Danson House was built in the 1760s for a City merchant who wanted somewhere to impress his new wife, and it still does that job, only now it's for wedding parties rather than one bride. The Georgian villa sits in Danson Park, the largest park in the borough, with a lake, a walled garden and wide lawns. Minibus hire Bexleyheath customers book often involves Danson in some way, along with school trips, nights out on the Broadway and runs to Gatwick and Stansted.
Bexleyheath is the main town of Bexley borough, between Welling to the west and Crayford to the east, with the A2 to the south. From our base in SE1, it's about forty-five minutes to an hour outside the rush hour, out along the A2.
Minibus hire Bexleyheath for Danson House weddings
Couples marry at Danson House in its Georgian rooms, and the park and the lake make the backdrop for the photographs. Receptions take place at the house, in a marquee, or at venues across Bexley and Kent. Christ Church, with its tall spire on the Broadway, and other churches in the town host church weddings too.
We'll plan a loop that collects guests from their homes or hotels, drops at the ceremony and takes them on to the reception, with a late run home. Danson Park has its own access roads and car parks, so we'll confirm with the venue where the vehicle drops and waits. Minibus hire Bexleyheath couples book often includes a separate early run for the bridal party.
Red House and Hall Place
Red House, on Red House Lane, was designed for William Morris by his friend Philip Webb, and its painted walls, stained glass and garden tell the story of the Arts and Crafts movement. The National Trust runs it, and visits are by timed entry, so for groups we'll work to the time you've booked. Hall Place, a Tudor and Jacobean house by the River Cray, has topiary gardens and runs school sessions.
Both are popular with school groups, art societies and U3A outings. Drop-off is at the door, with collection when the visit ends. The garden, with its well and orchard, is part of the visit, so allow time for the group to walk round it.
Grammar schools and fixtures
Bexleyheath has several large secondary schools and many primaries, and they book us for museum visits, swimming galas, sports fixtures and residential trips. Teams travel to fixtures across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Kent.
For trips into central London, the South Kensington museums are about an hour and a quarter away outside the rush hour, and the Greenwich museums about twenty-five minutes. Kit bags go in the back, and the driver stays until the final whistle. Bexley's grammar schools, several of them in and around Bexleyheath, play a full programme of rugby, hockey and football against schools across Kent.
The Broadway and nights out
Bexleyheath Broadway has the shopping centre, restaurants and bars, and it's the main spot in the borough for a birthday dinner or a night out. Groups also head into Bluewater, about fifteen minutes away, for shopping, dinner and the cinema, or into central London.
For a night out, we'll collect from homes across Bexleyheath, Welling and Barnehurst, drop at the venue and plan the drop-offs at the end. The Broadway is partly pedestrianised, so pickups will be on a side road or at an agreed point by the clock tower. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest, and for big groups we'll fix the pickup time in advance so the vehicle is there as the venue closes.
Danson Park events and the lake
Danson Park hosts summer events, fun runs and festivals, and the lake has sailing and rowing clubs. On event days, the roads around the park and the car parks fill up, and some access roads close. If your booking falls on a big event day in the park, tell us and we'll plan around it.
The walled garden and the Old English Garden are quieter, and they suit a school nature trip or a picnic.
Gatwick, Stansted and the A2
Gatwick is about forty-five minutes to an hour from Bexleyheath outside the rush hour, via the A2 and the M25. Stansted is about an hour, across the Dartford Crossing, and the crossing charge goes on the quote. London City is about thirty to forty minutes. Heathrow is well over an hour, round the M25 or through central London.
The A2 queues at the Black Prince interchange at peak times, and the Broadway and Gravel Hill are busy at school times. For early flights, we'll build in a margin. Families flying from Gatwick early in the summer holidays often need a pickup before five, when the A2 and the M25 are clear.
For minibus hire in Bexleyheath, call 020 7183 0567.