Airport information
Nearest town: London (21m by car)
Opening Times:
- Winter: Mon-Fri 0730-2100; Sat, Sun and PH 0900-2000. Extensions by arrangement.
- Summer: Mon-Fri 0630-2000; Sat, Sun and PH 0800-1900. Extensions by arrangement.
Longest Runway: 1802m, Tarmac
Fuel: AVGAS 100LL, AVTUR JET A-1.
Phone: 01959-578500
Website: www.bigginhillairport.com, Wikipedia entry
AIP: plates and airport diagram
Landing fees: Detailed information on landing fees
Airport map
Airport services
- Handling: From £50 (for aircraft 4000 kg and under) to £212 (for aircraft 30,000-40,000 kg), and £30 for every 10 tonnes. Handling by airport’s own Ground Handling Agency (01959 578 552, handling@bigginhillairport.com)
- Taxis: Arvee (01959 562091), Airport Cars (01959 540550), Cannon Cars (0500 464546), Discovery Cars (01959 570505), Main Cars (01959 576576). Note: Except Discovery Cars, all other services operate out of Westerham, not from the airport itself.
- Car Hire: Aveley Motors Self Drive Hire Ltd. (01959 540288, www.aveleyselfdrive.com)
- Facilities at airport: Club lounge with a pool table, cafe bar
- Charters: Air Partner Private Jets (01959 575856, www.airpartner.com), Interflight (01959 575800, www.interflight.co.uk), London Executive Aviation (01708 688420, www.flylea.com), Markoss Aviation (01959 570559), MAS Airways (01293 825197), Mayfair Dove Aviation ( 01293 862477, www.mayfairdove.co.uk), PlaneChartering (01273 248800)
- Flying Schools: Alouette Flying Club (01959 573243, www.alouette.org.uk), Biggin Hill School of Flying (01959 573583, www.cabair.com), British Disabled Flying Club (01959 576759, www.bdfa.net), Classair Flying Training (01959 540905, www.classair.co.uk), Surrey & Kent Flying Club (01959 572255, www.sandk.flyer.co.uk)
Pubs
- General Wolfe, High St., Westerham (0871 9170007). Cozy pub known for friendly service and its sunny patio garden.
- The Old Jail, Jail Lane, Biggin Hill (0871 9170007). Set in a spacious, leafy garden, this pub displays some wartime RAF memorabilia of interest to pilots.
- Royal Oak, Main Road, Crockam Hill, Westerham (0871 917 0007). Village pub popular with locals for the Kentish Shepherd Neame beer. Convenient stop for walks in the area.
Restaurants
- Madisons Entertainment Restaurant, 148, Main Road, Biggin Hill (01959 576626, www.madisonsrestaurants.com). Here, the focus is as much on the entertainment as it is on the food, with singing, dancing and even fire-shows.
- Rendezvous, 26, Market Square, Westerham (01959 561408, www.rendezvous-brasserie.co.uk). Prides itself on freshly prepared French food in a café-style setting.
- Haxted Mill Riverside Brasserie and Bar, Haxted Road, Edenbridge (01732 862914, www.haxtedmill.co.uk). 13 kms away from Biggin Hill, but makes a claim due to its fine food and very beautiful setting in the Kentish countryside. Much awarded restaurant.
Hotels
- Kings Arms Hotel, Market Square, Westerham (01959 562990, www.the-kingsarms.com). Conveniently located and friendly B&B in central Westerham.
- Chalk Lane Hotel, Epsom, Surrey (01372 721179, www.chalklanehotel.com). Tucked away in a corner of old Epsom; convenient for trips to Hampton Court Palace or Windsor Castle.
- Foxbrush Barn, Collier Street, Tonbridge (01892 730934). Truly delicious B&B, with guests raving about the meals cooked by the owner, an ex-chef.
Golf courses
- Park Wood Golf Club, Westerham (01959 577744, www.parkwoodgolf.co.uk).
- Cherry Lodge Golf Club, Biggin Hill, Westerham (01959 572250, www.cherrylodgegc.co.uk). On the outskirts of Biggin Hill, a very convenient golf club for pilots that welcomes visitors.
- Westerham Golf Club, (01959 567115, www.westerhamgc.co.uk). Very popular golf course despite being a relatively young 12 years old.
Activities
- On the airport, St. George’s chapel of remembrance, a memorial to aircrew that died flying from the Biggin Hill sector during WWII. (A visitor information centre with Battle of Britain information is due to open in 2009).
- A big event on the global aviation calendar is the annual Biggin Hill International Air Show (27th and 28th June, 2009)
- A visit to Chartwell, family home of Sir Winston Churchill, with a museum of Churchill photographs and memorabilia, and beautiful countryside walks.
- Get introduced to English wines at Lamberhurst Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards at Kent (01892 890412, www.lamberhurstvineyard.com).
Useful information
- www.visitkent.co.uk (Kent Tourism Board)
- www.bigginhillairfair.co.uk (Biggin Hill International Air Show)
- www.biggin-hill-today.co.uk (Local newspaper’s website)
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