Downe Village: The Bromley village that you can get to by bus

Being on the fringes of Kent, the south east London borough of Bromley is home to some areas that feel more like the Kent countryside than south east London.

Downe Village is one of those anomalies, being just 15 minutes’ drive from south east London and accessible by the 146 bus from Bromley, whilst feeling like you’ve gone deeper into the countryside.

Downe Village is just 15 minutes’ drive from south east London, whilst feeling like you’ve gone deeper into the countryside. (Image: Emily Davison)

It features a mix of picket-fenced houses, cottages and timber framed pubs, giving it that chocolate box village feel.

The village was part of Kent up until 1965, when it became part of the London Borough of Bromley with a BR postcode.

It features a mix of picket-fenced houses, cottages and timber framed pubs, giving it that chocolate box village feel. (Image: Emily Davison)

Some of the village’s best known residents include Charles Darwin, who formerly lived at Down House with his family, and Robin Knox-Johnston, who circumnavigated the world in a yacht.

Today you can still visit Down House, owned by English Heritage, which showcases how Darwin lived in his former home, with 4-acre gardens to explore.

Today you can still visit Down House, which showcases how Darwin lived in his former home. (Image: English Heritage)

The village is home to two pubs, along with nearby Christmas Tree Farm and a historic church.

One of the village’s oldest features is its church – St Mary’s The Virgin – dating back to the 13th century, which once served as a school to the village.

One of the village’s oldest features is its church – St Mary’s The Virgin – dating back to the 13th century. (Image: Emily Davison)

Among the village’s pubs you’ll find The George and Dragon, serving traditional British fare and recognisable by its timber framed structure, and The Queen’s Head, which was famously believed to have been visited by Queen Elizabeth I herself.

The Queen’s Head was famously believed to have been visited by Queen Elizabeth I herself. (Image: Emily Davison)

Speaking on the village, Queen’s Head manager Nigel Andrews said: “Downe is unique in that you can be here in 20 minutes from Bromley whilst it feels like you’ve driven far into Kent.

“We get lots of people visiting for Down House and it just has a really nice sense of community.”

One of Downe’s other popular attractions is Christmas Tree Farm, just a short walk from the village, which is home to farm animals like horses, pigs, chickens, goats and alpacas, with entry costing £8 for adults and £5 for children.