Bexley Area Guide [Updated with 2024 Data]

What’s it like to live in Bexley?

Living in Bexley can be an affordable option compared to some areas of London, with a range of amenities including parks, shopping options, and restaurants. The area has a reputation for being relatively safe and is known for its good standard of living, making it a popular choice for those seeking a suburban lifestyle.

This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Bexley?

Properties in Bexley on average cost £391,250.00, ranking the borough as the 2 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Compared to other areas in London, buying a property in the borough of Bexley can be relatively affordable as the average property prices are significantly lower than the London average.

How much does it cost to rent in Bexley?

Bexley is one of the most affordable areas to rent in London. According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £1,025 per month to rent which ranks 14 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,112 per month to rent which ranks 4 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £1,357 per month to rent which ranks 2 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £1,507 per month to rent which ranks 1 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £1,700 per month to rent which ranks 1 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Bexley?

Bexley is one of the less populated boroughs in London according to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, as measured by number of dwellings. It has 99000 in total, ranking 24 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 37.5% of households are owned outright
• 32.6% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 16.4% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 16.4% of households are privately rented

Is Bexley a good place to live?

Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:

• Bexley ranks 17 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Bexley ranks 9 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Bexley ranks 13 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Bexley ranks 22 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Bexley and are they good?

In total Bexley has 84 schools, which are broken down into:

• 57 state primary schools
• 16 state secondary schools
• 5 independent schools

For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.

Is Bexley polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Bexley ranks 4 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Bexley ranks 4 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Bexley ranks 4 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Bexley?

The employment rate in Bexley is 83.4% which ranks 5 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.

Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.

Is Bexley a wealthy area?

The average income in Bexley is £38,000 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 30 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

Bexley is not known as one of London’s wealthier areas, but it can offer a comfortable standard of living with a mix of affordable and more upscale housing options.

Is Bexley a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Bexley is a diverse area with a mix of cultures and religions. However, it could be considered less diverse than many other boroughs when comparing reported religious beliefs. According to the ONS:

• 59.5% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 4.7% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 1.8% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
• 2.2% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Bexley?

Bexley is 60.6 km2, making it the 7th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 258,607 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 24 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 4,269, ranking it 28 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Bexley safe?

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:

• 10,728 total reported crimes and 41.48 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 2 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 517 total reported burglaries and 2.00 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 2 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 1,060 total reported cases of criminal damage and 4.10 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 15 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 394 total reported drug related crimes and 1.52 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 8 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 308 total reported robberies and 1.19 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 1 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 229 total reported sexual offences and 0.89 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 3 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 4,646 total reported thefts and 17.97 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 1 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 3,401 total reported violent crimes and 13.15 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Bexley as 5 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes

What public transport options does Bexley have?

Bexley offers a range of public transport options, including several train stations that provide access to the Southeastern railway network, making it easy to reach central London and other parts of the city. This includes services to London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street. While there are no tube lines in Bexley, the borough has several bus routes that connect to nearby areas, such as the 269 and B13 routes which run to nearby Bexleyheath and Erith, and the 492 route that travels to Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent.

What places are in Bexley?

Bexley encompasses several neighbourhoods and localities, each with their own unique character and amenities. These include the suburban town of Bexleyheath, the historic village of Old Bexley, and the riverside town of Erith, as well as Sidcup, Welling, Belvedere, and Crayford.

What is Bexley famous for?

Bexley has an array of historical and cultural sites that are popular with residents and visitors alike, such as:

1. Danson Park: a large public park that features a lake, boating, and other recreational activities
2. The Red House: a historic house designed by renowned British architect Philip Webb, which is now open to the public
3. Erith Pier: a pier that offers scenic views of the River Thames and is home to the Erith Yacht Club
4. Bexleyheath Shopping Centre: a popular shopping destination with a wide range of high-street shops and restaurants
5. Lesnes Abbey: a ruined medieval abbey that has been designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument
6. Crayford Greyhound Track: a historic dog racing venue that hosts regular events
7. Hall Place: a stately home and gardens that are open to the public
8. The historic Crayford Ness lighthouse: a unique landmark on the banks of the River Thames
9. The Bexley Brewery: a local brewery that produces a range of craft beers
10. The Bexley Heritage Trust: a local organisation that works to preserve the borough’s cultural heritage and landmarks.

What boroughs are next to Bexley?

Bexley is bordered by several other boroughs:

• To the north it is bordered by the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, and Havering, separated by the River Thames
• To the south, it is bordered by the London Borough of Bromley
• To the west, it is bordered by the London Borough of Greenwich