Orpington

Description

Located in south east London, in the London Borough of Bromley is the wonderful town of Orpington. The town is known for having a long and fascinating history which dates back to the Stone Age, and is therefore home to a number of historic buildings and sites. Orpington is also home to several parks and gardens, a busy town centre and a variety of family-friendly attractions. Orpington is easily accessible as there are regular trains which run to the town from central London. Although it won’t be easy to find them, Muslim visitors will be able to locate some Muslim-friendly facilities in Orpington.

A must-visit when in Orpington is the Crofton Roman Villa. This is the perfect attraction for those looking to learn more about how the Romans lived. Occupied from around 140AD to 400, this house was once surrounded by lush fields and meadows. To get the most out of a visit, tourists can join a guided talk. There are also numerous fun activities for kids, like dressing up, mosaic making, Roman games and excavating.

Located in the center of Orpington, in the ancient priory area is the fascinating Bromley Museum. This museum is home to a fantastic collection of local historical artifacts and will definitely provide visitors with the information of how the area of Bromley came into existence. The museum also has regular exhibitions on the First World War and Bromley’s role in it.

For those with kids, Goddington Park is definitely worthy of a visit. With about 64 hectares of grass and trees, wide open spaces, football pitches, areas for cricket, tennis courts, rugby pitches and kid’s play areas, the park will prove to be a fun day out for the entire family. Another place worth a visit is the Priory Gardens.

The Orpington Palace Superbowl is another fabulous place to take kids. This is where adults and children alike can try their hand at tenpin bowling. The Orpington Palace Superbowl is a popular attraction in Orpington and is frequented by locals and tourists alike.

Nearby Airports

London Biggin Hill Airport is located about 3 miles from Orpington, however this is not a major airport. The closest major airport to Orpington is London Heathrow Airport, which is located approximately 26 miles away. Tourists can also use the services offered at the London City Airport; located about 11 miles away, and the London Gatwick airport; located about 19 miles away. 

Halal Restaurants

There are a couple of places which serve Halal food in Orpington. Welcome to Sabiha- a takeaway restaurant, and TGF Pizza Co- also another takeaway restaurant. Although these restaurants are said to be either Muslim owned and/or Halal certified it is always best to inquire about the Halal status of the food before ordering. There are also loads of other restaurants which serve halal food in the neighboring towns.

Mosques

There is one known mosque in Orpington, namely the Nurani Cultural Centre and Mosque. This mosque, located on High Street has all 5 prayers as well as Jumu’ah on Fridays. There are also a number of mosques located in the surrounding areas. However, since other prayer facilities in Orpington are hard to come by, it is best for Muslim tourists to offer their prayers in the hotel room, when possible.

Things to Do and See in Orpington

• Crofton Roman Villa
• The Orpington Palace Superbowl
• Orpington Grange
• Orpington War Memorial
• Farnborough Village
• Bromley Museum
• Goddington Park
• Crofton Common
• Millennium Rock
• Priory Gardens