Property for sale in St James Way, Northcray, Sidcup, Kent, DA14

Our area guide for Blackfen offers a brief overview of the town and its attractions, properties, schools, history, council tax and public transport links.

Overview

Blackfen is a local community with an almost village feel set between the larger towns of Sidcup and Welling, although it is sometimes considered part of Sidcup and it shares the same DA15 postcode.  Blackfen is a largely residential area chosen by people looking for a quieter spot in the Borough of Bexley to raise their children in.

Shopping

Blackfen has its own High Street, with mainly independent stores and boutiques. People travel miles to visit the wedding dress shop, the baby shop and the two specialist children’s shoe shops. There’s also a Summerfield supermarket for everyday grocery shopping. Blackfen’s other notable shopping district is The Oval – a Tudor-esque parade of shops and pretty gardens that fall within a designated conservation area. For a wider selection of shops, Blackfen residents are a short stop away from Sidcup and Eltham.

Attractions

Ruxley Manor, one of North Kent’s best garden centres, is close by and is a must-visit for anyone who is green fingered. With history dating back to 1876, Ruxley Manor is much more than a plant shop. It holds seasonal activities for children, including craft workshops and ‘meet the animal’ sessions, as well as an enchanting Christmas wonderland complete with Ruxley’s resident reindeer. Blackfen High Street is home to the town’s library while the wonderful Danson Park is within walking distance.

Food and drink

Good honest food can be found at Blackfen’s three main pubs – The Three Blackbirds, The Jolly Fenman and The George Staples. The Oval is home to three restaurants and Blackfen is well serviced by cafes and take-aways.

History

Blackfen’s history is shared with Sidcup, with the name Blackfen meaning a black, marshy area. The soil is dark and fertile so perhaps a gardeners’ delight? Blackfen was widely considered the ‘gateway to Kent’, although it now lies in the Greater London Borough of Bexley.

Property Market

There’s a wide variety of property in Blackfen, from styles dating from the 1800s through to Victorian examples and new build flats. 1930s Wates homes form a big part of the market, as do the various types of chalet-style homes.

Council Tax

Blackfen is in the Bexley borough and these are the council tax valuation details for London Borough of Bexley for the year 2011/2012.

Education

Blackfen has good access to a number of private and mainstream schools, including:

Private:

• Merton Court
• Benedict House
• St. Olaves
• West Lodge
• Harenc School

Mainstream:

• Blackfen School for Girls
• Cleve Park
• Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School 
• Days Lane Primary School 
• Sherwood Park Primary School 
• Longlands Primary

Hospitals

The nearest hospital to Blackfen is Queen Elizabeth in Woolwich and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

Transport Links

Blackfen has excellent road links, with the A2, the A21, the A20 and the M25 all within close proximity. The nearest train stations can be found at Sidcup, Welling and Falconwood, where trains run frequently to Lewisham (for the DLR), London Bridge, Waterloo East, Cannon Street, Charing Cross and Victoria. Journeys into London by rail take approximately 30 minutes. Bus routes running through Blackfen include the 51 to Woolwich and Orpington, 132 to Bexleyheath and North Greenwich (for the Jubilee Tube line), the B13 to Bexleyheath and New Eltham, and the N21 to Foots Cray and Trafalgar Square.