Dartford has been a market town since Medieval times.  Its name is derived from the River Darent which flows through the town - Darent-Ford has been contracted to Dartford.

Today, Dartford is mainly a commuter town for those working in London - there are 180 trains per day between Dartford and London Bridge, with an average journey time of only 44 minutes.

Employers within Dartford itself include car manufacturer Mazda whose head office is in the town.

Nearby Bluewater shopping centre is one of the largest in Europe and home to many household names.  The Guild Hall has many fashion retailers, there’s a 13 screen cinema, and the Rose Gallery has family-oriented retailers.  When you’ve finished shopping, there’s the boating lake, cycle track and golf course to enjoy.

Central Park has beautiful displays of flowers, as well as a well equipped children’s play area, and a skate park.  In July it hosts the popular Dartford Festival.

361 acre Dartford Heath is another popular leisure area for local people, with it’s great opportunities for walking and spotting wildlife including woodpeckers and dragonflies.