Local information for Dartford, Swanscombe, Greenhithe, Longfield and Stone
Dartford borough sits at the point where Kent meets London, covering the towns of Dartford, Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Longfield on the south bank of the Thames. The area is home to around 117,000 people and serves as a major transport junction — the Dartford Crossing, comprising the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and tunnels, carries the M25 motorway over the river here.
The borough has two notable claims to wider fame. Bluewater, one of the UK's largest shopping centres, occupies a former chalk quarry at Greenhithe. And in 1961, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards famously met on a platform at Dartford station, a chance encounter that would lead to the formation of the Rolling Stones.
Railway stations in the area include Dartford, Greenhithe, Stone Crossing, Swanscombe, Longfield, Farningham Road. Dartford is a major junction where the three London lines via Woolwich, Bexleyheath and Sidcup meet. Ebbsfleet International, with high-speed services to London St Pancras, is on the borough's eastern edge.
The main roads serving Dartford are the M25 (Dartford Crossing), A2, A282 and A226.
The main hospital is Darent Valley Hospital, run by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, which has an emergency department.
Kent News Hub’s local news coverage for Dartford is in development. This page will grow to carry Dartford reporting alongside the reference information above. See all Kent areas.