Editing London Borough of Bexley

{{Distinguish|text=its predecessor, the [[Municipal Borough of Bexley]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = 
| official_name           = London Borough of Bexley
| other_name              = 
| settlement_type         = [[London boroughs|London borough]]
| image_skyline           = 
| imagesize               = 270px
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of the Ldn Borough of Bexley.svg
| shield_size             = 100px
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = Coat of arms of the London Borough of Bexley
| image_blank_emblem      = Lb_bexley_logo.svg
| blank_emblem_type       = Council logo
| blank_emblem_size       = 100px
| blank_emblem_alt        = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| motto                   = Boldly and Rightly
| image_map               = Bexley UK locator map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Bexley shown within [[Greater London]]
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates       = 
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Country of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[England]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Greater London|London]]
| subdivision_type4       = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[Greater London]]
| established_title       = Created
| established_date        = 1 April 1965
| established_title1      = 
| established_date1       = 
| named_for               = 
<!-- seat, smaller parts -->
| seat_type               = Admin HQ
| seat                    = [[Bexleyheath]]
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| government_type         = [[London boroughs|London borough council]]
| governing_body          = [[Bexley London Borough Council]]
| leader_title2           = London&nbsp;Assembly
| leader_name2            = [[Peter Fortune]] AM for [[Bexley and Bromley (London Assembly constituency)|Bexley and Bromley]]
| leader_title3           = [[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]
| leader_name3            = [[Abena Oppong-Asare]] (Labour)<br>[[Daniel Francis (politician)|Daniel Francis]] (Labour)<br>[[Louie French]] (Conservative)
| leader_title4           = 
| leader_name4            = 
<!-- display settings  --------->
| total_type              = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref               = <!-- enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric -->
<!-- area ---------------------->
| area_footnotes          = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_magnitude          = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| area_total_km2          = 60.56
| area_total_sq_mi        = <!-- see table @ Template:Infobox settlement for details -->
| area_total_dunam        = <!-- used in Middle East articles only -->
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_land_sq_mi         = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_water_sq_mi        = 
| area_water_percent      = 
| area_urban_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_urban_km2          = 
| area_urban_sq_mi        = 
| area_rural_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_rural_km2          = 
| area_rural_sq_mi        = 
| area_metro_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_metro_km2          = 
| area_metro_sq_mi        = 
| area_rank               = {{English district area rank|ONS=00AD|GSS=E09000004}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
| area_blank1_title       = 
| area_blank1_km2         = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi       = 
| area_blank2_title       = 
| area_blank2_km2         = 
| area_blank2_sq_mi       = 
<!-- population ---------------->
| population_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total        = {{English district population|ONS=00AD|GSS=E09000004}}
| population_as_of        = {{United Kingdom statistics year}}
| population_rank         = {{English district rank|ONS=00AD|GSS=E09000004}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_density_sq_mi= 
| population_blank2_title =
| population_blank2       =
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- time zone(s) -------------->
| timezone                = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset              = ±00:00{{!}}UTC
| timezone_DST            = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +1
<!-- postal codes, area code --->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcodes]]
| postal_code             = {{postcode|DA}}, {{postcode|SE}}
| area_code_type          = <!-- defaults to: Area code(s) -->
| area_code               = 020, 01322
| geocode                 =
| iso_code                = GB-BEX
| registration_plate      =
<!-- blank fields (section 1) -->
| blank1_name             = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info             = 00AD
| blank2_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank2_info             = E09000004
<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->
| blank_name_sec2         = [[List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom|Police]]
| blank_info_sec2         = [[Metropolitan Police]]
<!-- website, footnotes -------->
| website                 = https://www.bexley.gov.uk/
| footnotes               = 
}}

The '''London Borough of Bexley''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-LBBexley.ogg|ˈ|b|ɛ|k|s|l|i}}) is a [[London boroughs|London borough]] in south-east [[London]], forming part of [[Outer London]]. It has a population of 248,287. The main settlements are [[Sidcup]], [[Erith]], [[Bexleyheath]], [[Belvedere, London|Belvedere]], [[Crayford]], [[Welling]] and [[Old Bexley]]. The London Borough of Bexley is within the [[Thames Gateway]], an area designated as a national priority for [[urban renewal|urban regeneration]]. The local authority is [[Bexley London Borough Council]].

==History==
Prior to the 19th century the area now forming the [[London Borough|borough]] was sparsely populated: very few of the present settlements were mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], although the [[village]] of [[Old Bexley|Bexley]] has a charter dated [[814|814 AD]].<ref name="A brief history of Bexley">[http://www.bag.org.uk/Education/History%20of%20Bexley_files/History%20of%20Bexley.htm A brief history of Bexley] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210051731/http://www.bag.org.uk/Education/History%20of%20Bexley_files/History%20of%20Bexley.htm |date=10 February 2009 }}</ref> [[Erith]] was a port on the River Thames until the 17th century; the opening of the sewage works at nearby [[Crossness]] in the late 19th century turned it into an industrial town.

Today's settlement pattern is the result of the gradual extension of the London influence. Until the 19th century it was an area with a few isolated buildings such as the [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] [[Danson House]]. With the coming of the railways building began apace, although the area is still composed of many disconnected settlements, interspersed with area of open ground and parks.

===Administrative history===
A [[Local board of health#Local Government Act 1858|local government district]] called [[Municipal Borough of Bexley|Bexley]] was created in 1880, covering the parish of [[Bexley]], which included both Bexley village and Bexleyheath.<ref>{{cite book |title=Annual Report of the Local Government Board |date=1881 |page=494 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBcwAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA494 |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of Kent |date=1913 |pages=72, 75 |url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/61816/rec/5 |access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="McKeon2012">{{cite web |last1=McKeon |first1=Simon |last2=Allen |first2=Lucy |title=Changing Times: The Broadway, Bexleyheath 1812-1912 |url=https://www.bexley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-07/Changing-Times-education-booklet.pdf |publisher=London Borough of Bexley |date=2012 |access-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>{{rp|15}} Another local government district had been created covering the neighbouring parish of [[Erith]] in 1876.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kelly's Directory of Kent |date=1913 |page=278 |url=https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/62022 |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> Such districts were converted into [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] under the [[Local Government Act 1894]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1894|year=1894|chapter=73|access-date=12 April 2024}}</ref>

Bexley Urban District absorbed the neighbouring parish of [[East Wickham]] in 1902; [[Welling]] had previously straddled the boundary between Bexley and East Wickham, but after 1902 was therefore wholly in Bexley.<ref>{{cite web |title=East Wickham Chapelry / Civil Parish |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10228785#tab02 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> [[Crayford]] was made an urban district in 1920.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crayford Urban District |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025746 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> Bexley was made a [[municipal borough]] in 1935,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bexley Urban District / Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10025746 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref> as was Erith in 1938.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erith Urban District / Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10199256 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>

The modern borough was created in 1965 under the [[London Government Act 1963]], covering the combined area of the former boroughs of [[Municipal Borough of Bexley|Bexley]] and [[Municipal Borough of Erith|Erith]], the [[Crayford Urban District]] and the [[Sidcup]] area from the [[Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District]] (the [[Chislehurst]] area went to the [[London Borough of Bromley]]). The area was transferred from [[Kent]] to Greater London, to become one of the 32 London boroughs.<ref>{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=Royal Historical Society | location=London | isbn=0901050679}}</ref>

==Coat of arms==
{{main|Coat of arms of the London Borough of Bexley}}

The [[coat of arms]] of the [[borough]] depicts symbols for the main rivers in the area, the Bexley Charter Oak, the industry and the [[Kent]] [[Historic counties of England|boundary]].

==Governance==
[[File:Wards of Bexley.PNG|thumb|300px|The 17 wards of the London Borough of Bexley used from 2002 to 2018 (green) and surrounding London boroughs (light grey) and other districts (dark grey)]]

===Bexley London Borough Council===
{{main|Bexley London Borough Council}}
The local authority is Bexley Council, which has its headquarters at the [[Bexley Civic Offices]] in [[Bexleyheath]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Contact us |url=https://www.bexley.gov.uk/contact-us/finding-information |website=Bexley Council |access-date=2 May 2024}}</ref>

===Greater London representation===
Since 2000, for elections to the [[London Assembly]], the borough forms part of the [[Bexley and Bromley (London Assembly constituency)|Bexley and Bromley]] constituency.

==Geography==
{{Further|List of districts in Bexley}}
[[File:LondonBoroughBexleyPlaceNameMap.png|thumb|200px|Location map for Bexley]]
Bexley, lying as it does on the outer fringe of London, has many relatively large areas of open space. The ridge of higher ground in South London crosses the Borough from its high point of [[Shooters Hill]], on the boundary with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to end above the [[River Thames]] at [[Belvedere, London|Belvedere]], where the land drops down to the old port of [[Erith]]. This high land, whose geology is the sand and pebbles of the ''Blackheath beds'',<ref>''The Rural Landscape of Kent'', SG McRae and CP Burnham, [[Wye College]], 1973</ref> and which results in [[heathland]], provided a natural course for the old [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] road of [[Watling Street]], which ran between [[Crayford]] and [[Welling]]. The land falls away to the north of the high ground, across the Erith Marshes to the [[River Thames]], which here makes a loop to the north at [[Crossness]]. There is a further ridge of less higher ground from the west terminating at [[Sidcup]].<ref name="A brief history of Bexley"/>

Apart from the River Thames the other rivers within the Borough are the [[River Darent]], which, with its tributary the [[River Cray]] and the smaller ''Stanham River'', all form part of its north-eastern boundary; and the [[River Shuttle]], a tributary of the Cray.

The major centres of settlement can be considered in two parts: the older established erstwhile villages; and the infill areas of suburban houses and centres.<ref>[http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bexley/index.html Ideal Homes: Suburbia in Focus] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224053714/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bexley/index.html |date=24 February 2010 }}</ref> Among the former are [[Erith]], in the 17th century a port on the Thames, and an industrial town in the later 19th century; [[Bexleyheath]], created at the same time on the London to [[Dover]] road. By the earlier 20th century, both were created [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban District Councils]] (UDC), as was [[Foots Cray]] (an ancient village site). [[Thamesmead]], the "new town" built on what was the Erith Marshes, extends into the Borough: both Thamesmead North and South are located here. [[Crayford]] was mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]], and its parish later included the hamlets of [[North End, Bexley|North End]] and [[Slade Green]].

Other settlements include [[Welling]], which has a higher population than Bexleyheath, a staging post on the Dover Road, which was at one time of less importance than the nearby [[East Wickham]] (also an ancient village), was absorbed in Bexley UDC. [[Barnes Cray]] and [[North Cray]] were two hamlets in the Cray Valley; and [[Belvedere, London|Belvedere]] was the location of a medieval monastery.

The map of Bexley<ref>[http://www.stockphotography.co.uk/UK/England/London/Bexley.asp Map of Bexley] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528064836/http://www.stockphotography.co.uk/UK/England/London/Bexley.asp |date=28 May 2009 }}</ref> shows that a large proportion of its area comprises [[suburb]]ia. Some named places, like [[Albany Park, Bexley|Albany Park]] and [[Barnehurst]], are names given to developments engendered by the building of the railways. Some came into being when large estates and farmland were broken up for the sole purpose of suburban building: these include [[Blackfen]], [[Lamorbey]] and part of [[Falconwood]]. Others simply reflect the nature of area: [[Lessness Heath]]; [[Longlands]] (part of Sidcup); [[Northumberland Heath]] and [[West Heath, London|West Heath]].

The borough has boundaries with the [[London Borough of Bromley]] to the south and the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]] to the west; across the [[River Thames]] to the north it borders the [[London Borough of Havering]] and [[London Borough of Barking and Dagenham]]; there is a short boundary with the unitary authority of [[Thurrock]] in [[Essex]] to the northeast. There are boundaries with the [[Dartford (borough)|Borough of Dartford]] to the east and [[Sevenoaks (district)|Sevenoaks district]] to the southeast, both in the county of [[Kent]].

===Open Spaces===
{{main|Bexley parks and open spaces}}
Despite the suburbia mentioned above, there are still open spaces among the borough's streets and avenues. The Borough owns and maintains over one hundred parks and open spaces, large and small; and there is still a part of the [[Erith Marshes]] bordering the River Thames. The Crayford Marshes lie to the east of that river, as do ''Foots Cray Meadows'' further south.

The largest of the open spaces are [[Foots Cray Meadows]], [[Lesnes Abbey|Lesnes Abbey Woods]], [[Danson Park]] and [[Hall Place]] Gardens. There are also many golf courses and sports fields, particularly to the west of Crayford.

===Hall Place===
[[File:HallPlace.jpg|325px|thumb|[[Hall Place]], with 16th- (left) and 17th-century wings.]]
[[Hall Place]] is a former stately home, today a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, beside the River Cray on the outskirts of Crayford, south-east of Bexleyheath and north-east of Old Bexley. It is situated just off the A223, Bourne Road, south of Watling Street (A207) and north of the [[Black Prince, Bexley|Black Prince]] interchange of the A2 Rochester Way with the A220.

The [[Manor house|house]] dates back to around 1540 when wealthy merchant [[John Champneys|Sir John Champneys]], [[Lord Mayor of London]] in 1534, built himself a country house.  In 1649, the house was sold to another wealthy [[City of London|City]] merchant, [[Sir Robert Austen, 1st Baronet|Sir Robert Austen]] (1587–1666), who added a second wing built of red bricks, doubling the size of the house.

Currently, the building houses a museum of local artefacts, and a history and tourist information centre. In the gardens there is a topiary lawn, herb garden, tropical garden and long herbaceous cottage garden-styled borders. The former walled gardens include a tropical house housing plants and a large vegetable garden. Model gardens have been created to show visitors how to make use of space in small urban gardens. Hall Place also has three galleries inside the house, presenting art exhibitions and museum displays.

==Demographics==
[[File:Bexley population pyramid.svg|thumb|left|Population pyramid of the Borough of Bexley in 2021]]
{{Historical populations
|type = UK
|title = Population
|footnote = Source: [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10192973&c_id=10001043&add=N ''A Vision of Britain through time'']
|1801 |4165
|1811 |5164
|1821 |6279
|1831 |7725
|1841 |9616
|1851 |10963
|1861 |16477
|1871 |21991
|1881 |27505
|1891 |35728
|1901 |46904
|1911 |61582
|1921 |77747
|1931 |98160
|1941 |139861
|1951 |199297
|1961 |208138
|1971 |217375
|1981 |214352
|1991 |219422
|2001 |218307
|2011 |231997
}}

In 1801, the [[civil parishes in England|civil parishes]] that form the modern borough had a total population of 4,165. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 10,963 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of [[population growth]] increased. The population peaked in the 1970s, when industry began to relocate from London.

In the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]], the borough had a population of 218,307; of whom 105,148 were male, and 113,159 female. Of the population, 44.3% were in full-time employment and 11.6% in part-time employment – compared to a London average of 42.6% and 8.6%, respectively. Residents were predominantly owner-occupiers, with 31.7% owning their house outright, and a further 46.5% owning with a mortgage. Only 2.2% were in [[public housing|local authority housing]], with a further 11.5% renting from a [[housing association]], or other registered social landlord.<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276746&c=Bexley&d=13&e=16&g=326890&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1235564741074&enc=1 ''Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics: Bexley''] accessed 25 February 2009</ref>

[[File:Bexley Church.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.75|The distinctive spire of the ancient parish church of St Mary the Virgin in Bexley]]
The greater part of the population are nominal [[Anglicans]], but there are a number of [[Roman Catholic]] churches and nonconformist congregations. In the 2001 Census, 22.7% of the area's population described themselves as [[irreligion|non-religious]] or chose not to state their faith.<ref>[http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4528 London Borough of Bexley, article 4528]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627223511/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4528 |date=27 June 2012 }}</ref>

[[Baptists]], [[Plymouth Brethren]], and [[Methodist]]s are among the other congregations. In 2008 the former Crayford Methodist Church was purchased by the North West Kent Muslim Association to become a mosque serving Bexley and Dartford boroughs.

In 2011, 58.1% of Bexley's population was between 20 and 64 years old, the lowest percentage in London. 16% of the population was over 65, the third highest behind [[London Borough of Bromley|Bromley]] and [[London Borough of Havering|Havering]]. The average household size is 2.49, up from 2.43 in 2001. The number of households increased by 3.52% to 92,600 between 2001 and 2011, one of the lowest increases in the capital.<ref>[http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefiles/documents/2011-census-first-results.pdf London Census 2011] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021093542/http://data.london.gov.uk/datastorefiles/documents/2011-census-first-results.pdf |date=21 October 2014 }}</ref>

In 2011, 62.5% of the borough's population identified themselves as Christian, with 24.1% having no religion. Both figures are above London's average.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275019&c=Bexley&d=13&e=62&g=6319542&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1392853272210&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2479|title=Local statistics – Office for National Statistics|website=neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714132945/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6275019&c=Bexley&d=13&e=62&g=6319542&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1392853272210&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2479|archive-date=2014-07-14|url-status=dead|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref>

The following table shows the ethnic group of respondents in the 2001 and 2011 census in Bexley.

===Ethnicity===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="12" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |1971 estimations<ref>{{Cite web |title=Migration and London's growth |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/74375221.pdf#page=94 |publisher=LSE}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1981 estimations<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1985 |title=Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |journal=Commission for Racial Equality |language=English |pages=Table 2.2|last1= Equality|first1= Commission for Racial}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991 census<ref>{{cite web |title=1991 census – theme tables |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/asv2htm.aspx |access-date=20 January 2017 |publisher=NOMIS}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001 census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/submit.asp?forward=yes&menuopt=201&subcomp= |title=KS006 – Ethnic group  |publisher=NOMIS |access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011 census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/QS201EW/view/1946157259?cols=measures |title=Ethnic Group by measures |publisher=NOMIS |access-date=8 January 2016}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021 census<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!–
!98.1%
!204,367
!95.8%
!203,117
!94.2%
!199,510
!91.39%
!189,962
!81.88%
!177,164
!71.8%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[White British|British]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 191,947|| 87.93% || 179,250 || 77.26%
|158,842
|64.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 3,025 || 1.39% || 2,596|| 1.12%
|2,528
|1.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–||  –||  –|| 624|| 0.27%
|620
|0.3%
|-
|White: Roma
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|302
|0.1%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | White: [[Other White|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 4,538|| 2.08% || 7,492|| 3.23%
|14,872
|6.0%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total 
!–
!–
!–
!–
!8,133
!3.8%!! 8,934 !! 4.09% !! 15,243 !! 6.57%
!24,434
!9.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|5231
| || 5,548 || 2.54% || 7,047|| 3.04%
|10,925
|4.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|267
| || 334|| 0.15% || 730 || 0.31%
|1,383
|0.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|282
| || 386|| 0.18% || 777|| 0.33%
|1,790
|0.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1201
| || 1,555 || 0.71% || 2,514|| 1.08%
|3,990
|1.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1152
| || 1,111 || 0.51% || 4,175|| 1.80%
|6,346
|2.6%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total  
!–
!–
!–
!–
!3,012
!1.4%!! 6,252 !! 2.86% !! 19,624 !! 8.46%
!30,075
!12.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|African]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|918
| 0.4%|| 4,085 || 1.87% || 15,952 || 6.88%
|23,262
|9.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1466
| || 1,762 || 0.81% || 2,381 || 1.03%
|3,230
|1.3%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Black or Black British: [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|Other Black]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|628
| || 405 || 0.19% || 1,291 || 0.56%
|3,583
|1.5%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed or British Mixed]]: Total 
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–!! 2,872 !! 1.32% !! 5,395 !! 2.33%
!8,740
!3.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Black Caribbean 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 868 || 0.40% || 1,676 || 0.72%
|2,489
|1.0%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Black African 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 394 || 0.18% || 983 || 0.42%
|1,726
|0.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: White and Asian 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 915 || 0.42% || 1,369|| 0.59%
|2,179
|0.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Mixed: Other Mixed 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–|| 695 || 0.32% || 1,367 || 0.59%
|2,346
|1.0%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Other: Total 
!–
!–
!–
!–
!1353
!0.62%!! 739 !! 0.34% !! 1,773 !! 0.76%
!6,062
!2.4%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Other: Arab 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–||  –||  –|| 303|| 0.13%
|527
|0.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left" | Other: Any other ethnic group 
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1353
|0.62%||  –||  –|| 1,470 || 0.63%
|5,535
|2.2%
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Ethnic minority: Total 
!–
!1.9%
!8,931
!4.2%
!12,498
!5.82%!! 18,797 !! 8.61% !! 42,035 !! 18.12%
!69,311
!28.2%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! style="text-align:left" | Total 
!–
!100%
!213,298 
!100%
!215,615
!100%!! 218,307 !! 100.00% !! 231,997 !! 100.00%
!246,475
!100%
|}

==Transport==

===Roads and paths===
The principal roads through the Borough include the [[A2 road (Great Britain)|A2 trunk road]]; the [[A20 road (Great Britain)|A20]] (Sidcup By-pass) which generally marks its southern boundary; the [[A207 road|A207]], which is the route of the erstwhile [[Watling Street]]; the [[A206 road|A206]] which takes traffic from [[Woolwich]] and [[Dartford]]; and the latter's newer counterpart, the [[A2016 road|A2016]] through [[Thamesmead]].

There are also some [[long-distance footpath]]s in the Borough: among them the [[Thames Path]] and the [[London Outer Orbital Path]]. Bexley Borough has joined with three other adjoining boroughs to for the [[South East London Green Chain]] linking green spaces.

===Rail===
Bexley is not served by any [[London Underground]], [[Tramlink]], [[Docklands Light Railway]] or [[London Overground]] services. However, since 2022, [[Elizabeth line]] services have started to utilise a terminus at [[Abbey Wood railway station|Abbey Wood]], the entrance to which is in Bexley (due to the borough boundary passing through the site, the station's platforms sit within the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]]). There are various proposals to extend either the DLR or London Overground to Thamesmead. There are currently no plans to extend the London Underground into the borough, with the nearest current station being in [[North Greenwich tube station|North Greenwich]].

There are three suburban railway lines crossing the Borough which converge at [[Dartford railway station|Dartford]]. The most northerly is the [[North Kent Line]], then the [[Bexleyheath Line]] which runs through the centre of the borough and then finally the [[Dartford Loop Line]] which runs furthest south. Abbey Wood and Slade Green are also served by [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] trains.

The [[National Rail]] stations are:
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* [[Abbey Wood railway station|Abbey Wood]]
* [[Albany Park railway station|Albany Park]]
* [[Barnehurst railway station|Barnehurst]]
* [[Belvedere railway station|Belvedere]]
* [[Bexley railway station|Bexley]]
* [[Bexleyheath railway station|Bexleyheath]]
* [[Crayford railway station|Crayford]]
* [[Erith railway station|Erith]]
* [[Falconwood railway station|Falconwood]]
* [[Sidcup railway station|Sidcup]]
* [[Slade Green railway station|Slade Green]]
* [[Welling railway station|Welling]]
}}

===Modes of travel===

In 2019, the mode share in Bexley was reported as follows<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Implementation plan |url=https://www.bexley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-12/Local-Implementation-Plan-2019-20%E2%80%93to-2021-22.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929135613/https://www.bexley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2020-12/Local-Implementation-Plan-2019-20%E2%80%93to-2021-22.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-29 |url-status=live |website=Bexley.gov.uk |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Mode share in Bexley
|-
! Mode !! Share 
|-
| Car/motorcycle|| 57%
|-
| Walking || 24%
|-
| Cycling || 1%
|-
| Bus/Tram|| 12%
|-
| Taxi/other || 1%
|}

According to a report from Transport for London,<ref>{{cite web |title=Travel in London Report 13 |url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-13.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214102739/http://content.tfl.gov.uk/travel-in-london-report-13.pdf |archive-date=2020-12-14 |url-status=live |website=content.tfl.gov.uk |access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> Bexley has the lowest overall active, efficient and sustainable mode shares of all the London Boroughs.

==Education==
{{main|List of schools in the London Borough of Bexley}}

==Religion==

===Religious affiliation===
The following Pie chart shows the religious affiliation of residents residing in Bexley.

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Bexley (2021 census)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021|title=Religion - Religion in England and Wales: Census 2021, ONS}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Christianity]] |value1 = 50.3
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = [[Irreligion|No religion]]
|value2 = 33.6|color2 = WhiteSmoke
|label3 = [[Islam]]
|value3 = 3.9
|color3 = Green
|label4 = [[Hinduism]]
|value4 = 3.0
|color4 = Orange
|label5 = [[Sikhism]]
|value5 = 2.1
|color5 = DarkKhaki
|label6 = [[Judaism]]
|value6 = 0.1
|color6 = Blue
|label7 = [[Buddhism]]
|value7 = 0.8
|color7 = Yellow
|label8 = Other religions
|value8 = 0.4
|color8 = Chartreuse
|label9 = Not Stated
|value9 = 5.7
|color9 = Grey
}}

===Places of worship===
Buildings with [[Listed building|Grade II listings]] (buildings of special interest warranting preservation) are marked with an [[Asterisk|asterisk *]]
* All Saints' Church – near Foots Cray Meadows, building dates from c. 1330*<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11191|title=Borough of Bexley, Churches of Interest: All Saints|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305081618/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11191|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Bethany Hall – Chapel Road, Bexleyheath, now a meeting house of the [[Plymouth Brethren]] though originally a Methodist chapel<ref>[http://www.bethanygospelhall.com/ www.bethanygospelhall.com]</ref>
* Christ Church – in Erith, built in the 19th century, has a distinctive tower built by [[James Piers St Aubyn|J. P. St. Aubyn]]*<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11196|title=Borough of Bexley, Churches of Interest: Christ Church|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174937/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11196|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The Greek Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour – dates from the late 12th or early 13th century, in Welling*<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11203|title=Borough of Bexley Churches of Interest: Greek Orthodox, Christ the Saviour|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012047/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11203|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* St James' Church – in North Cray, in a conservation area near Foots Cray Meadows, has foundations from the 12th century<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11195|title=Borough of Bexley Churches of Interest: St James Church|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507212322/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11195|archive-date=7 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* St John the Baptist Church – nearly a thousand years old, in Erith<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11190|title=Borough of Bexley Churches of Interest: St John the Baptist|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305072150/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11190|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* St Mary the Virgin Church (also called [[Bexley#Places of worship|Old Bexley Church]]) – in Bexley, dates back to the [[Domesday Survey]]*<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11192|title=Borough of Bexley, Churches of Interest: St Mary the Virgin|access-date=16 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711114125/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11192|archive-date=11 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stmarysbexley.co.uk/|title=St. Mary the Virgin|website=stmarysbexley.co.uk|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref>
* St Paulinus' Church – built in the 12th century on earlier foundations, in Crayford<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11201|title=Borough of Bexley Churches of Interest: St. Paulinus|access-date=16 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305011319/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11201|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Public services==
[[File:End of The Broadway, Bexleyheath (geograph 1955254).jpg|thumb|[[Bexley Civic Offices]]]]
The London Borough of Bexley has three fire stations controlled by the [[London Fire Brigade]] within its boundary: those at Erith, Sidcup and Bexley. Bexley fire station's ground is the largest of the three; covering 23.7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>[http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Documents/Bexley0912.pdf London Fire Brigade, Bexley Profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928040848/http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/Documents/Bexley0912.pdf |date=28 September 2011 }}</ref>

==Sport and leisure==
The Borough has several [[Non-League football]] clubs:

* [[Welling United F.C.]], which play at Park View Road in Welling
* [[Phoenix Sports F.C.]], which play at Phoenix Sports Ground in Barnehurst
* [[VCD Athletic F.C.]] which play at The Oakwood, Old Road in Crayford
* [[Welling Town F.C.]], who play at Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead
* [[Erith & Belvedere F.C.]], which play at Park View Road in Welling
* [[Erith Town F.C.]], which play at Erith Stadium in Erith

Bexley RFC

==Twinning==
The borough is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[Évry, Essonne|Évry]], France
* [[Arnsberg]], Germany
* [[Footscray, Victoria|Footscray]], Victoria, Australia

==Other places named Bexley==
The town of [[Bexley, Ohio]], a suburb of the state capital, [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], was named at the suggestion of an early resident, James Kilbourne, whose family's roots were in Bexley, England.<ref>[http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/James_Kilbourne www.ohiohistorycentral.org]</ref> In addition, a suburb of [[Sydney]], Australia bears the name of [[Bexley, New South Wales|Bexley]] and a suburb of [[Christchurch]], New Zealand is also called [[Bexley, New Zealand|Bexley]]. These places outside England are named after the ancient village of Bexley.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{LB Bexley}}
{{London}}

{{coord|51|27|N|0|08|E|region:GB_type:adm1st|display=title|name=L. Borough of Bexley}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:London Borough of Bexley| ]]
[[Category:London boroughs]]
[[Category:Local authorities adjoining the River Thames]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in the United Kingdom]]