The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is in Travelcard Zone 6, on the Caterham Line 16 miles 29 chains (26.3 km) from London Charing Cross.

Kenley station was originally opened to passengers along with the line on 5 August 1856 as Coulsdon by the Caterham Railway.

On Platform 2 stands a gabled Grade II listed building station house in the "Old English style of Domestic Architecture" (architect: Richard Whittall)[4] and is similar to the original building at Caterham.

In 1899 when the Caterham line was made double-track, a new brick Ticket Office was built on the opposite Platform at road level.

The original station house was disused and boarded up for a long time, but protected by its listed status.