This is a list of notable people who were born or grew up in the London Borough of Bexley or otherwise have a strong association with the area.
George Albert Cairns (1913–44), winner of the last Victoria Cross of World War II, lived and worked in Sidcup
Sir John Champneys (1495-1556), Lord Mayor of London in 1534, began the building of Hall Place in 1537. He is buried in St. Mary the Virgin Church in Old Bexley
William Claiborne (c.1600-c.1677), originally from Crayford, pioneer, early settler in the Americas, and from 1621 the surveyor of Jamestown in the Virginia Colony, later establishing, in 1631, the first permanent European settlement in Maryland, on Kent Island where his own residence was called Fort Crayford
Sir Frederick Currie (1799-1875), British diplomat and colonial administrator, lived at the Manor House, May Place
Godfrey Huggins (1883-1971), 1st Viscount Malvern, Commonwealth statesman and Prime Minister of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, was born in Bexley
Melita Norwood (1912-2005), Cold War Soviet spy, lived undetected in Bexleyheath until her death
Harry Ord (1819–85), colonial administrator who served as governor of Bermuda and Western Australia, born in North Cray
Mike Rann (1953-), Premier of South Australia, politician, born in Sidcup, lived in Blackfen prior to emigrating to New Zealand with his parents
Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell (1650-1707), naval officer, lived at May Place between 1694 and 1707
Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (1769-1822), politician and Foreign Secretary from 1812, lived at Loring Hall, North Cray, until his suicide by knife in 1822. His residency at Loring Hall is marked by an English Heritage blue plaque
Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (1733-1800), politician and Cabinet minister, lived in Frognal House, Foots Cray
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley (1766-1851), politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer (1812–22). Created Baron Bexley on his resignation as Chancellor, Vansittart lived in Foots Cray Place with his wife until his death. As he died without children, he was the only Baron Bexley
James Wellbeloved (1926-2012), politician, first leader of newly created Bexley London Borough Council (1956–65), Labour MP for Erith & Crayford (1965–83), lived in Erith
Henry Wheatley (1777-1852), keeper of the privy purse for King William IV and Queen Victoria from 1830 to 1846, born and raised in Lesney House, Erith
Scientists and inventors
Patrick Young Alexander (1867-1943), aeronautical pioneer, born in Erith or Belvedere
Sir William Anderson (1834–98), engineer and philanthropist, lived in Erith from 1864 until 1889 and contributed substantial time and money to the local community
Augustus Applegath (1788-1871), inventor of the vertical printing-press, also built Shenstone House, lived and worked in Crayford
Frank Farmer (1912-2004), physicist, pioneer in developing medical applications for physics, born in Bexleyheath
Ivan Magill (1888-1986), innovative anaesthetist, worked in Sidcup
Sir Hiram Maxim (1840-1916), inventor of the Maxim Gun, moved his works to Crayford in 1884 and lived in Stoneyhurst from then until 1889
Anthony Reckenzaun (1850–93), engineer, worked at the Erith Ironworks and set up evening classes for the workmen
Joshua Trimmer (1795-1857), geologist, born in North Cray
Jack Wall (born 1932), inventor of the Crayford focuser, which is incorporated into many modern telescopes
Writers and journalists
William Auld (1924-2006), Scottish poet, author and Esperantist, born in Erith
Algernon Blackwood (1869-1951), Ghost story writer, journalist and broadcaster, lived in Crayford Manor House between 1871 and 1880 as a child, and the house features in his work 'A Prisoner in Fairyland' as 'Crayfield Manor House'.
Denis Bond (1946-), children's author, actor and scriptwriter, lives in Sidcup
Garry Bushell (1955-), journalist, lives in Sidcup
Hall Caine (1853-1931), author, lived in Aberleigh House, Bexleyheath from 1884 to 1888 with his partner Mary Chandler, next door to Red House, home of William Morris. Aberleigh House was demolished in the 1970s.
Wendy Cope (1945-), poet and author, born in Erith
Roald Dahl (1916–90), Welsh-born children's author, lived at Oakwood, Hurst Road, Bexley, from 1927 to 1934, when not at boarding school
Elaine Everest (1953–) historical novelist, born in Erith and lived there until 1994. Her novels are set in the town.
Thomas Harman, author of a work about vagabonds and rogues in 1566, resided in Crayford from 1547
Neal Lawson (1963-), politician and commentator, grew up and went to school in Bexleyheath
James Leasor (1923-2007), journalist and author, born in Erith
Gerard Shelley (1891-1980), author, translator and Catholic bishop, born in Sidcup
Nevil Shute (1899-1960), novelist and aeronautical engineer, lived in Hatherley Road, Sidcup, in the late 1920s, while working at Vickers in Crayford
Jim Sterling (1984-), video game journalist, born and grew up in Erith
Anne Swithinbank (1957-), horticulturist and gardening writer, born in Belvedere
Elizabeth Wiskemann (1899-1971), historian and journalist, born in Sidcup
Philip Absolon (1960-), Stuckist artist, was born in Erith
Quentin Blake (1932-), illustrator, artist, born in Sidcup and attended Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School
Ian Davenport (1966-), abstract painter and former Turner Prize nominee, born in Sidcup
John Downton (1906-1991), artist, poet and philosopher, born in Erith
Colin Gill (1892-1940), artist, born in Bexleyheath
Ernest Greenwood (1913-2009), artist, teacher and former president of the Royal Watercolour Society, born in Welling
Alfred Garth Jones (1872-1955), illustrator, spent the last years of his life in Sidcup
Shantell Martin (1980-), visual artist, grew up in Thamesmead, attended Bexleyheath School
William Morris (1834–96), artist, designer, and Socialist, lived for much of his life in Red House, Bexleyheath, built for him as a retreat at at time when Bexleyheath was mostly countryside. The house now bears an English Heritage blue plaque bearing his name, erected in 1969
Tom Raworth (1938-2017), poet and visual artist, born in Bexleyheath and grew up in Welling
Ronnie Aldrich (1916–93), jazz pianist and band-leader, was born in Erith
F. Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), Australian actor and inventor of the Alexander technique, lived in Penhill House, Sidcup, for 30 years
Sam Bailey (1977-), winning contestant, The X-Factor, grew up in Sidcup
Doreen Bird (1928-2004), dance teacher, lived in Sidcup and established Bird College
Kate Bush (1958-), singer-songwriter, born in Bexleyheath Maternity Hospital, grew up on Wickham Lane, Welling, attended St. Joseph's Convent Grammar School, Abbey Wood
Charlie Clements (1987-), actor (EastEnders), born in Sidcup
Michael Crawford (1942-), actor (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em), lived in Bexleyheath from 1945 following his mother's remarriage
Michael Gambon (1940-), Irish-born actor (the Harry Potter series), lived with his family in Hurstwood Road, North End, and attended Crayford Secondary School
Ashley Glazebrook, also known as Twist, of the dance duo Twist and Pulse, is from Sidcup
Sheila Hancock (1933-), actress, grew up at 58 Latham Road, Bexleyheath
Steve Hillier, musician, DJ, record producer
John Paul Jones (1946-), bass guitarist (Led Zeppelin), born in Sidcup
Jacqueline Jossa (1992-), actress (EastEnders), born in Bexley
Rob Knox (1989-2008), actor, murdered in Sidcup
Percy Hilder Miles (1878–1922), professor, violinist and composer, was born in Erith
Roger Moore (1927-), actor, lived in The Mount, Bexleyheath and Wansunt Road, Old Bexley during his marriage to Dorothy Squires
Linda Smith (1958-2006), stand-up comic and radio comedienne, was born and raised in Erith and attended Bexleyheath School and Erith College Smith famously joked that Erith "is not twinned with any town but does have a suicide pact with Dagenham"
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944), composer and suffragette, born in St. John's Road, Sidcup
Dorothy Squires (1915–98), singer, lived in The Mount, Bexleyheath and Wansunt Road, Old Bexley during her marriage to Roger Moore
Sena Verdi, better known as Lyonheart (1981-), Iranian-British singer-songwriter, grew up on the Maran Way Estate in Thamesmead
Semi Ajayi (1992-), Nigerian under-20 international footballer, born in Crayford
Malcolm Allison (1927-2010), football player and manager, lived in Bexley borough and began his careeer with Welling United and Erith & Belvedere F.C.
Harry Arter (1989-) footballer (Bournemouth F.C. and Republic of Ireland), born in Sidcup
Harry Baker (1990-), footballer, born in Bexleyheath
Jimmy Bullard (1978-), Premiership football player, lived in Bexleyheath, attended Erith School
Ben Chorley (1982-), footballer (Tranmere Rovers, Leyton Orient, now Bromley F.C.), born in Sidcup
Billy Cornelius (born 1898), professional football player and manager, born in Belvedere
Jason Crowe (1978-), footballer, born in Sidcup
Roy Dwight (1933-2002), footballer (Nottingham Forest), born in Belvedere
Kevin Horlock (1972-), Northern Ireland international footballer, born in Erith
Jake Goodman (1993-), footballer, lives in Bexleyheath
George Green (1891-1958), footballer (Southampton F.C.)
Deren Ibrahim (1991-), Gibraltarian footballer, born in Sidcup
Bill Jaques (1888-1925), footballer, born in Erith
Mike Kelly (1954-), footballer (Millwall FC), born in Belvedere
Dave Martin (1985-), footballer, born in Erith
Douglas McWhirter (1886-1966), amateur footballer, part of the gold-medal winning English team at the 1912 Summer Olympics, born in Erith
Alan Morton, footballer, born in Erith
Keith Peacock (born 1945) and Gavin Peacock (born 1967), father and son footballers, lived in Crayford
Mark Ricketts (1984-), footballer, born in Sidcup
Liam Ridgewell (1984-), Portland Timbers footballer, born in Bexleyheath, attended Bexleyheath School
Wayne Routledge (1985-), footballer, born in Sidcup
Steve Rutter (1968-), footballer, born in Erith
Sam Saunders (1983-), footballer (Brentford F.C.), born in Erith
Eric Stephenson (1914–44), footballer (Leeds United), born in Bexleyheath
Andy Townsend (1963-), professional footballer, grew up in Bexleyheath, attended Bexleyheath School
Gordon Watson (1971-), former Sheffield Wednesday footballer, born in Sidcup
Steve Backley (1959-), Olympic javelin-thrower, born in Sidcup
Stephanie Brind (1977-), professional squash player, born in Bexleyheath and lived on Chieveley Road
Tony Brise (1952–75), motor racing driver, born in Erith
David Daniels (1942-), cricketer (Bedfordshire), born in Bexleyheath
Alec Debnam (1921-2003), cricketer, born in Belvedere
Walter Donaldson (1907–73), Scottish snooker player, lived for some years in Grosvenor Road, Belvedere
Bernie Ecclestone (1930-), Formula 1 magnate, lived in Danson Road, Bexleyheath, as a child
John Gosling (1833-1882), cricketer, born in North Cray
Graham Kersey (1971–97), Surrey county cricketer, attended Beths Grammar School
Alan Knott (1946-), cricketer (Kent and England), born in Belvedere, attended Northumberland Heath Secondary Modern School
Lennox Lewis (1965-), world heavyweight champion boxer, lived in Crook Log as a child. On 22 July 2012, Lewis was the Olympic Torch-bearer on the day it travelled through Bexley on route to the 2012 London Olympics
Henry Nuttall (1855-1945), cricketer, born in Crayford
John Regis (1966-), Olympic sprinter, lived in Sidcup
Colin Seeley (1938-), champion motorcyclist and later motorbike designer, born in Crayford and lived and worked in Belvedere
Derek Ufton (1928-), professional cricket (Kent County Cricket Club) and football (Charlton Athletic) player, born in Crayford
Ian Williams (1967-), Olympic fencer, 1992 Summer Olympics, born in Bexleyheath
Doug Wright (1914–98), cricketer (Kent and England), born in Sidcup
Marjory Allen, Lady Allen of Hurtwood (1897-1976), landscape architect and child welfare campaigner, born in Bexleyheath
Anjem Choudary (1967-), Islamist political activist, born and grew up in Welling
Douglas Macmillan (1984-1969), founder of Macmillan Cancer Support, lived in Knoll Road, Sidcup, from 1924 until 1966, and also ran his charity from that address. Bexley Civic Society placed a blue plaque on the house in 2010
Jo Malone (1963-), perfumer and businesswoman, raised in a council flat in Bexleyheath
Lee Murray (1977-), former kickboxer and mixed martial arts champion, convicted of the Securitas depot robbery, lived in Sidcup
Robert Napper (1966-), serial murderer and rapist, born in Erith
Emma Noble (1971-), glamour model, born in Sidcup
Kenneth Noye (1947-), gangster and convicted murderer, born on Lavernock Road, Bexleyheath, attended Bexleyheath School
Bill Peyto (1869-1943), Canadian pioneer and mountain guide, born in Welling
Delia Smith (1941-), TV chef, grew up in Bexleyheath, attended Bexleyheath School
Denis Thatcher, husband of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, headed the family-owned Atlas Preservatives, based in Erith, until 1965
List of people from Bexley Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA