Bromley housing market/schools 2012

[LondonLaura]

Hello all,

I am very keen to get your advice.

We have finally been chucked out of central London by rising rents and would like rent with an eye to buy in Bromley. We are a car-free family and cannot believe how gorgeous Bromley South/Palace Estates looks (if a tiny bit pricey for us at the moment).

Any other suggestions of affordable neighbourhoods, good state schools, close to Bromley South for London access.

Any suggestions/alternatives? Would you Bromley mums say?

Yes, I think you will be fine, Bromley South station is being renovated at the moment and the good news is it is going to have a lift. We bought a wreck of a house and spent months renovating it, I came down from London often to check on the builders with my 2 year old in a pushchair, and had to carry the pushchair up and down the steps.People offered to help though.
Bromley South is busy in the mornings but I still think you will be OK.

I have not noticed any people with tats on their faces but I will be on the look out from now on!!
I really like to support independent shops and hate the high street, its so samey, you could be anywhere.
I was gutted when Habitat closed, now it's bloody carpetright!!

There is a huge plan in place to redevelop the area around Bromley South station, creating a new zone with restaurants, a hotel and new cinema, AFAIK the plans have already been approved.

I used to live near Victoria but am happier here, the people on our street are lovely, they will always pass the time of day with you, I would not go back to central London to live now

Oh Brilliant!! I am sure the refurb is why they are all leaving the High Street, I am sure its going to get really posh with all the families desperate for three beds flowing out of central London. Now I want to sell my kidney and buy that house on Palace View ...

Everyone I have met that has moved to Bromley from here says the same thing, they are happy and don't look back.

How old are your kids? I live in Pimlico with a three and a six year old, would we have crossed paths in Victoria?

OK, anyone hears of any great deals on two or perferably 3 bedroom houses to rent near the station, email me [email protected] or Tweet me on @londonbabymum

We have moved from zone 2 London to Bromley to Kent countryside in the last ten years. It's a fairly well trodden path. Bromley is great for lots of things but...a lot of people in Bromley seem to want to move further out once they see what is 20 minutes further away from Victoria station. Just saying :)

MarysBeard,
Every weekend we come home thinking the same thing... It is so gorgeous out there.

I must admit my pet hate are parents with buggies on commuter trains. We lived near Grove Park and there was one couple every day. As the train is already packed when it comes in (I doubt Chislehurst, just two stops down the line is better) it was every morning a nightmare.

Not sure about Bromley South, I only used it as a back-up when my line was closed. It was always packed then as obvious I wasn't the only one thinking about this train as an alternative.

I think I need my car in Bromley. Not so much Bromley itself but we like nipping into Kent/Surrey at the weekends and most attractions like NT places, farms, castles are too far out for me to rely on public transport.

Chiselhurt: i think it has good and bad points. I like the area towards Bickley, Elmstead Woods more than the one towards Sidcup. But this area was far too pricey for me.

Bromley town center can be strange as a lot of people from Lewisham are shopping here. I am not keen on it for evenings out, I find the smaller areas have a lot nicer restaurants/pubs than Central Bromley.

But it really fits all the shopping needs and even to Bluewater you may need 45 minutes in bad traffic.

by the way Laura, Chislehurst has lots of non-chain restaurants and quirky shops, plus a nice big Sainsburys...

Hi LondonLaura, long-time Palace Estate mum here - just seen this thread!
I'd agree more or less with what everyone else has said so far but would add the following; there's no doubt that Bluewater has had a huge knock-on effect on Bromley Town Centre which is why you now have Primark rather than Debenhams and so on. It's true there's not much to tempt around the station area, but there is a reasonable market on Friday and Saturday, as well the charter market near Bromley North on Thursday.
The plans for the Bromley South (or Bromley South Central as they insist on calling it) are ambitious and involve a complete redevelopment of the area at the back of RBS (opposite the station), with flats, an hotel (mainly for use by RBS employees, apparently). I'm not sure how far down the line the plans are.
Agree with other posters re dining out, that there's not much in Bromley itself beyond the usual chains, but there is always the excellent Michelin-starred Chapter One at nearby Locksbottom!
As for schools, the big advantage of living in this area is that there is, at present, a realistic choice of secondaries. Grammars aside, you should be OK for Bullers Wood(girls) Ravens Wood(boys), Bishop Justus and Ravensbourne. The first two are very well regarded, the next two not so much, although I'd say BJ is one to watch in the next few years as it's relatively new on the scene and I've heard good things from those who go there. Ravensbourne is often unfavourably compared with the others, but everyone I know whose kids go there seem very happy.
The one note of caution I would advise is to watch closely the amount of housing development in the area. For example, there is a HUGE development almost completed on Bromley Common which could well have a future effect on proximity distances for some secondaries.
If you want any really specific information about this area, do PM me and I'll do my best to help.

Mumeuro, just found out TFL wants £300 per month for me to take the kids on the train. We will not be doing that. Have to come up with another plan for schools. Maybe the religious schools will have a place (we are active in a CofE and Catholic Church, for typical reasons)

Twistlethant: thank you for the offer, I may just come at you with some questions, had not considered the Bluewater drain on the area. I am going to look, learn and think a little bit more before asking.

Bluewater is a drain but personally I'm so over bluewater.
It is all chains. There is nothing there you can't buy online.
From their own shops. Or eat without being a chain. And the cinema is overpriced.
It is horrendous at Christmas and I refuse to go in December.

Bromley council publish their catchments online I think so check there. Can believe you hve to pay for the kids! Over age 6 I think.

Chislehurst is huge.
Close to station is probably most expensive and from the caves toward Bromley.
Whereas towards mottingham is a bit grotty.
Towards Sidcup is very nice along A222 and Kemnal lane near SIdcup is millionaires row.
Green lane end towards eltham is also ok but rather samey.

High street is lovely.

can't stand Bluewater and never could! Westfield Stratford is probably nearer and is way better!

Bromley mum here.

If you like the Palace Estate lovely but a bit pricey, have you looked at Chatterton village? That's where I live.

Whitehall Park is lovely - there isn't such a great park in the Palace Estate. And you're right next to Norman Park too.

We're in walking distance to the station and in the catchment for Raglan, Bullers Wood, Ravens Wood, Bishop Justus and Ravensbourne.

I do second what other mums have said though, be very careful with the catchments because they are tiny. That's the biggest difficulty you face finding a house around the area.

The houses around Chatterton Village tend to be slightly smaller than in the Palace Estate but therefore they are also slightly cheaper.

Chatterton Village itself doesn't have any exciting shop but you do have all your essentials including a Co-op, a corner shop, a DIY shop, a salon, fish and chips shop, an amazing indian takeaway as well as a really good indian restaurant, a very nice family run cafe... The pub in the village isn't the best but check the one in Masons Hill, soon before Homesdale Road (I'm awful with names, I'm afraid). Oh and that one is opposite a little shop where you can find very peculiar beers.

If you'd rather stay closer to Bromley South station (Raglan is under a mile to Bromley South and if you don't fancy walking there are about 5 buses heading that way), then you could be in the catchment for St Mark's which is a really good CoE school.

As you also named catholic schools, the best is St James' which is in Petts Wood - chatterton is allocated 2 spaces per year in St James though you'd have to commute to take the children there. I live really near to St Swithun's catholic church.

There is also Virgin Active two roads from St Swithun's if you're into that.

Two allotments: one by Virgin Active (oversubcribed) one a bit further down in Turpington lane with spaces.

If you go to the Trinity Village (the new development) you may end up in a not so nice school. And you'll need to get the bus to go to the station.

I'll be happy to help so do text me if you want some more information. I hope you find this helpful though.

So, to give you a taste, here is a bit for every budget (from low to high) within the catchment of Raglan primary school.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-37128745.html?premiumA=true

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35776468.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-23929857.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-23623143.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-25670988.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36305737.html?premiumA=true

And now I should just keep quiet, otherwise if we ever need to move we won't be able to stay in the area.

Thinking of moving to Bickley/ Shortlands/Bromley. Need to do a in year transfer for DD 4 and DS 6, so wondering which are the good schools in the area. We have heard of Bickley Primary but do not know much about the others. Have seen a few rental properties close to Valley School but don't have much feedback on Valley or Raglan at all. Also need to stay really close to a train station as DH works at Kings College and needs an easy commute.
Any feedback on good primary schools, shopping and life in Bickley would be much appreciated!

Mucky72 I think your main issue will be finding a school with spaces for both your DC. None of the schools in central Bromley are bad, but they are all oversubscribed. Probably worth checking with the council to see if they can tell give you any information on where spaces might be available. There is a new free school due to open by Bromley South station (Bromley Bilingual School) in September which will be taking YR, Y1 and Y2 pupils so that may free up some spaces elsewhere or provide another option for you.

My DD is in YR at St Mark's CoE primary and seems to be doing well there. The school buildings and grounds aren't as impressive as some others nearby (Highfield, Pickhurst), but the head is great and it has a friendly atmosphere.

Hi JustOnemorebite

Thanks for your msg. We moved to Bromley a few weeks ago and I have been in touch with the council. As you said prob is finding schools for both our children! There is a possibility of DS getting into Parish CofE but might be confirmed in a few days. It was not our first preference but looks like a good school. Do you have any idea about this school?
We are more near the Bickley side of Bromley. Whereabouts do you live? I am actually liking Bromley a lot!

Mucky - I have several friends with children in Parish and they all like it. One actually said yesterday how she likes that the school is sporty and they have a huge field outside.

They are now an Academy but from what I hear they haven't changed much. Results are good and they push the children to learn.

I just found the thread and read it all. I am also looking to relocate as dc are in year 2 and 4. Searching properties in Bickley/Bromley/Chislehurst/Orpington in order to apply for grammar schools. We have also relocated from London Zone 2 to greater london, not great area though where we are in BR1. Now tutoring ds to be competitive for 11+. Also both DH and I working in the City via Cannon Street. 3 beds where seen very small or overpriced for the condition they are. Not very impressed as well with Bromley High St and Bluewater, as someone mentioned already there is nothing that can't be bought online. I mainly concentrate on on-line shopping even for groceries from Sainsburys.
My main concern is not to have social housing next to where we live and commute easily to the grammars and the city. The problem is that there are not many houses on the market and if there are any they are weather not in the desired areas, or very small for what they cost.

Hi! I am completely new to the area, we found a nice house on Whitebeam Avenue and thinking if it is worth it. I am looking to give my son to St James RC Primary as he will be 4 and will join reception 2018. Can you give any feedback on Whitebeam avenue area and also if I will be in the catchment of St James School?Really need your advise before we buy.
many thanks