View source for London Borough of Bromley

{{bdm}}
{{Infobox London Borough
| name               = London Borough of Bromley
| short_name         = Bromley
| adminhq            = Stockwell Close, Bromley
| imagename          = Bromley UK locator map.svg
| image_shield       = Arms-bromley-lb.jpg
| arms_article       = Coat of arms of the London Borough of Bromley
| status             = [[London borough]]
| area_rank          = 211th 
| area_km2           = 150.15
| area_link          = 1 E8 m²
| ons_code           = 00AF
| gss_code           = E09000006
| url                = http://www.bromley.gov.uk/
| leadership         = Leader (Cllr Stephen Carr) & Cabinet
| mayor              = Cllr Julian Bennington
| mps                = [[Jo Johnson]]<br>[[Bob Stewart (British Army officer)|Bob Stewart]]<br>[[Bob Neill]]<br>[[Jim Dowd (politician)|Jim Dowd]]
| gla_constituency   = Bexley and Bromley
| gla_member         = [[Gareth Bacon]]
| postcode_areas     = [[BR postcode area|BR]], [[CR postcode area|CR]], [[DA postcode area|DA]], [[SE postcode area|SE]], [[TN postcode area|TN]]
| dial_codes         = 01689, 01959, 020
}}
The '''London Borough of Bromley''' {{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-LBBromley.ogg|ˈ|b|r|ɒ|m|l|i}} is one of the 32 [[London Boroughs]] (plus the City) which make up [[Greater London]]. The London Borough of Bromley is south of the [[River Thames]] which flows through [[London]], the [[capital city]] of the United Kingdom. [[Bromley]] is the principal town in the London Borough of Bromley. Douglas Patterson is the Chief Executive Officer of the local authority, [[Bromley London Borough Council]].

==Geography==
The borough is the largest in Greater London by area and occupies {{convert|59|sqmi|km2|0}}, of which the majority is [[Metropolitan Green Belt]] land. It is also perhaps the most rural.

Most of the population lives in the north and west of the borough, with an outlier at [[Biggin Hill]] in the far south. The borough shares borders with the London Boroughs of [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]] and [[Royal Borough of Greenwich|Greenwich]] to the North, [[London Borough of Bexley|Bexley]] to the North East, [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]] and [[London Borough of Lambeth|Lambeth]] to the North West, as well as [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]] to the West. It also borders the [[Sevenoaks]] District of [[Kent]] to the East and South, and the [[Tandridge District]] of [[Surrey]] to the South West.

[[Westerham Heights]], the [[List of highest points in London|highest point in London]] at an altitude of 804 feet (245 m), is located on the southern boundary. The [[Prime Meridian]] passes through Bromley.

About 30% of the land in Bromley is farmland, the highest figure of a London Borough.<ref>http://www.capitalgrowth.org/big_idea/facts_figures/</ref>

==History==
The borough was formed, as were all other London boroughs, on 1 April 1965 by the [[London Government Act 1963]]. It comprised the former area of the [[Municipal Borough of Bromley]], the [[Municipal Borough of Beckenham]], [[Penge Urban District]], [[Orpington Urban District]] and the [[Chislehurst]] part of [[Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District]], which was transferred from [[Kent]] to [[Greater London]].

In 1969, after a local campaign, the village of [[Knockholt]] was transferred back to Kent to become part of the [[Sevenoaks Rural District]] and later [[Sevenoaks (district)|Sevenoaks District]]. Before 1965 it had been part of the Orpington Urban District.

==Districts==
{{see also|List of districts in Bromley}}
[[File:Sundridge Park, Kent. - geograph.org.uk - 682260.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Sundridge Park]]
The borough is partly urban and partly rural, the former to the north and very much part of the built-up area of suburban London.

The principal parts of the northern section, from west to east, are  ''[[Beckenham]]'', which includes [[Eden Park, London, England|Eden Park]] and [[Elmers End]]; ''[[Bromley]]'' with [[Bickley]], Bromley Park and [[Bromley Common]], Park Langley, Plaistow, [[Shortlands]], and Southborough; ''[[Chislehurst]]'', with [[Elmstead, London|Elmstead]] and [[Sundridge, London|Sundridge]]. The built-up area around ''[[Orpington]]'' not only encompasses its direct outskirts of [[Chelsfield]], Crofton, Derry Downs, [[Goddington]], Kevingtown, and [[Petts Wood]]; it also includes the erstwhile separate settlements of [[Farnborough, London|Farnborough]], [[Green Street Green]], [[Pratts Bottom]], [[St Mary Cray]] and [[St Paul's Cray]]. Other smaller suburban areas include [[Anerley]] and nearby [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]]; and [[Penge]]. In addition, parts of [[Mottingham]], [[Sydenham]], [[Swanley]] and [[Ruxley]] lie within the borough boundaries.

There are two main built-up areas in the southern part of the borough: [[Hayes, Bromley|Hayes]] and [[West Wickham]]. [[Biggin Hill]], [[Downe]] and  [[Keston]] with [[Leaves Green]] and Nash are separate, smaller, rural settlements.

Local attractions include [[Down House]] (the home of [[Charles Darwin]]), [[Chislehurst Caves]], [[Holwood House]] (the home of [[William Pitt the Younger]]), [[Crofton Roman Villa]], and the site of [[The Crystal Palace]].

==Governance==
{{See also|List of electoral wards in Greater London#Bromley|label 1=List of electoral wards in Bromley}}
[[File:Bromley Ward Map.PNG|left|thumb|The 22 wards of the London Borough of Bromley (orange) and the surrounding London boroughs (yellow) and districts outside Greater London (grey)]]
Bromley is divided into 22 [[Wards of the United Kingdom|wards]] with a total of 60 council seats. These are currently represented by:<ref name=ResultsSummary2014>{{cite web|title=Elections 2014 - Local Council Elections - Results 2014|url=http://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/200141/elections/983/elections_2014|work=London Borough of Bromley website|publisher=London Borough of Bromley|accessdate=26 January 2016}}</ref>
* [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]: 51
* [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]: 7
* [[UKIP]]: 2

Bromley was under Conservative control from its creation until the local elections of 7 May 1998 when a Liberal Democrat/Labour coalition assumed power. After a number of [[by-election]]s and a [[defection]], the Conservatives regained control on 5 July 2001.

The 22 wards are shown on the accompanying map. Ward names often straddle the named settlements and suburban areas above: their boundaries are fixed, whereas the latter are not.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type = UK
|title = Population
|footnote = Source: [http://web.archive.org/web/20160102174806/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10039666&c_id=10001043&add=N ''A Vision of Britain through time'']
|1801 |8944
|1811 |10186
|1821 |11455
|1831 |13302
|1841 |14878
|1851 |17192
|1861 |33144
|1871 |49095
|1881 |65046
|1891 |84729
|1901 |99502
|1911 |116851
|1921 |140960
|1931 |170073
|1941 |216821
|1951 |276438
|1961 |290065
|1971 |304414
|1981 |294547
|1991 |294723
|2001 |295560
|2011 |309392
}}

In 1801, the [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]]es that form the modern borough had a total population of 8,944. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 17,192 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of [[population growth]] increased. The population peaked in the 1970s, when industry began to relocate from London.

In the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]], the borough had a population of 309,392. All major religions are represented, but of those stating a choice, 60.07% described themselves as [[Christian]]. In 2001, of the population, 43.47% were in full-time employment and 11.06% in part-time employment &ndash; compared to a London average of 42.64% and 8.62%, respectively. Residents were predominantly owner-occupiers, with 32.53% owning their house outright, and a further 42.73% owning with a mortgage. Only 1.42% were in [[public housing|local authority housing]], with a further 12.74% renting from a [[housing association]], or other registered social landlord.<ref>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276748&c=Bromley&d=13&e=16&g=328548&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1235571663273&enc=1 ''Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics: Bromley''] accessed 25 February 2009</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|List of schools in the London Borough of Bromley}}

==Transport==
Bromley is one of only six London Boroughs<ref name="boroughs">Six London boroughs ([[London Borough of Bexley|Bexley]], Bromley, [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]], [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston]], [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]] and [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]]) are not served by the Underground. The [[London Borough of Hackney]] has two stations on its border.</ref> not to have at least one [[London Underground]] station within its boundaries. However, the borough has many railway stations served by [[London Overground]], [[Thameslink and Great Northern|Thameslink]],  [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]]. The borough also has several stops on the [[London Tramlink]] network. It was also reported that Boris Johnson plans to introduce either an extension of the Bakerloo Line to Hayes, in Bromley, passing through Beckenham Junction, or an extension of the DLR to Bromley North. One last option is the extension of the London Overground to Bromley North. The most likely is the extension of the Bakerloo Line, but would not be scheduled to begin till 2040, if accepted. 

National Rail stations:
*[[Crystal Palace railway station|Crystal Palace]] 
*[[Birkbeck station|Birkbeck]]
*[[Beckenham Junction railway station|Beckenham Junction]]
*[[Shortlands railway station|Shortlands]]
*[[Bromley North railway station|Bromley North]]
*[[Bromley South railway station|Bromley South]]
*[[St Mary Cray railway station|St Mary Cray]]
*[[Sundridge Park railway station|Sundridge Park]]
*[[Ravensbourne railway station|Ravensbourne]]
*[[Bickley railway station|Bickley]]
*[[Elmstead Woods railway station|Elmstead Woods]]
*[[Chislehurst railway station|Chislehurst]]
*[[Petts Wood railway station|Petts Wood]]
*[[Orpington railway station|Orpington]]
*[[Chelsfield railway station|Chelsfield]]
*[[Knockholt railway station|Knockholt]]
*[[Kent House railway station|Kent House]]
*[[Penge East railway station|Penge East]]
*[[Penge West railway station|Penge West]]
*[[Anerley railway station|Anerley]]
*[[Lower Sydenham railway station|Lower Sydenham]] (Shared with [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]])
*[[New Beckenham railway station|New Beckenham]]
*[[Clock House railway station|Clock House]]
*[[Elmers End station|Elmers End]]
*[[Eden Park railway station|Eden Park]]
*[[West Wickham railway station|West Wickham]]
*[[Hayes railway station|Hayes]]

Tramlink stops:
*[[Beckenham Junction railway station|Beckenham Junction]]
*[[Beckenham Road tram stop|Beckenham Road]]
*[[Avenue Road tram stop|Avenue Road]]
*[[Birkbeck station|Birkbeck]]
*[[Elmers End station|Elmers End]]

In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: driving a car or van, 27.4% of all residents aged 16–74; train, 5.1%; bus, minibus or coach, 5.1%; on foot, 4.3%; work mainly at or from home, 4.0%; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 2.3%; passenger in a car or van, 1.5%.<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census: QS701EW Method of travel to work, local authorities in England and Wales|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-and-quick-statistics-for-wards-and-output-areas-in-england-and-wales/rft-qs701ew.xls|publisher=Office for National Statistics|accessdate=23 November 2013}} Percentages are of all residents aged 16-74 including those not in employment. Respondents could only pick one mode, specified as the journey’s longest part by distance.</ref>

==Sport, leisure and culture==
The Borough has several sporting clubs:
*[[Bromley F.C.]] a [[Non-League football]] club
*[[Cray Wanderers F.C.]] a [[Non-League football]] club
*[[Orpington F.C.]] a [[Non-League football]] club
*[[Holmesdale F.C.]] a [[Non-League football]] club
*[[Greenwich Borough F.C.]] a [[Non-League football]] club
*[[Beckenham Town F.C.]] a [[Non-League football]] club
*Club Langley FC a [[Non-League football]] club

The borough is also home to an extensive [[Bromley Borough Libraries Service|libraries service]], containing 14 branches that are all part of the wider London Libraries Consortium.

==Crime==
Crime rates in Bromley are generally higher than the national average, but it is considered one of the safest London boroughs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findaproperty.com/crimefacts.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&areaid=0307|title=Bromley crime statistics|date=June 2005|publisher=FindaProperty.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
'''Crime rates in Bromley (per 1000 population)'''
|Offence || Locally || Nationally
|-
|Robbery||align="center"|3.01||align="center"|1.85
|-
|Theft of a motor vehicle||align="center"|5.20 ||align="center"|4.04
|-
|Theft from a motor vehicle||align="center"|10.99||align="center"|9.59
|-
|Sexual offences||align="center"|0.98||align="center"|1.17
|-
|Violence against a person||align="center"|18.38||align="center"|19.97
|-
|Burglary||align="center"|7.06 ||align="center"|5.67
|}

==London Fire Brigade==
[[London Fire Brigade]] has four fire stations within the London Borough of Bromley. The borough is the largest in the city: about 150&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. With just one pumping appliance, Orpington has one of the largest areas to cover in London, measuring 46.7&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. In 2006/2007, Orpington attended 1,308 incidents. There is also a high volume pump at the station. Beckenham, Bromley and Biggin Hill cover the rest of the borough with four pumping appliances and a hose layer.<ref>http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/Bromley.pdf London Fire Brigade - Bromley Profile</ref>

In 2006/2007 just under 4000 incidents were attended in the borough. Noticeably, compared to 2005/2006 there was an 11% decrease in special service calls (road traffic collisions, chemical incidents, flooding etc.).<ref>[http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/Bromley.pdf London Fire Brigade - Bromley Profile]</ref>

==Twin Towns==
Bromley is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
*{{Flagicon|Germany}} [[Neuwied]], [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], Germany.

==See also==
{{Portal|London}}
*[[Bromley parks and open spaces]]

==References==
{{Refimprove|date=February 2008}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bromley/ Summary of formation of the Borough, including its constituent parts]
*[http://www.bromley.gov.uk London Borough of Bromley council website]
*[http://www.bromley.gov.uk/leisure/museums/bromley_museum.htm London Borough of Bromley Museum]
*[http://www.bromleymytime.org.uk Bromley mytime - local sports facilities]
*[http://www.communitylinksbromley.org.uk/ Council for Voluntary Service for the London Borough of Bromley]
*[http://www.infobromley.org/bromleycommunity Directory of local community services]
*[http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/ Images of Bromley]
*[http://www.BromleyNWA.org.uk/ Bromley Neighbourhood Watch Association website (BromleyNWA.org.uk)]

{{LB Bromley}}
{{London}}

{{Coord|51|20|N|0|05|E|region:GB_type:adm1st|display=title}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2011}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:London Borough Of Bromley}}
[[Category:London boroughs|Bromley]]
[[Category:London Borough of Bromley| ]]
[[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

{{usedwp|London Borough of Bromley}}

{{#set:Definite article=1}} <!-- refer to "the London Borough of Bromley" -->