Car Hire Orpington - Mini guide to Orpington

Orpington is a busy thoroughfare for passengers travelling from and to five major London termini and the towns from the coast and heartland of Kent.

Orpington Priory, Museum and Gardens are an attraction unique in South London. It offers visitors free access, 365 days a year to listed Arts and Crafts style gardens within a setting steeped in medieval history.

Orpington is primarily a 20th century town although it had a main line railway as early as 1868. The town has some historic sites and buildings, particularly around the historic parkland setting of the Priory Gardens. Bromley Museum is housed in a medieval building set in beautiful gardens, including exhibitions of the Avebury collection and displays showing the development of the area.

Orpington's busy town centre is ideal for shopping and a popular location for business. The suburb of New Town, between the Priory and St. Mary Cray, has its own pubs and shops. High Street has 250 retail businesses including M&S, Boots, WH Smith, Sainsbury's, Woolworth and Bonmarche. There is also Walnuts Shopping Centre and open air and indoor markets.

Explore the Lush countryside of Kent, renowned for its hop fields, orchards and miles of distinctive historical coastline including the famous White Cliffs of Dover. The river Cray begins at Orpington and flows north-eastward through a lowland area (the Cray river valley). The banks of the River Cray and the adjoining land are rich in flora and fauna, and have a great deal of archaeological significance. Many great houses and estates are also situated in the area. Closer to Orpington is the magnificent Petts Wood nature forest, full of walking trails and some wildlife.

Orpington is within easy reach of central London by train – they leave from Orpington Station for London Charing Cross Station every 15 minutes (duration 23 minutes). It is within four miles of the M25 (J4), M20, M2, M26 and within easy reach of Gatwick, City, Heathrow, Stansted and Biggin Hill airports.