The line on which it is located, and the station itself, was opened on 2 March 1868 by the South Eastern Railway to shorten its route from London to Dover. The building of the route, which crosses the North Downs, was a difficult undertaking, with steep gradients. At Chelsfield the line is rising steadily on a 1 in 120 gradient through the Chelsfield Tunnel beyond the station. It is said that this was an inspiration to E. Nesbit when writing The Railway Children.[3]
The modern station building dates from the 1970s when its predecessor was damaged by fire.[4]