Location: Beckenham
Top Things to do in Beckenham
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10 Things to Do in Beckenham That You Shouldn't Miss
Beckenham is a post town and district of London in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It borders Beckenham Place Park and Bellingham in the London Borough of Lewisham (to the north) and is centred 8.4 miles (13.5 km) south east of Charing Cross. Until the coming of the railway in 1857, Beckenham was a small village, with most of its land being rural and private parkland. A family of entrepreneurs began the building of villas which led to a rapid increase in population, between 1850 and 1900, from 2,000 to 26,000. Housing and population growth has continued at a lesser pace since 1900.
Restaurants in Beckenham
1. Kelsey Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 277 reviews
Reviewed By mwooduk - Miami
The best place in town to walk off your excess Christmas calories! Terrific park with beautiful lake, ducks to feed, swans to watch, Canadian geese to not feed and pretty Gardens. Dog friendly on one side. Although I know parking can be an issue, I always walk here. There's a great little row of shops leading up to the park with a Sponge Kitchen and a few others. Just a happy place to walk or exercise or take your dog. There is also a children's playground. I believe it shuts at Sunset and there are toilets.
2. Chislehurst Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 902 reviews
Reviewed By Denise Mary A
This should have been a very interesting and illuminating tour. Unfortunately, the tour that we saw lacked in coherence and facts. Anything that might have been interesting or based in fact was glossed over in favour of stories that were almost certainly not true. If the tour guide knew anything about the caves, he did a good job of covering it up. The Delivery and structure was so scatalogical that I came out of the caves none the wiser about the history. A quick Google search would yield more information than this tour. I only give this attraction two stars because of the caves themselves. A massive missed opportunity.
3. Croydon Airport Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 152 reviews
Croydon Airport Visitor Centre micro-museum- located in Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ. Open on the 1st Sunday of the month throughout the year. Special Open Days at other times- see website for details. Haley Sharpe designed and winner of a British Tourism Award, featuring interactive displays and storyboards. It tells the story of Britain's first major international airport through World War I, Imperial Airways and BOAC, record-breaking flights by the likes of Amy Johnson and other, the Battle of Britain and much, much more.
Reviewed By Mark Benjamin L - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A friend and I visited this building today and joined a very well presented guided tour . The building was the first organised and integrated airport terminal in the world and it also housed the world's first air traffic control tower . It is an attractive , well constructed art deco structure designed by Air Ministry architects and built by Wilson Lovatt and Co. It has a steel frame clad with building blocks and now painted white. Our guide , Norman , was a volunteer who knew a tremendous amount about the history of air travel , aircraft and this building in particular . His tour lasted two hours during which he never faltered in giving a perfectly organised and very well presented talk full of facts and interesting information . He and the group of volunteers who curate the museum here are to be highly commended . There are lots of highlights - too many to name .But the quality of draftsmanship of the cartoons drawn of many of the people who staffed every aspect of the work of Croydon airport in its heyday were very interesting indeed and particularly stick in my mind . Well worth a visit .
4. Bethlem Museum of the Mind
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By cinemajim - Oxted, United Kingdom
This is a very interesting visit showing art from previous inmates. Its very small but I am pleased that the history of Bethlem is being maintained
5. Boxpark Croydon
Overall Ratings
4 based on 317 reviews
After 5 successful years in Shoreditch, Boxpark took the leap south of the river into Croydon to premiere the first food and beverage only site, with over 200 events planned each year and capacity for over 2000 people! Boxpark Croydon holds nearly 40 food tenants, all under one roof, serving almost every kind of cuisine imaginable. There is something for everyone.
Reviewed By slayerfan186605 - Dublin, Ireland
I had a bit of time to kill before heading to Gatwick to catch a flight, arrived in Boxpark shortly after lunchtime and the place was buzzing. From pasta to Sri Lankan Street food, this place had it all. Super fresh and well priced.
Great open space and would really like to check this place out at the weekend or evening
6. Churchill Theatre
Overall Ratings
4 based on 234 reviews
The Churchill Theatre's comfortable auditorium, Seating up to 781, is fully air-conditioned and the theatre's facilities include bars, refreshment kiosks and spacious foyers.
Reviewed By Ruth568 - London, United Kingdom
Fantastic theatre within easy reach, without the expense of travel to London. Comfortable Seating with plenty of leg room. Easy access for disabled or those who cannot manage stairs, etc - book tickets in the circle and pick the very back row of seats. You simply walk from the entrance foyer straight to your seat within a few metres (no steps) and you get a perfectly good view (albeit a little high). Have seen many great productions here and it is good value for money. Snacks and drinks can be bought in entrance area. Free parking in local roads in the evening.
7. Croydon Road Recreation Ground
Overall Ratings
4 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By John P - Beckenham
Ever since my wife (Valerie) and I came to live in Beckenham, over 50years ago, this has been a pleasant handy local park adjoining the Town Centre and Hospital. Initially we played tennis there on one of its plentiful hard courts; then when the family arrived it was also used for general family recreation, including the children's paddling pool, play area and tea cafe. It also has a bowling green and multi-sports pitch, as well as acres of usually very quiet green space. Its general layout does not seem to have changed much since it was opened in 1891. Now, when in the Town Centre, and the sun's out, it's ideal for a leisurely stroll and to rest and watch other users. Its paths also provide very convenient short cuts, away from busy roads, to other local places.
It is not widely known that the United Kingdom’s first manned airmail flight left from here in 1902, travelling to Calais by hot air balloon. But its main claim to fame is that its Victorian style bandstand is where David Bowie (who lived locally) and his friends from the Beckenham Arts Lab held a Free Festival on 16 August 1969. The bandstand is now somewhat the worse for wear, and the 'Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground' (of which I am a member) is raising funds to restore it. An annual music festival 'Bowie's Beckenham Oddity' is held as a memorial to Bowie and to help raise funds. By coincidence this year it's on in two weeks time 12th August 2017 from 12-8pm!!!
8. Shirley Windmill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Restored almost to working condition Windmill.Souvenirs and refreshments available. For Open Days and further information please see our website.
Reviewed By NooNooBird - London, United Kingdom
Ok, not a Windmill fanatic but this windmill deserves to be visited, admired, and quite frankly wowed at for it's ingenious mechanical workings, it will deserved to preserved by a small donation because the engineering, architecture, workmanship and whole attribute of having such a glorious...MoreThank you for your kind words.
9. St George's Parish Church
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Sharon B - Beckenham, United Kingdom
Beauty, peace and light are there words that describe the experience of visiting St George church. I'm sure visitors will add their own. It's open every day with free music recitals on various Friday and Saturday lunchtimes. I have always been welcomed in a very friendly manner every time I've visited. Once inside there's lots of interesting architecture, memorials and stained glass windows to look at if that's your thing ...... Or just sit and take it all in which is what I prefer to do. There always seems to be something on, all advertised of the notices boards.
10. The Glades, Bromley
Overall Ratings
4 based on 163 reviews
Reviewed By mwooduk - Miami
I grew up in Bromley but have lived in America for many years. The shopping mall has been a great addition to Bromley High Street. Especially on a cold wet winters day like it was today. There is such a wonderful array of shops with...MoreThank you for your great comments and score, glad you love the trees and decorations - we love them!
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