Nigel Farage may be causing the Tories sleepless nights in the polls but the Reform UK leader lays his head down after a day’s campaigning in a sleepy village inside the M25. The Brexiteer lives in Downe, about 17 miles from Westminster as the crow flies, but a world away from the cut and thrust of Britain’s General Election.
Located in the London borough of Bromley, Downe is famous for being the home of 19th century naturalist Charles Darwin, the “godfather” of evolutionary biology.
A few miles from Orpington, Downe is surrounded by the Kent countryside, golf courses and large private houses.
Born in the village of Farnborough, Kent, to Guy and Barbara Farage, the former UKIP leader went to fee-paying private school, Dulwich College, where alumni include Jeeves and Wooster author, PG Wodehouse.
Mr Farage clearly has an affinity with Kent, given Downe is part of the same county. With the village’s close proximity to central London, it may not be surprising that properties there fetched an average £565,833 over the last year, according to Rightmove.
Most property sales in Downe were semi-detached houses, selling at an average £681,250. Terraced properties sold for an average £335,000. However, overall prices in Downe over the last year were 50 percent down on the previous year and 27 percent down on the 2015 peak of £776,675.
The village is served by two TfL bus services – the 146 (Bromley-Downe) and R8 (Orpington-Biggin Hill via Downe). It is a 20 minute bus ride from either Bromley South or Orpington stations.
Known to enjoy a pint, Downe has two pubs – The Queens Head and George & Dragon. The first hails itself as a family run, 16th century traditional country pub while the second prides itself on its choice of real ales and seasonal food.
RAF Biggin Hill is a short hop from the village. The former fighter base played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain in summer 1940, defending London and south east England from enemy bombing.
That story is told at RAF Biggin Hill Museum and Chapel where wartime leader Winston Churchill’s “Few” are remembered.
Golf fans can choose a number of courses nearby, including private members’ West Kent Golf Club, High Elms Golf Course, Cherry Lodge Golf Club and Chelsfield Lakes Golf Course.
Downe’s major visitor attraction is Darwin’s Down House, where you can see the study where the father of evolutionary theory wrote On the Origin of Species.
English Heritage describes Darwin’s family home as a site of outstanding international significance.
The eminent scientist went for a daily stroll around a circuit of the house’s grounds known as the Sandwalk.He also set up a laboratory in a brick hut and grew orchids in a greenhouse.
Surrounded by gardens which acted as Darwin’s “living laboratory”, visitors can now discover how the naturalist’s observations helped him develop his groundbreaking theories.