The last village

Do you know how much your home town or village is worth? In the Domesday survey of 1086 the village of Bexlea - meaning ‘a settlement in a clearing in the woods’ - had 41 inhabitants with 100 pigs and 10 ploughs and was valued at £20.

Today, Bexley is a popular Kent commuter town which has been swallowed up by London’s urban sprawl. Yet while Bexley is virtually the last village on the edge of London, it maintains a distinct feel and character.

Explore how Bexley village has developed over more than a thousand years. Discover evidence in the buildings and streets of how the village looked in Saxon and medieval times. Find out how and why it changed in the Victorian and post-war eras. Learn about the lives of villagers over the centuries and what they have done for a living. And discover how its position on the banks of the River Cray has brought both advantages and disadvantages.

Walk Info

Distance:

3 miles

Level:

A mostly flat route

Suitable for:

A small section of the walk is along busy roads so take care with young children

Region:

Greater London

Setting:

Towns & Cities

Landscape:

Historic landscapes Built landscapes

Start:

Bexley railway station

Finish:

Bexley High Street

Getting there:

Just off the A2. Easily accessible from M25 (Junction 2 or 3). Several car parks including station, Thanet Road, behind High Street and the Mill

Direct trains from London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street

Served by buses from North Greenwich, Thamesmead, Erith, Sidcup and Bromley