Rail changes, live music and home cricket
Published Thursday 30 July 2026
Check altered rail routes, answer Friday’s family-health survey and find recitals, reggae and cricket this weekend.
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Top Updates
Charing Cross closure changes Beckenham journeys
No Southeastern trains will serve Charing Cross or Waterloo East through Sunday 16 August, with services scheduled to resume on Monday 17 August. Trains are diverting to London Bridge, Cannon Street, Blackfriars or Victoria, while Victoria–Orpington services via Beckenham Junction run every 30 minutes instead of every 15. Peak Blackfriars–Beckenham Junction trains continue at revised times. Check the full route and ticket-acceptance guide before travelling.
Beckenham Junction station closes this Sunday
No trains will run between Victoria and Shortlands via Beckenham Junction on Sunday 2 August. Beckenham Junction, Penge East and Kent House will be closed all day, with accessible replacement buses between Denmark Hill and Bromley South. Victoria–Orpington trains will divert via Denmark Hill. Allow extra time and read the National Rail travel notice.
Family health-service survey closes Friday
Families who use, or may use, Bromley’s 0 to 19 Public Health Service have until Friday 31 July to help shape its future. The service covers areas including infant feeding, immunisations, parental mental health, communication and school readiness. Responses are anonymous. Take the family-health survey.
Free MenB vaccines open to eligible students
Young people born between 1 September 2007 and 31 August 2008, and under-25s starting university or some residential further-education courses for the first time this autumn, can now get a free MenB vaccine at participating pharmacies. Two doses are needed at least four weeks apart. Check eligibility and book through the NHS.
Dates For Your Diary
Saturday 8 August · noon–6.30pm · free
Hiphopera brings family hip-hop to the park
The Homestead Cafe hosts a family day of hip-hop culture in its Beckenham Place Park courtyard, with art workshops, breakdancing, scratching and beat-making. Everyone is welcome and no RSVP is needed. See the Hiphopera event page.
What's On
Friday 31 July
Mark Dowling piano recital, 12.30–1pm. Pianist Mark Dowling gives a half-hour lunchtime recital at St George’s Church in Beckenham. See the recital listing.
Neal Tait’s ska session at the Homestead, 5–9pm. Neal Tait brings a ska party to the Homestead Cafe courtyard in Beckenham Place Park for its Friday night session. Check the event page and RSVP.
Saturday 1 August
Soprano and piano recital at St George’s, 11am–noon. Soprano Liberty Anstead and pianist Caitlin Carey perform a Saturday morning recital at St George’s Church in Beckenham. See the recital listing.
Beckenham host Dartford in the Championship, Noon. Beckenham Cricket Club’s first XI face Dartford at Foxgrove Road in Saturday’s Kent Cricket League Championship match. The game is due to start at noon. Check the fixture page before setting out.
Deptford Dub Club all-dayer in the park, 1–9pm · free. Eight hours of reggae, rocksteady and ska come to the Homestead Cafe courtyard in Beckenham Place Park. The open-air session is family-friendly and free, with Soft Wax, Duppy Sista Sound, Selector Tom and guests. See the all-dayer details.
Roadworks and Transport
August tram works begin next Thursday: Track works will change tram services from Thursday 6 to Sunday 30 August. No trams will serve Elmers End; use Birkbeck or bus 289 between Arena and Elmers End. Beckenham Junction trams will run only between Beckenham Junction and East Croydon, with the town-centre loop and West Croydon stops closed. Check the TfL status page before travelling.
Elmers End Road: Elmers End Road is scheduled to remain closed through Friday 31 July for Thames Water work.
Copers Cope Road and Bromley Road: Two-way signals are due on Copers Cope Road from Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 August. A lane closure is also planned on Bromley Road over those three days, followed by a one-day closure of the south-west service road on Wednesday.
Planning Watch
Extension, dormer and solar panels proposed on Foxgrove Road: Plans at 101 Foxgrove Road would replace the garage and dining-room extension with a single-storey side and rear extension, add a rear dormer and front rooflights, install solar panels and alter the elevations. Bromley Council received application 26/02992/HPA on Thursday 23 July. View the planning application.
Home and driveway changes proposed on Elm Road: Plans at 17 Elm Road would replace the rear extension and outbuilding with a side and rear extension, add a rear dormer, replace sash windows, alter the front driveway and relandscape the back garden. Bromley Council received application 26/02975/HPA on Thursday 23 July. View the planning application.