Editing Biggin Hill

{{Short description|Town in Greater London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name            = Biggin Hill
 | static_image_name        = Polesteeple Hill, Biggin Hill, Kent TN16 - geograph.org.uk - 67992.jpg
 | static_image_caption     = Polesteeple Hill, Biggin Hill
 | coordinates              = {{coord|51.3127|0.0336|display=inline,title}}
 | population               = 10,817
 | population_ref           = <ref>Census, 2021</ref>
 | os_grid_reference        = TQ418590
 | charingX_distance_mi     = 15.2
 | charingX_direction       = NNW
 | london_borough           = Bromley
 | region                   = London
 | country                  = England
 | post_town                = [[Westerham|WESTERHAM]]
 | postcode_area            = TN
 | postcode_district        = TN16
 | dial_code                = 01959
 | constituency_westminster = [[Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)|Orpington]]
}}

'''Biggin Hill''' is a town in the [[London Borough of Bromley]], about {{convert|15.2|mi|km}} south-southeast of [[Charing Cross#Official use as central point|Charing Cross]]. It is separated from [[London|London's built-up area]] by the [[Metropolitan green belt]] and is located adjacent to the [[Greater London]] boundary with [[Kent]] and [[Surrey]]. Prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965, it was part of Kent. At the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 Census]], Biggin Hill had a population of 9,951.

Biggin Hill is one of the highest points of Greater London, rising to over {{convert|210|m}} above sea level. [[London Biggin Hill Airport|Biggin Hill Airport]] occupies land formerly used by [[RAF Biggin Hill]], one of the principal fighter bases protecting London from German bombers during the [[Battle of Britain]].

==History==
===Toponymy===
Historically, the settlement was known as [[Aperfield]].

===Local government===
Biggin Hill formed part of [[Cudham]], an ancient parish in the county of [[Kent]]. Following the [[Local Government Act 1894]] it formed part of [[Bromley Rural District]]. The parish became part of [[Orpington Urban District]] in 1934. Kent County Council formed the second tier of local government from 1889. In 1965, the London County Council was abolished and replaced by the [[Greater London Council]], with an expanded administrative area, so that Biggin Hill is now part of the London Borough of Bromley.

==Buildings==
The most architecturally noteworthy building within Biggin Hill is St Mark's Church, Church Road – 'the moving church'<ref name=Symons>{{cite book |last=Symons|first=Vivian|title=The Moving Church |year=1956 |publisher=Herbert Jenkins|location=London}}</ref> - designed by [[Richard Gilbert Scott]]. It was erected in the 1950s using the dismantled materials from All Saints Church, North Peckham. Much of the work was undertaken by volunteers led by Rev Vivian Symons who undertook much of the decorative work himself.

==Airport==
{{Main|London Biggin Hill Airport}}
Biggin Hill has an airport—more than an airfield as it has a terminal building and customs facilities—London Biggin Hill Airport, which uses much of the land formerly used by [[RAF Biggin Hill]], an aerodrome best known for its role during the [[Battle of Britain]]. The airfield was the location of the "Operations Room" for the [[Operation Crossbow]] [[V-1 flying bomb]] defence during [[World War II]].

[[File:Biggin Hill Cemetery.jpg|thumb|left|The Biggin Hill Cemetery]]

The old "west camp" of the airport is now owned by [[Bernie Ecclestone]]. Most of the buildings in the West Camp are [[Grade II]] listed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101391604-building-15-hawkinge-block-west-camp-darwin-ward|title=Building 15, Hawkinge Block, West Camp, Westerham, London|first=Good|last=Stuff|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101391589-buildings-1-to-5-airmens-barrack-blocks-darwin-ward|title=Buildings 1 to 5 (Airmens Barrack Blocks), Westerham, London|first=Good|last=Stuff|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref>  A small section remains in the care of the RAF, and the Grade II listed chapel<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101391588-memorial-chapel-biggin-hill-ward|title=Memorial Chapel, Westerham, London|first=Good|last=Stuff|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> (guarded by replicas of the station [[gate guardians]], a [[Hawker Hurricane]] and a [[Supermarine Spitfire]]) is open to the public.

Many [[ghosts]] are commonly attributed to the World War II airbase.<ref>Bob Ogley, ''The Ghosts of Biggin Hill'', 2001, {{ISBN|978-1-872337-41-8}}</ref>

The old "south camp" is now occupied by the Biggin Hill Business Park, Airport Industrial Estate and various private flying clubs. There are further commercial premises, hangars, private flying clubs and a helicopter joy-ride and pilot training centre to the east of the main runway.

The airport is host to a wide range of private and business jet and turbo-prop aircraft up to the size of a [[Boeing 737]]. In the 21st century it was enlarged and improved, and {{As of|2020|lc=y}} further expansion was planned.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Biggin Hill Airport Presses Ahead with Expansion Plans |first=Charles|last=Alcock |website=Aviation International News |date=23 December 2020 |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-12-23/biggin-hill-airport-presses-ahead-expansion-plans}}</ref>

A model aircraft site operates within its Air Traffic Zone, operating large model aircraft. In 2009 there were sightings of model aircraft traffic and one air proximity report was filed, according to the Airport Consultative Committee in May 2010.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.bigginhillairport.com/UserFiles/100520.ccminutes.pdf |title=Minutes of Meeting|date=20 May 2010
|publisher=BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708000343/http://www.bigginhillairport.com/UserFiles/100520.ccminutes.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Biggin Hill is the location of a [[VHF omnidirectional range|VOR]]-[[Distance measuring equipment|DME]] navigational beacon, codenamed "BIG", which anchors the South East [[Holding (aviation)|Arrival Stack]] for [[London Heathrow Airport]].

The airport was the venue of the [[Biggin Hill International Air Fair]], an annual airshow that usually took place towards the end of June. The event was first held in 1963 and the airshow was permanently cancelled in 2010, shortly after the 48th event.

The airport featured in the 2006 film "[[The Da Vinci Code (film)|The Da Vinci Code]]" starring [[Tom Hanks]]. <ref>{{Cite web |title=The Da Vinci Code filming locations - Biggin Hill Airport - Find That Location |url=https://findthatlocation.com/film-title/the-da-vinci-code/location/812 |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=findthatlocation.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Biggin Hill in Bromley map.GIF|thumb|Ward of Biggin Hill (red) shown within the London Borough of Bromley (orange)]]
{{Main|List of schools in the London Borough of Bromley}}
[[Charles Darwin School]] is a secondary school within three miles of the centre.

Two main primary schools operate: Oaklands Primary School and Biggin Hill Primary School. Beyond the outskirts are Cudham CoE Primary School near Foal Farm, Tatsfield Primary in [[Tatsfield]] to the west and Downe Primary in [[Downe]] village.

==Demographics==
The area is represented by the Biggin Hill [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]], which according to the 2011 UK census had a population of 9,951 and a density of 12 people per hectare. The census showed that 93% of the population was White British. The median age of the population was 42. The most common accommodation type was [[detached]] houses or bungalows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukcensusdata.com/biggin-hill-e05000107|title=Biggin Hill - UK Census Data 2011|first=Good Stuff IT|last=Services|website=UK Census Data}}</ref>

==Location==
{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas of Biggin Hill'''
|Northwest = [[New Addington]]
|North     = [[Leaves Green]]
|Northeast = [[Downe]]
|West      = [[Biggin Hill Valley]]
|Centre    = Biggin Hill
|East      = [[Berry's Green]] & [[Cudham]]
|Southwest = [[Tatsfield]]
|South     = [[Tatsfield|Tatsfield East]]
|Southeast = [[Aperfield]]
}}

Biggin Hill is on the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley. The [[A233 road]] is the only main road that runs through the area, from North to South. Most of the settlements that surround Biggin Hill are small towns and villages. Biggin Hill's postcode is [[TN postcode area|TN16]], and its post town is Westerham (although [[Westerham]] itself is located outside [[Greater London]]).

==Transport==
Biggin Hill is part of the [[Transport for London]] operating area and is thus served by several [[London Buses]] services as well as one route operated by [[Southdown PSV]]. Buses provide connections to [[Bromley]], [[Keston]], [[Hayes, Bromley]], [[Westerham]], [[Downham, London|Downham]], [[Catford]], [[Oxted]], [[Locksbottom]], [[New Addington]], [[Tatsfield]], [[Orpington]] and [[Green Street Green]].

The nearest [[National Rail]] station to Biggin Hill is [[Hayes station]] (located 5 miles away) as well as [[Oxted station]] in Surrey plus [[Bromley South station]] and [[Orpington station]]. The nearest [[Tramlink]] stop is [[New Addington tram stop|New Addington]] located 4 miles away.

==See also==
*[[2008 Biggin Hill Cessna Citation crash]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{LB Bromley}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley]]