Crayford grew up where Watling Street crossed the River Cray, and for centuries it was a town of mills, calico printing and, later, the Vickers works that built aircraft and guns. Today it sits right on the edge of London, with the A2 and the M25 a few minutes away and Kent stretching beyond. Minibus hire Crayford customers book is mostly about that location, with day trips into Kent, greyhound racing nights at the stadium, shopping trips to Bluewater and family celebrations.
Crayford sits in the east of Bexley, on the London side of the border with Kent, between Bexleyheath, Barnehurst, Slade Green and Dartford, with the A2 to the south and the Thames marshes to the north. From our base in SE1, it's about fifty minutes to an hour outside the rush hour, out along the A2.
Minibus hire Crayford for Kent day trips
From Crayford, the A2 runs east into Kent and the M25 is a few minutes away. Leeds Castle is about forty minutes, Chatham Historic Dockyard about thirty-five, Rochester about thirty-five, Hever Castle and Chartwell about forty, Knole in Sevenoaks about thirty, and the coast at Whitstable, Margate and Broadstairs about an hour and ten minutes. Canterbury is about fifty-five minutes.
Families, senior clubs, church groups, community groups and youth groups book us for days like these. The driver drops at the venue, waits or goes off, and returns at the agreed time. For a senior group, a garden visit with lunch and an early return is a popular choice. For a group of friends, a vineyard tour, such as at Chapel Down near Tenterden, makes a good day out with a driver. Summer holiday days at the coast mean busy roads, so we'll suggest an early start.
Greyhound nights at Crayford Stadium
Crayford Stadium, on the edge of the town centre, is one of the few greyhound tracks still racing near London, with evening meetings, restaurant packages and private boxes. Race nights run for a few hours, with a restaurant overlooking the track. Birthday groups, office parties and stag and hen groups book us for a night at the dogs.
The driver drops at the stadium and comes back after the last race, or at the time you set, so everyone can enjoy the night without worrying about driving home. Minibus hire Crayford groups book for a Saturday race night often ends with a run on to a bar in Bexleyheath or Dartford.
Bluewater and Lakeside
Bluewater, the huge shopping centre in an old chalk quarry, is about ten minutes from Crayford, and Lakeside is about fifteen minutes over the Dartford Crossing, with its own cinema, restaurants and lake. Shopping groups, birthday parties, Christmas shoppers and families book us for days at both, and Bluewater's cinema and restaurants suit an evening out. The lakes and walks around the old quarry make a pleasant break between shops.
At Bluewater, the driver uses the coach and minibus drop-off and returns at the agreed time. For Lakeside, the Dartford Crossing charge goes on the quote.
Hall Place and the River Cray
Hall Place, a fine Tudor and Jacobean house with topiary gardens on the River Cray, is a few minutes west, and it runs school sessions and hosts weddings in its Great Hall, with the gardens and the river as a backdrop for photographs. The Cray riverside walk leads north towards the Thames marshes and south towards Bexley Village and Footscray Meadows. Crayford's primary and secondary schools book us for museum visits, swimming lessons, sports fixtures and residential trips to outdoor centres in Kent.
Weddings down the Kent lanes
Crayford's families book us for weddings, christenings, anniversaries and big birthdays, with guests collected from homes across Crayford, Barnehurst and Slade Green and taken to venues in Bexley and Kent. Many receptions are at golf clubs, barns and country venues down Kent lanes, and the minibus saves guests the drive home in the dark. For couples marrying at Hall Place with a reception in Kent, guests can be collected from hotels in Dartford and Bexleyheath. Golf societies heading to Barnehurst and the Dartford courses book us too, and we'll check the bags fit.
The one-way system and the A2
Crayford's town centre is wrapped in a one-way system around the Crayford Way retail park and the High Street, and it's busy at weekends, with the big supermarket and stores on Crayford Way drawing heavy traffic. Thames Road, heading towards Slade Green and the Dartford Crossing approach, and the A2 at the Black Prince interchange and the M25 junction slow down at peak times. Gatwick is about forty to fifty minutes from Crayford, Stansted about fifty minutes and London City about thirty-five. Pickups happen on side roads or at the venue.
For minibus hire in Crayford, call 020 7183 0567.