Discover Beckenham: Culture, Parks and a Fascinating History

Beckenham combines historic sites with parkland and unusual cultural stories. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for their trip can combine a range of day-out ideas here: discover historic buildings, explore the park areas or use quieter cycling routes in and around Beckenham Place Park. Beckenham offers families particular opportunities to explore together and keep their travel pace flexible.

Parkland and routes around Beckenham

Kelsey Park is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, or SINC for short. The two lakes within Kelsey Park were created by damming The Beck, one of the Environment Agency’s main rivers. This history gives the park a specific local distinction and provides a good talking point for an outing with children interested in waterways, landscapes and how a place has developed.

Getting to a park area can also be taken into account when planning your day: Beckenham Hill railway station is less than a five-minute walk from the entrance to Beckenham Place Park. Various quieter cycling routes run on and off the roads near Beckenham Place Park, as well as through the park.

Discover Beckenham’s cultural history

A prominent point of interest is the Parish Church of St George in Beckenham, which is listed Grade II*. This designation forms part of the building’s history and makes the church an interesting destination for travellers who want to include historic architecture in their exploration of the area.

The Bowie Bandstand has a particularly unusual story. It was built in 1905 to a design by the McCallum and Hope Iron Foundry in Glasgow and is considered the only known surviving bandstand in the UK made by this foundry. David Bowie performed there in 1969 during his rise to fame. He also hosted and helped organise the Growth Summer Festival at the Bowie Bandstand. This combination of architectural and musical history gives the site an unusual character, offering teenagers and adults their own way to connect with Beckenham.

The area’s historical character also includes the summer pavilion of Beckenham Tennis Club. It was built in 1896 for women who were excluded from the main pavilion. This detail reflects the social conditions of the period in which it was created and adds another perspective on the area’s history to the better-known musical and architectural connections.

Which type of accommodation suits your trip?

If you are primarily interested in culture and history, you can plan your trip around the Parish Church of St George, the Bowie Bandstand and the summer pavilion. If you are more interested in nature or cycling excursions, Kelsey Park, the lakes and the quieter routes near Beckenham Place Park take centre stage. A holiday apartment in Beckenham can serve as a base for your personal mix of exploration, activity and a more relaxed stay; check the specific facilities, prices and availability with the accommodation provider in question.

Compare other places

If you would like to compare other destinations with Beckenham when planning your trip, you can also include Biggin Hill, Chislehurst, Hayes, West Wickham and Bromley in your further search. This allows you to establish the character of the area you want first, before choosing a suitable holiday apartment or holiday home.

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Bromley.