Dartford

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Dartford
Holy Trinity Church, Dartford
Dartford Location within Kent
Population	51,240 [1]
OS grid reference	TQ538739
• London	18.8 mi (30.3 km)
District	Dartford
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DARTFORD
Postcode district	DA1, DA2
Dialling code	01322
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	Dartford
List of places UK England Kent 51°26′40″N 00°13′02″E / 51.44444°N 0.21722°E / 51.44444; 0.21722

Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England.^[2] It is located 18 mi (29 km) south-east of Central London and is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in Essex, which can be reached via the Dartford Crossing. To its east lies the Borough of Gravesham and to the south the district of Sevenoaks. It had a population of 51,240.

The town centre lies in a valley through which the River Darent flows^[2] and where the old road from London to Dover crossed: hence the name, which derives from Darent + ford. Dartford became a market town in medieval times and, although today it is principally a commuter town for Greater London, it has a long history of religious, industrial and cultural importance. It is an important rail hub; the main through-road now by-passes the town itself.