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Dartford, Kent

Dartford
Dartford3799.JPG
Holy Trinity Church, Dartford High Street
Dartford is located in Kent
Dartford
Dartford
Dartford shown within Kent
OS grid reference TQ538739
• London 18.8 mi (30.3 km)
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town DARTFORD
Postcode district DA1, DA2
Dialling code 01322
Police Kent
Fire Kent
Ambulance South East Coast
EU Parliament South East England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Kent
51°27′50″N 0°15′14″E / 51.464°N 0.254°E / 51.464; 0.254Coordinates: 51°27′50″N 0°15′14″E / 51.464°N 0.254°E / 51.464; 0.254

Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. The town is situated on the border of Kent and Greater London, bordering the London Borough of Bexley. It also borders the Borough of Thurrock, Essex, via the Dartford Crossing of the River Thames and Gravesham to its east.

The town centre lies in a valley through which the River Darent flows, and where the old road from London to Dover crossed: hence the name, 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.

Dartford is twinned with several other towns and cities abroad including Hanau in Germany, Gravelines in France and Namyangju in South Korea.

Dartford lies within the area known as the London Basin. The low-lying marsh to the north of the town consists of London Clay, and the alluvium brought down by the two rivers—the Darent and the Cray—whose confluence is in this area. The higher land on which the town stands, and through which the narrow Darent valley runs, consists of chalk surmounted by the Blackheath Beds of sand and gravel.


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