Moving to PENGE

[kashka81]

Hi everybody,

My partner and I are in the process of buying a house in Penge (Parish Lane). We need more space as we're planning to extend our family. We can't afford CP and Sydenham currently offer flats in the price of a 3-bed house in Penge which we've chosen as in our opinion it's better value and the area is supposed to be up-and-coming. We might want to sale the property in 3-4 years time - depending on how we settle.

I'm mostly concerned about whether I'm going to feel safe there coming home from work late in the evening as there's a big council estate just around the corner. The overall vibe is hard to assess as I don't currently live in the area.

I'd also like to be 100% sure that my future daughter/son is looked after well when I leave them in the nursery - does anyone know if there are any good ones in the neighborhood at all?

I would really appreciate your opinions - need to make the decision soon...

Thanks! K.

[sats1977]

Teddies nursery in Beckenham is a good nursery, our son went there from 9 months old until we moved out of London. It's not far from Penge:

www.brighthorizons.co.uk/our-nurseries/teddies-nursery-beckenham-kent/about-this-nursery/overview

[FreeButtonBee]

Ooh, I spent a glamorous morning there on Saturday (getting car serviced!). Actually, I quite liked the little high street. It had a decent looking butchers and lots of great little charity shops with great stuff in them. Thee were a few nice looking cafés too. No idea what it's like to live but my impressions were it was alright actually.

[sats1977]

Also, you'll love living near Crystal Palace Park, it's fantastic for walks with a baby and there's a brilliant playground for children and even a maze :) I haven't lived in Penge but lived nearby and was often in the area, never had any problems.

[Xigris]

There are a lot of FB forums for that area - try Mums the Word - Beckenham and Beyond / SE20 Mums. You'll get loads of information there re nurseries, play groups, activities etc

[Xigris]

And YY to Crystal Palace park! It's fab, it has a free little farm and a great cafe as well as the playground, maze and dinosaurs. The Horniman Museum in nearby Forest Hill is also a brilliant place to go with children

[TheGreatHunt]

Plenty of good nurseries or childminders in beckenham which is just down the road.

Loads of people get off at penge (I live on that train line from Victoria) so I'm sure it's pretty safe. Parish lane is just off the high street so feels safe. You could always walk down from clock house along the main road or get the bus.

[AgathaPinchBottom]

I'm in CP and my ds goes to the best nursery in the world. It's called norbury hill cubs, but might be a bit far for you? But it's utterly brilliant. Congrats on your move. Lucky to be so close CP park!

[SilverSixpence]

I live in Penge, its great! We've never had any problems travelling home late etc, the transport links are brilliant. Parish Lane has a lovely villagey feel, the Alexandra nurseries (cafe and garden centre) is close by. Lots of good childminders around and have heard good things about Cator Park Montessori. Don't know about other local nurseries though as I use a childminder for my dc.

The high st is good for every day stuff, if i feel like going somewhere 'naice' I wander up to east Dulwich, takes 10-15 mins and can go to all the lovely boutiques and delis without paying a premium to live there! Also Horniman museum is good when you have a free day with the kids.

[kashka81]

Thanks a lot for all the replies! They have definitely comforted me a bit ;)

Really happy to hear that there's many good nurseries in the area. I will also check the FB forums up, thanks Xigris!

Feel free to add stuff if there's anything else regarding Penge you consider worth being aware of - any info will be most appreciated!

[TheBeanpole]

We live in Penge too. We will be in the market for nurseries next year; there's one near the station (little crystals?) that is supposed to be good (not the one actually in the station). We come back late all the time and have never had a problem. A friend lives on Parish Lane and likewise. I go through that estate a lot and it always looks quiet to me.

Lots starting to happen in the area- the Alexandra pub, opposite the nurseries, is about to be renovated, along with another just off the high st. Have a look at the Virtual Norwood forum for more stuff going on.

Having said that, for going out we tend to either go up the hill to Palace or hop on the train to Brixton (also great for cinema), but the area is on the up. Welcome to SE20!

[kashka81]

Found this article the other day on Evening Standard:

www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/greater-london/spotlight-penge-property-area-guide

Looks like Penge is getting popular - which makes it a perfect time to buy there I guess.

I've also heard about the Alexandra pub, would be nice to have a nice one on the street :)

Thanks again guys!

[MadBusLady]

We've lived here a year now, I've never felt unsafe or had any problems personally and I am one of those idiots who wanders round with their iphone out - though we have had an incident with kids setting car alarms off.

What's doing at the Alexandra? That would be so great to have a nice local. Alexandra Nurseries is lovely, we've just been there for soup for lunch.

[TheBeanpole]

@MadBusLady a planning application has gone in from the. New owners for a hotel upstairs and 'gastropub' downstairs. Whatever that means!

[ZoeFi]

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon Penge by accident whilst looking for a flat in Crystal Palace and we think we're in love with it! We found a flat we really like and are considering taking the plunge. We're currently in Wandsworth - sadly priced out :(

Our only concern is that it's close to Franklin Industrial Estate and we were wondering if it'd be annoying/noisy/smelly in the mornings, evenings or weekends. I know the best thing to do is to probably go and have a look around at various times but I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge or direct experience they can share?

Thanks!

[TheGreatHunt]

I think the estate people are referring to is the same one. Penge is nice and borders Beckenham and crystal palace. Difficult to bag a bargain (although cheaper than Wandsworth!) as prices are shooting up.

[Quietlyalert]

Another Penge-ite here. Have lived here six years and we recently had our first baby. I love living here. Never had any problems or felt unsafe. There's actually a good sense of community. Nice cafes and good shopping on the high street and love living on the doorstep of Crystal Palace park, also close to Crystal Palace and Beckenham for restaurants and pubs which are admittedly lacking in Penge, though the Bridge House pub is nice. I didn't even know there was an industrial estate! There's two council estates close to our house and they both seem quiet. I'd buy while there is still affordable property to be had!

[Theresadogonyourballs]

Very glad to hear the Alex is getting a much needed facelift. We used to go in there occasionally as friends of ours did the entertainment there at weekends - Jesus, what a dump! I always thought it had potential as it's quite big, so will be interesting to see what happens. There was another awful pub in Penge, think it was called The Royal Oak? I heard that had been shut down too, nothing but brawls and drugs, so got to be a good thing.

[sats1977]

Yes the Royal Oak has been turned into very nice looking flats :)

[Theresadogonyourballs]

Ooh posh flats?! Will have to pop down and have a look! !!

[nessus]

Penge is a good bet OP. And you are inches away from the coveted BR3 postcode. Train connections are amazing and you can even get eggs benedict for less than £5 on the high street! Lovely family butchers, lovely Turkish supermarket with yummy fresh goods. You have banks and chemists on your doorstep and a big Sainsbury's for larger shops. Also new Aldi at the other end if very nice. For childcare and schooling look to Beckenham.

[BovineJuice]

Penge really has changed so much since I moved here 18 years ago. There certainly wasn't a gastropub/theatre (Bridge House Tavern), lovely garden centre cafe (Alexandra Nurseries) and fab Italian restaurant (Friend of Flavours). Most of the schools have improved greatly and Alexandra Infants has been outstanding for years.

The Alexandra pub is hopefully being taken over by the great local brewer, Late Knights, later in the summer.

The area has always had lots of great relatively cheap Victorian housing and a good community vibe and the launch of the Penge Tourist Board (currently just a facebook and Twitter account but website to follow soon) shows a stronger active identity.

[HortenMarket]

We have lived in Penge for 7 years and it is great. I have never felt worried or unsafe walking around. The high street has a run of ok shops - good cafes, the butchers are brilliant. Transport links are fab, schools can be varied though but a good few nurseries around that are very good. See if you can hook up with the Penge Tourist Board for really good info. It is absolutely changing so buy soon if you don't want to be priced out. People have moved onto our street from Fulham and Islington so people are discovering the area from far afield.

[Thymeout]

My dgs goes to a Montessori nursery near Penge West station. I'm not a fan of nurseries as a rule, but must say I've been forced to eat my words.

I like Penge. Would rather live there than Lewisham, even the expensive bits.

[HiawathaDidntBotherTooMuch]

Little Elms nursery v close to Clock House station, so just outside Penge, is very good.

[MrsPeggyPatch]

Penge is awesome and definitely the place to be! The high street is useful, if not the most aesthetically pleasing and lots of exciting things are happening! New library, new antic pub, the Alexandra proposals etc. Nursery wise I've heard good things about kids unlimited near new beckenham, little crystals near penge east and community vision nursery (in the awesome childrens centre) nearish penge west.