Dartford

Dartford is a town in the borough of Dartford in Kent, England. It lies on the River Darent, about 18 miles southeast of central London, and is part of the Kent Thameside economic area near the River Thames. The town is the administrative centre of Dartford Borough and one of the district's principal settlements.

The area has evidence of early settlement; in the Middle Ages it developed as a market town and ferry crossing point. The arrival of the railway in the 19th century and subsequent industrial expansion helped to grow its population and diversify the local economy. The name Dartford derives from the River Darent on which the town stands.

The Dartford Crossing, a major river crossing over the Thames, links Dartford with Thurrock in Essex. It comprises the Dartford Tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge; it is managed by National Highways and operates tolls (cashless since 2014). The town lies near the M25 orbital motorway and the A2, providing connections to London and Kent. Dartford has a railway station with services to London and Kent and a continued role as a transport hub for southeast England.

Today Dartford has a retail and service-based economy, a town centre with shopping and markets, several schools and community facilities, and is characterized by residential areas with suburban development. The surrounding borough includes towns like Wilmington and Stone, with ongoing regeneration projects.