Fire engines, wildlife and an inclusive festival
Published Thursday 13 August 2026
Meet firefighters, explore local wildlife and history, and plan for an inclusive festival and major travel changes.
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Nominate a local volunteer by 21 August
Nominations are open for Community Links Bromley’s 17th annual Volunteer Awards. Categories recognise young volunteers, trustees, teams, long service and people who support others to volunteer, among others. The deadline is Friday 21 August. See the categories and make a nomination.
Help shape Beckenham Library
Library users aged 16 and over can take the annual survey, choosing Beckenham as their local branch and rating its books, online resources, activities, staff and facilities. Take the library user survey.
New contractor takes on borough road repairs
FM Conway has started three new Bromley Council contracts covering major highway works, smaller repairs and emergency call-outs, and drain cleansing. The six-year agreements began on 1 July. If you spot a pothole or another fault, you can still report it through the council. Read what the new highways contracts cover.
Dates For Your Diary
Monday 31 August · 10am–5pm · free
Vintage market fills the Mansion
So Last Century brings 50 vintage traders to Beckenham Place Mansion and its grounds on bank-holiday Monday, with fashion, homeware, records, furniture and collectables. See the vintage-market details.
Sunday 6 September · noon–8pm
A family festival takes over Croydon Road Rec
We Are Family Festival promises live music, character parades, fairground rides and family entertainment at Croydon Road Recreation Ground. Tickets start at £25 and children under two go free; last entry is 4pm. See the line-up and book tickets.
What's On
Thursday 13 August
Little folk sing-song at the Mansion, 10.30–11am · £14 for one adult and child. Singer and guitarist Cat Bateman leads a live summer session of nursery rhymes, songs and puppets for children aged four and under at Beckenham Place Mansion. Book the little folk session.
Lorenzo’s Records takes over the courtyard, 5–9pm. The Homestead Cafe’s record-shop series welcomes Lorenzo’s Records for an evening DJ session in the courtyard at Beckenham Place Park. See the Lorenzo’s Records session details.
Friday 14 August
Folk dancing at Azelia Hall, 7.15–10pm · £5 members, £6 guests. Caller Sue Chambers leads an evening of English, American and Scottish folk dances at Azelia Hall on Croydon Road. Newcomers are welcome to join in. See the Beckenham Folk Dance Club details.
Saturday 15 August
Discover park wildlife on a guided walk, 10am–noon · £10. A Field Studies Council tutor leads an all-levels nature walk through Beckenham Place Park, looking at plants, invertebrates, trees, ponds and life beneath logs. Book the nature and wildlife walk.
Walk through Bethlem’s local history, 11am–noon. A guided walk from Bethlem Gallery explores what stood on the hospital grounds before Bethlem arrived in 1930 and how the site has changed since. It goes ahead in rain or shine, so wear sturdy shoes. Book the Bethlem history walk.
Meet firefighters at Beckenham open day, 11am–4pm · free. Beckenham Fire Station opens its doors for a family day at 8 Beckenham Road. Visitors can meet firefighters, see a fire engine, pick up safety advice and join road-safety-themed activities. See the fire-station open-day details.
Sunday 16 August
CANDI celebrates inclusivity with live music, Noon–9pm · advance adult tickets £15. CANDI Community’s Inclusivity Festival brings live bands, stalls and entertainment to the Clubhouse at Beckenham RFC on Balmoral Avenue. Concession, child and essential-carer tickets are available, and under-fives go free. See the festival details and tickets.
Open jam session in the park, 3–7pm. The Homestead Cafe hosts its Sunday Jam in the Park in the Beckenham Place Park courtyard. See the Jam in the Park details.
Roadworks and Transport
Charing Cross closure enters its final days: No Southeastern trains are serving Charing Cross or Waterloo East through Sunday 16 August. Hayes-line trains are running to and from London Bridge, with some using Blackfriars, while Victoria–Orpington trains via Beckenham Junction are running every 30 minutes. Check the closure timetable and ticket acceptance.
Elmers End tram closure continues: No trams are serving Elmers End through Sunday 30 August; use Birkbeck or bus 289 between Arena and Elmers End. Beckenham Junction trams are running only to East Croydon, with the Croydon town-centre loop and West Croydon closed. Check the latest TfL tram status before travelling.
Hayes Lane, Mead Way and Letchworth Drive: Granted road closures are scheduled on Hayes Lane and Mead Way through Friday 21 August, and on Letchworth Drive through Monday 24 August, for gas work.
Shorter closures around Beckenham: Westmoreland Road and Queen Anne Avenue have granted closures through Friday 14 August. Granted closures on Bourdon Road, Ash Grove and Elmers End Road run through Monday 17 August.
Planning Watch
Side and rear extensions proposed on Barnfield Wood Road: Plans at 12 Barnfield Wood Road would demolish the garage and add part one- and two-storey side extensions, a single-storey rear extension and changes to the elevations. Bromley Council received application 26/03169/HPA on Friday 7 August. View the planning application.