The Swanley & Hextable area has an eastern boundary that hugs the M25. The Old Mill equestrian centre is at the eastern edge of the area, and farms are the dominant feature of the landscape in that part of the area. To the centre of the area is Swanley Park, with a man-made lake and heritage centre, and formerly an orchard, fitting with Swanley’s horticultural past. There are two town centres in North Swanley – the main one being the upper part of Swanley town centre (north of the railway line, which forms the southern boundary of the postcode sector. The other is Hextable, to the northeast of Swanley, which is more of a village than a proper town. Swanley town centre is cut off by the A20, after which the western portion of the neighbourhood is largely farms and a few country manors. At the centre-bottom of the area, in Swanley town centre, is Swanley railway station, served by Southeastern and Thameslink trains.

The Swanley area is characterised by its proximity yet difference to London, having grown as a town where doctors would send patients to recuperate away from the heavy smog of Victorian London. Hospitals sprung up in the centre of town, including Kettlewell Hospital on the site of what is today Asda’s car park. In keeping with the trend of being the perfect place for sick Londoners, Swanley was also a horticultural centre, in particular after the railways came to the area. Swanley’s proximity to both London and Kentish markets resulted in it taking a different path from other suburban areas around London. Horticulture blossomed in the area, as did industry; light industry still exists around Swanley today.

For a long time, the only house in Hextable was Hextable House – it was bombed during the Second World War. Planting avenues of trees was very popular during the Elizabethan period – the Avenue of Limes that led to the (now gone) Hextable House still exists, and was most likely planted almost 500 years ago.

Mark Steel was born and raised in Swanley, living on Beechenlea Lane, a comedian, columnist and author. He has created several radio programmes including ‘The Mark Steel Solution’ and ‘The Mark Steel Revolution’, with helpful suggestions such as ‘The Royal Family should be chosen by weekly lottery’ and ‘Anyone born in England should be deported’. He has also appeared on BBC programmes such as Room 101, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You.

Supposedly, Hextable has no pubs, due to restrictions placed by former landowners. However there exists a pub just outside the village – which is only a 10-minute walk from the village centre.

The name Hextable comes from a document in the 13th century, referred to as Hagestapol, ‘stapol’ meaning boundary post – as it was, between the settlements of Dartford and Sutton. Hagestapol would then become Hegestaple, to turn into Hackstaple, then Hackstable, and finally into the Hextable we know today.

New development in Swanley and Hextable is rare as it seems developers for the time being are focusing their efforts in Bexleyheath and Dartford, where larger regeneration plans are taking place. Bellway is launching a new development in Swanley, Highlands Grange, in Autumn 2023. The scheme will present a selection of 2, 3, and 4-bedroom homes, wwhich target first-time buyers and commuters. Blackthorn Homes completed Dawson Drive in 2021, a development of four detached luxury homes. In slightly more exciting news, Tibbalds recently completed a study that reenvisions Swanley and Hextable in such a way that it supports the regeneration of both areas, in particular Swanley town centre, housing, retail and transport infrastructure. The study also considers the replacement of Swanley’s leisure centre. Tibbalds was appointed by Sevenoaks District Council for the study and their findings now forms part of the evidence incorporated into the council’s new local plan.