexley. The railway line serving Bexley was built in 1866 and connected the village with the rest of London. This transport history adds another perspective on the development of the area.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Plans?

A holiday rental in Bexley is particularly well suited to a trip that combines historic discoveries with walking. If Hall Place, St Mary the Virgin and the history of the area are your main interests, you can structure your days around cultural activities. The Cray Riverway, the village walk and the section of the London LOOP, on the other hand, suit plans in which walking and the landscape also play an important role. A holiday home can likewise be a suitable option if you see Bexley as a base for a variety of holiday activities. The type of accommodation you choose depends on your preferred pace of travel and the experiences you want to place at the centre of your trip.

Bexley offers families plenty of opportunities for conversation and shared discovery: an old building, a churchyard with historic gravestones, a river course or the development of a village over more than a thousand years each provide a different way of experiencing the area. Rather than visiting just one attraction, you can give your trip a theme and vary it between culture, gardens, local history and walking.

More Places to Consider for Your Trip

If you would like to compare Bexley with other places, you can also include Erith, Bexleyheath and Sidcup in your search.

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