Wandering through the roads of the quaintly named village of Bean, nestled in Dartford, it’s easy to think you’re deep in the English countryside. Many have been drawn to this part of Kent for its small town feel and plethora of green space. The picturesque winding roads are lined with modest but modern houses, many of which have their own small gardens and driveways. Families in the area benefit from their close proximity to local Bean Primary School, and love taking their children to play in the stunning Beacon Wood Country Park. While there aren’t many places to eat or grab a pint beyond The Black Horse Public House, residents like the quiet vibe the area offers. For those times when residents are craving a real adventure, it’s only a short drive to Ebbsfleet station which can bring you into Paris in no time!

The village of Bean began as mostly woodlands. Throughout the 15th century, the land began to be sold off to form farmlands. At the time, there was a hill above the farmland that farmers relied on for warning beacons when there was risk of invasion. Eventually, in the 18th century, this firing beacon system was replaced by a land- based telegraph system. The symbols that these telegraph huts could display offered residents a bit more information about what the specific warning was. Today, the village luckily does not need to rely on warning systems, but it has managed to retain its old rural feeling.

Bean Primary School was once just a small Victorian building consisting of two classrooms. Though it is still standing today, it’s barely recognisable thanks to all of the modern updates it has seen!

Unfortunately, the area is lacking any great transport connections. The closest rail stations are Ebbsfleet, Longfield and Greenhithe. While they’re all close by and offer great rail options, they do require a short drive to get there.

In recent years, Paramount Studios had plans to build a major amusement park in the Dartford area. However, residents led a successful resistance and were able to quell these plans. Still, other development plans are potentially going to impact residents of Bean. The A2 junction will be refurbished and improved over the next couple of years. While this will make the area more accessible for drivers, it might end up impacting a handful of residential plots. Highways England awarded Balfour Beatty the £150 million contract to improve the A2 Bean and Ebbsfleet junctions in 2019 and works are expected to be completed in 2023.