Downe Scout Activity Centre

Downe Scout Activity Centre was one of the National Scout Activity Centres under the direct control of The Scout Association in Downe near Orpington, Greater London. It provided camping and indoor accommodations for Scouts and Guides.

The Downe site of 86 acres is 16 miles (26 km) from the centre of London near the Biggin Hill airfield.

In November 2020 the Scout Association announced their intention to sell the site. The Scout Association said it would do everything possible "to make sure that the legacies are honoured and heritage preserved"

In July 2021, The Scout Association trustees unanimously agreed to sell Downe Activity Centre to Friends of Downe Activity Centre (FoDAC), a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1194761). FoDAC aimed to preserve the site for future generations of young people.

However, negotiations stalled, and an agreement could not be reached. The Scout Association then attempted to sell the site to two other parties, but both sales fell through.

In December 2023, Friends of Downe were invited to submit a new bid. The Scout Association later announced plans to auction the site in mid-February 2024 but allowed Friends of Downe to continue their bid alongside the auction process. Notably, since June 2022, the entire site has been protected under a Tree Protection Order (TPO).

By April 2024, Friends of Downe Activity Centre reached an agreement with The Scout Association and signed a contract for the site's purchase. The sale was officially completed in October 2024, and the site was renamed Downe Activity Centre..