Beckenham, Bromley or West Norwood??

[SerendipitousMe]

We’d love to move to a bigger house, a big garden would be amazing, with a view to potentially adding a summer house as an annex. Bromley looks great but I work in London (part time) and my kids are in their (very) early teens so I don’t want to saddle them with tricky transport options.

Which do you prefer between the three? Or is there some other area you would recommend? Currently living in Sydenham, where prices are quite high for what I’m looking for.

Any personal experience you may wish to share will be most welcome!

[SerendipitousMe]

Our budget would stretch to around 1 million, a sum that sounds like so much money but doesn’t necessarily come with big garden and easy London access and decent secondaries (can’t afford private, probably not grammar school material either)

[Twizbe]

We had this same debate and also live in Sydenham.

We ended up extending our current home. We've sacrificed some garden but our living space is much much better.

I personally really dislike Norwood. I really like Beckenham and spend a lot of time there. A couple of good secondaries and a few options for getting into town.

We looked at Bromley but unless you're close to the centre the trains are a pain.

[SerendipitousMe]

Thank you Twizbe, much appreciated. We have no room to extend into, sadly, so it’s not an option. Shame about Norwood as its transport links seem excellent - good to know you like Beckenham, will look more into it.

[Twizbe]

@SerendipitousMe

Thank you Twizbe, much appreciated. We have no room to extend into, sadly, so it’s not an option. Shame about Norwood as its transport links seem excellent - good to know you like Beckenham, will look more into it.

There are some new homes near a couple of the good secondaries. Under £1million and work a look.

[purplemunkey]

I’ve lived in both Beckenham & Bromley. I’d have though Bromley is better for transport than Beckenham? Bromley South anyway. Beckenham is nice, I liked living there. Bromley has more of a town centre, big shopping centre etc, so may have more for DC going into their teens.

[MattyGroves]

West Norwood - nice family area but a bit livelier than Beckenham or Bromley.

[DogsSausages]

I prefer Beckenham, its quieter, has lovely parks, new sports centre, easy commuting and the tram for late nights out. You have the Langley schools, Kelsey Park, the nearest houses to those would be around Park Langley which is lovely but a walk or bus to the station. What starion do you need to get to. Bromley has changed quite a bit, the shopping centre is good and there are very fast trains to London.

[SerendipitousMe]

Thanks, purplemonkey! I

t seems like a really big move to properly exit London - some lovely houses in Croydon too, but it’s hard to tell without knowing the area at all. Lee seems brilliant too, but transport is less than ideal. I guess I’m rather spoiled (or is it spoilt?) having lived near Sydenham station for years!

[SerendipitousMe]

Cheers MattyGroves, nice to hear positives about Norwood!

DogsSausages, I adore Beckenham Place Park as well! My usual destinations/starting points were London Bridge and Canada Water, on the way to central London - but any “big” station would probably do in the long run.

[DogsSausages]

What sort of house are you looking for, you dont get much in Beckenham for £1m. There are new houses in Langley Waterside or you can go a bit further out into Eden Park or the other way towards Kent House.

[SerendipitousMe]

DogsSausages that’s great to know, thanks!

[SerendipitousMe]

Technically, we’re looking for the holy grail: minimum 3 double bedrooms, big garden with a view to eventually install an annex for my dad (to avoid going up stairs and because he wants some independence when he moves in with us). Easy to get to a train station, safe for teens. It’s incredible how little 1 million can get you, I feel slightly sick even writing this sentence as it’s still an extravagant amount…

[Maggiesfarm]

Bromley and Chislehurst are lovely and there are easy transport links as well as several good schools within the area. I know this because I have relatives in that area and go there often (in 'normal' times).

[scrivette]

You could look at West Wickham and Hayes too as there is a train line there (Hayes Line) although it's quite slow.
Hayes is quite close to Bromley town centre so close to Bromley South station
Good schools in the area and you could get a 3 bed with garden for that amount.

[Bathshebahardy]

If you want good secondary schools, I wouldn't go to West Norwood. Staying in Sydenham would be better than that.
Bromley and Beckenham both have good transport links and quite a lot of shops and restaurants. Langley schools in Beckenham and Hayes School are good.

[FishfingerFlinger]

I think you’d be more likely to find big gardens around Beckenham/Bromley - lots of the 1930s development that’s common around there have generous gardens. £1m will prob buy you a 4 bed semi.

[DogsSausages]

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/106168463#/?channel=RES_BUY
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111005042#/media?id=media0&ref=photoCollage&channel=RES_BUY
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/109263521#/?channel=RES_BUY

[hyperbole001]

is it that difficult to find a decent enough home in Sydenham for £1m?

[SerendipitousMe]

Plenty of decent houses, hyperbole001, just not enough accessible space for my dad who will be using a wheelchair soon, within our budget.

[SerendipitousMe]

^Today 17:16 Bathshebahardy

If you want good secondary schools, I wouldn't go to West Norwood.^

I thought that the Norwood school had a good reputation, is that not so?

[SerendipitousMe]

Ah italics fail!

[MattyGroves]

@SerendipitousMe

^Today 17:16 Bathshebahardy

If you want good secondary schools, I wouldn't go to West Norwood.^

I thought that the Norwood school had a good reputation, is that not so?

Some bits of West Norwood are in the Dunraven catchment too

[SELDNMUM]

We looked in similar areas last year and ended up in Penge. You should be able to get something decent in Sydenham but suspect the need need for an annex means your options are limited as Sydenham is more urban.

I think your more likely to find the space you want in Beckenham and the surrounds rather than West Norwood.

[LBOCS2]

I moved from Sydenham to just outside south Croydon - we're in Sanderstead. We're within catchment for 2 outstanding primaries and an outstanding secondary (Riddlesdown), and our local station goes to Victoria and London Bridge at peak times, plus you can change at East Croydon or Clapham for basically anywhere in the south. Lots more space here than in Sydenham - there are a few properties with that garden space but they are far between. Plus you get a lot more for your money.

My sister is between Clockhouse and Beckenham Junction and that still feels a lot more urban, the gardens are still very small with little space to add an annexe or anything similar.

[Twizbe]

We looked at purley as well as I have a friend who moved there. Their house is big with a massive garden BUT we hated the area. It was very hilly and I'm an East Anglian ... the two don't mix lol. I learnt to hill start on a speed bump. I freaked out driving up some of those hills. Also I felt like there was no nice town centre to go to.

I LOVE Penge. You could find something lovely around the Kings Hall Road area (there is a lovely 3 bed bungalow for sale there at the moment) down side is the secondary schools but it depends on whether you have boys or girls.