Bexley Borough of today with its almost wholly urban appearance and its extensive communications, to realise that little more than a century ago the area was almost entirely open country and surprisingly remote country at that. The coming of the railways, largely in the latter years of the 19th century, saw the beginnings of the Bexley of today and the separate towns and villages, which had seen some development at the close of the 18th century, began to grow. It was not, however, until the 1920s and '30s that communities began to cover this corner of what was then North West Kent. The electrification of the railways added impetus to this steady development.
 

There are 84 publicly maintained schools in Bexley. 63 are primary schools, catering for children aged 4 to 11, including 6 pairs of infant (4-7) and junior (7-11) schools. 45 of the primary schools have a nursery class attached. 49 primary schools are Community schools. 2 are voluntary controlled. Admission to these schools is the responsibility of Bexley Council.

10 primary schools are voluntary aided and have a religious character. They arrange their own admissions. Each school can provide details of its own arrangements. One infant and one junior school are foundation schools.

Bexley Council operates selective education at secondary school level, with four grammar schools (two mixed, one boys and one girls) and places in a selective stream at a (mixed) bilateral school. Four voluntary aided comprehensive schools admit pupils across the ability range. Details of their admission arrangements can be obtained from the schools themselves. There are 6 community schools, one foundation all ability school and a new city academy. Admissions to the community and foundation schools, including all the grammar schools and the city academy are dealt with by the Council. Most schools in Bexley have a 6th form and there is one school, St Luke’s RC, which is for 6th form pupils only.
 

The London Borough of Bexley follows the River Thames as it meanders out of London. It is bordered by Greenwich to the west and Dartford to the east, while Bromley lies to the south. Frequent rail services into London and good road connections provided by the A2 and A20 make Bexley an excellent base either for day trips to the capital or for venturing into rural Kent.

Bexley is just 15 miles from the City of London, yet it is also close to nature. There are some extensive areas of countryside ranging from ancient woodland to tranquil marshland and the borough benefits from over 80 parks and gardens open to the public. For the more energetic, outdoor pursuits including orienteering, fossil hunting, boating, rowing, angling, golf and tennis are available.
 
Bexley is best summed up as a place of contrasts where visitors will find both town and country, old and new. It has everything you would expect on London's doorstep, but there are also some delightful surprises in store for those who spend a little time in the borough
 
The region's premier shopping precinct is the Broadway Centre at Bexleyheath. It houses many well-known stores and offers easy parking, plus a wide range of facilities. The centre is located close to hotels, attractions and entertainment venues.
 

Bexley offers a host of sporting and cultural activities to keep visitors entertained both day and night; from body building to relaxing in a Jacuzzi and from going to the dogs to seeing a play.

This is just a selection of some of the attractions in Bexley. A varied programme of special events and activities for all ages takes place throughout the year from children's shows to concerts and from walks to talks. You can find out more by contacting the Tourist Information Centres.

There is a wide choice of restaurants in and around Bexley to appeal to all gastronomic tastes. A listing of eating places in the borough is available from Bexley's Tourist Information Centres.
 
Bexley is an ideal base within easy reach of the bustle of London and the tranquility of Kent. Adjacent to Bexley is the Historic Greenwich, famous for its important heritage attractions including the National Maritime Museum, the Old Royal Observatory and the Meridian, the Queen's House, the Cutty Sark and the Thames Barrier.
 
For visitors approaching the borough from either London or Kent, both the A2 (M2) and A20 (M20) pass through Bexley and cross the M25 at junctions 2 and 3 respectively.
 
From London, services to all stations in the borough leave regularly from Charing Cross, Cannon Street, London Bridge and Waterloo East. There is also an occasional service from Victoria.