Keston Common
This area of common land in Bromley covers 55 hectares and includes some nice footpaths. You can start the walk from the car park at the south eastern corner off Westerham Road. On the site you'll find woodland, heathland, dry acid grassland and three pretty ponds. There's also lots of interesting flora and fauna to see on the way.
The common once formed part of the Holwood Estate, owned by the 19th century Prime Minister, William Pitt, the younger. Keston is also only two miles from Charles Darwin's home, Down House, and he often visited to study the plants and animals here.
After exploring the common head to the commonside Fox Inn (postcode: BR2 6BQ) for refreshments. There's a nice large beer garden to relax in during the summer months here.
To extend your walk pick up the London Loop and head short distance west to the nearby Hayes Common. There's more nice trails here with woodland and good dog walking opportunities. High Elms Country Park is a little further east along the London Loop trail but still within walking distance of the common. Here you'll find woodlands, a nature centre, ice well, formal gardens and wildflower meadows in a 250 acre space. If you head west along the trail you'll soon come to Addington Hills where there's a nice viewpoint to climb to. The Cudham Circular Walk and the Farnborough Circular Walk also pass through the area.
Postcode
BR2 6BP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsKeston Common Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Keston Common Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Keston Common OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Keston Common Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Next to the common you'll find the Fox Inn. (postcode: BR2 6BQ). The pub sits in a great spot on the common and includes a nice large beer garden to relax in during the summer months. There's also The Greyhound pub here which does a great Sunday Roast and is dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
You could continue along the London Loop to visit High Elms Country Park is a little further east along the London Loop trail but still within walking distance of the common. Here you'll find woodlands, a nature centre, ice well, formal gardens and wildflower meadows in a 250 acre space. If you head west along the trail you'll soon come to Addington Hills where there's a nice viewpoint to climb to. The Cudham Circular Walk and the Farnborough Circular Walk also pass through the area.
The Nash Circular Walk also passes through the common. It starts in the nearby hamlet of Nash and follows trails to Hayes Common and Keston Common.
For more walking ideas in the area see the London Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Woodland on Keston Common
Clearing in Keston Common
The ditch that is part of a linear earthwork on Keston Common.
Keston Common Lower Lake
Keston Common middle lake
Drinking fountain at Keston Village BR2. The Fox Inn is the building with cream-coloured walls, and to the left, behind the cars parked on Commonside, stands the Greyhound Inn. The inscription on the drinking fountain in the foreground reads; "This fountain stood opposite the Royal Bell Hotel, Bromley Market, for over 60 years. It was re-erected on this site in January 1937."