Beckenham is a district within the London Borough of Bromley. It borders Beckenham Place Park and Bellingham within the London Borough of Lewisham. It is 8.4 miles south east of Charing Cross.
Beckenham was a modest village inside the borough in Kent mostly with land serving as private parkland till the railway was constructed in 1857. Immediately after that, an entrepreneurial family began constructing villas which caused the population to rise massively from just 2,000 to 26,000 between 1850 and 1900. Since 1900, housing has been built at a steadier pace, meaning the populace is beginning to balance out. At the 2011 census, the population stood at 56,668.
The district is served by three major railway stations as well as six more in the post town. There is also two Croydon Tramlink stations to the west of the district. Transport for London buses serve the Beckenham area to link it with other towns such as Bromley, Catford, Croydon and Crystal Palace.
Beckenham is recognised for its several places of worship. St George’s Church is the primary parish church and stands at the centre of the district. It dates back to about 1100, but was majorly rebuilt in the end of the 19th century. It consists of a 13th century lynch gate that is considered to be one of the oldest of its type in England.