Bexley: Old Bexley, Hall Place and Village Walk

Bexley reveals a historic side of London: in Old Bexley, a traditional village setting, the River Cray and notable buildings come together with walks through the area’s history. Hall Place adds to this character with a historic house and gardens featuring exhibitions and public events. If you would like to get to know London not only through its central attractions but also through established places and walking routes, Bexley offers several different ways to do so.

Historic Bexley and Old Bexley

The Old Bexley Conservation Area encompasses the village’s historic street pattern and layout. Old Bexley is an old settlement in southeast London and is situated at a crossing point of the River Cray.

One of the important historic buildings is St Mary the Virgin, Bexley’s old parish church. It dates largely from the 13th century and contains older structural elements. The churchyard contains chest tombs and gravestones from the 17th century and later.

Riverside Walks and the History of the Area

Bexley offers several clearly distinct focal points for exploring on foot. In Bexley, the Cray Riverway follows the course of the river and focuses attention on the landscape along the River Cray. The Bexley Village Walk, by contrast, explores the development of the village over more than a thousand years. It begins at Bexley station and ends at Freemantle Hall. This allows you to plan your visit according to your interests: you can make the river the focus or concentrate on the village’s historical development.

A section of the London LOOP also ends near Bexley station in the historic village of Old Bexley. For visitors who would like to combine their days in London with longer walks and local history, this connection to the well-known London walking route provides an additional point of reference. The station is also an important landmark in the area’s history: the railway line serving Bexley was built in 1866 and connected the village with the rest of London.

Hall Place and the Gardens

Hall Place is a Grade I-listed country house built in 1537. Hall Place and Gardens is also a historic house and garden with exhibitions and public events. The gardens are additionally an important part of a local wildlife area. Hall Place therefore complements the historic impressions of Old Bexley with a second focus, bringing together the house, garden, exhibitions and connection with nature.

You can then choose a hotel in Bexley more deliberately according to your preferred focus, without inferring an unsubstantiated distance or accommodation feature from individual attractions.

What to Plan for in Bexley

The historic centre, the river, the village walk and Hall Place represent different ways to discover Bexley. The walk through the village connects Bexley station with Freemantle Hall and explores the development of the area over more than a thousand years. The London LOOP section, by contrast, runs to near the station in the historic village of Old Bexley. Those who would like to combine several impressions can treat these options as separate activities and divide their available time accordingly.

For other London destinations, you can then compare Beckenham, Hounslow, Bromley, Mayfair, Wandsworth, Richmond, Highgate and Wimbledon.