Half of the northern boundary of West Bexleyheath is taken by the High Street (Broadway), which stretches past westwards (to Crook Log). South of the High Street, semi-detached and terraced housing dominates, ending just before the A2 (East Rochester Way) and Bexleyheath Golf Course to the south. To the east the postcode sector blends into the rest of Bexleyheath, while to the west the famous Danson House, Danson Park and its boating pool dominate, with a small allotment next to it. The area was built during the interwar period, while the High Street clearly portrays its 1960s redevelopment. Danson House, however, was built during the 60s (the 1760s) – and is today open to the public, after nearly falling into ruins during the 20th century.

Although most of Bexleyheath High Street (and by extension the town centre) exists in the adjacent postcode sector, West Bexleyheath is actually home to the older segments of Bexleyheath. Red House, in the middle of the area and surrounded by suburban housing, dates back to the 19th century, when the area was still associated with the hamlet of Upton. It was built by Philip Webb and William Morris; the pair came up with the idea of building the idyllic house (meant to be a modern home while still being ‘medieval in spirit’) while rowing down the River Seine. The building was restored by an architect, who bought it in 1952 and lived in it until 1999. Today it has been acquired by the National Trust and open to the public.

William Morris was born in 1834 and lived in the Red House from 1860 to 1865. He was an English textile designer, artist, writer and socialist. While living in the Red House, he and his wife started Morris, Marshal, Faulkner and Co., which produced domestic furnishings, going on to dramatically affect the decoration of churches and homes in the early 20th century. Patterns were his claim to fame, and fittingly, the Red House was decorated with wallpapers of his own design, having not found any which he liked well enough. His literary works were also well known, including The Earthly Paradise and News from Nowhere.

The oldest public house in the area is the Crook Log, which dates back to 1784 but potentially even to 1605. It has changed names several times – from the Crooked Billet, Fox and Hounds and finally to today’s Crook Log.

Another ‘pub fact’, there used to be a pond opposite the Golden Lion (a pub which still exists today), where George Whitefield came by and preached; over 300 people, including travellers, labourers, gypsies and local villages gathered to listen to him on 5 June 1739. George Whitefield was amongst the most famous religious figures of the time, with newspapers denoting him as the ‘marvel of the age’. He was estimated to have reached 10 million hearers throughout his life. Such was his oratory power that actor David Garrick said: “I would give a hundred guineas, if I could say ‘Oh’ like Mr. Whitefield.”

East Rochester Way is a major thorough fare in the southeast, and this brings traffic into the area. At the same time, there is a dearth of railway lines through the area, being either to the north or south of this part of Bexleyheath, which limits commuting options.

Developer Bellway London has an ongoing development in the area, Eastside Quarter, comprising a range of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, which are regenerating the brownfield site that once housed Bexley Council’s Civic Centre. By the end of 2021, 218 of the 518 homes were completed and out of the 400 apartments for private sale within the development, more than half have already been purchased. From May 2021 to October 2022, Bexley Council established their High Streets for All Programme, securing funding from the Mayor of London’s High Streets for All Challenge, to develop and enact a new vision for Bexleyheath Town Centre.