So - can anyone sell Beckenham to me?

[LittlePickleHead]

Just that really. Trying to upsize within our (very lovely) SE London enclave. NOTHING on the market to buy within our price range at the moment (things have been very slow all summer). Our EA mentioned Beckenham and said that most people selling flats in our current area are relocating to Beckenham to buy houses, and for the schools.

I've been there once to the cinema, can't say it massively left an impression. Is there anyone who has relocated there who can tell me anything about it? Which primary schools should we be looking close to? Where are the lovely open spaces to look out for? anything else we should know? My wish list is period 3 bed near good primary, close to shops and also open space/parkland for the children. All for a budget of £400k. Is this possible??

[allyfe]

Shura, I have a friend with a daughter at Highfield and her daughter loves it, and she loves it. Their communication with parents is excellent. I know someone else who did a teacher training placement there, and she said it was much like Balgowan (in Beckenham), but did say that their communication with/inclusion of parents was outstanding. Don't have any direct or indirect experience of Clare House or Valley. Good luck with your search.

[shura]

I am new to Bromley and I am considering following three schools for primary education of my DS:

1. Clarehouse
2. Highfield
3. Valley Primary School

I am not sure about positive and negative points of these schools so would highly appreciate if someone can throw their views on what is positive and negative about these schools.
Appreciate your help and time.

[EmpressOfTheGoldFlames]

Yes I remember!

It's lovely Secondsop, or it used to be. Wild and quiet.

[Secondsop]

Empress I haven't been there much but my husband goes running there most days. I do see / hear the geese from the wetlands bit flying over my house though!

[EmpressOfTheGoldFlames]

That's where I used to be, Secondsop. Do you ever go to the country park by the crematorium? Spent whole summers messing around there

[Secondsop]

I live towards the Penge end of Beckenham, near Birkbeck station, and it works very well for us. It's cheaper there than in beckenham proper -
we got a big 4-bed semi with big kitchen and off street parking for about the same price as our flat nearer central London. I'd love to be nearer Beckenham itself as, as others have said, there are lots of amenities without it feeling like a massive shopping centre (and you can go to Bromley or Croydon if you want big shopping centres, plus not far to the Purley Way for ikea etc). For transport, beckenham
Junction has plenty of trains plus the tram, and areas between Clock House and Kent House are handy for 2 train lines. For primary schools, Balgowan is considered to be the best but you do need to be virtually on top of it to get a place. Marian Vian is also meant to be good, and Stewart
Fleming (near me) has changed from special measures to "good" in a few years. As others have said, there are a number of lovely parks and open spaces, including Crystal Palace park which is within easy reach of Beckenham.

[Iggly]

I love Beckenham. I go to most parks and a) havent heard these conversations about schools and b) I'm not white and it doesn't feel "entirely white".

We moved from tooting and it's a nice change. My lottery house would be near new Beckenham

[mamaonion]

Indigirl I think your missing the point a bit OP said she can't afford area she currently lives on and many people sacrifice exciting London for dull suburbia because they fancy a garden and room for a dining table.

My kids aren't white and my sons school is very diverse- but then we live close to Penge so maybe some schools less diverse. Anyway think your comments little bit sweeping.

[EmpressOfTheSevenFlames]

Well, I'm currently strolling down Albemarle Rd singing ' MNers - We Kick Arse' so if you see me, stop and say hello!

[indiegrrl]

I was there for a while and I'm afraid I found it a bit dull. Nice and green, but a tiring commute, and parks and shops full of parents talking loudly about how to get their kids into entirely white, entirely middle-class secondaries, preferably exercising academic selection as well. My mate with 3 kids recently escaped - her kids now go to an inner London school ranked 'terrible' or something by Ofsted, but despite (or perhaps because of) this, they are imaginative and inquiring and know there's more to life than white picket fences. If you've always fancied embracing the limited horizons of middle England, go for it. Otherwise...stay in London. You sound like you like it there.

[mamaonion]

I think you have to do your research confused if you're set on a particular school but Fwiw the Harris academies have only been taken over for one academic year so I think you need to give some time to see how they develop. If your LOs not even started primary school it's a long way ahead and a lot can change for a school

[confusedperson]

I live on Croydon borough border with Beckenham and know Beckenham quite well. But for everyone saying that secondaries are good, I have a question. Langley is good but that?s in Eden Park /West Wickham area. If you live close to Beckenham high street or Clockhouse area, which secondary schools do you have? Kelsey sports college is no good and I Harris Academy is not the top one.
And where are those 3 bed houses for 220k in Beckenham?
I would like to consider a move to Beckenham for all above listed reasons, but the secondary school questions bugs me a lot!

[LilMissSunshine9]

Oh forgot to say the parks are amazing so nice and serene I love Kelsey Park.

[LilMissSunshine9]

I am moving to Churchfields Road nr clock house station - my decision on Beckenham was based on a number of things

1. safe area
   
2. some nice parks to get to
   
3. stations - I wanted a choice of stations that allowed me to get to different parts of London incase I moved jobs
   
4. High street
   
5. Standard of schools
   
   I did spend some time walking about Beckenham and I spoke to some local residents too - they really know how to sell it to you! And when someone is willing to spend 5-10 mins selling their area to a stranger that kind of tells me that they really love it.
   
   I like Beckenham for its transport links currently I commute to London Bridge so Clock House Station is great for me as it goes direct to London Bridge in 20 mins. It also goes to Charing Cross (30 mins) so you can quickly get to Oxford Street by walking up Regent Street so that was a bonus. However I wanted to also be within reasonable distance to other transport links - Beckenham Junction takes you to Victoria in under 30 mins so should I move jobs and I need to get the central London I have that as an option.
   
   I walked along the high street and its a real mix of stores, I like the independent fish mongers and butchers (similar to what ED have) plus my main bank has a branch their so that was a big plus for me.
   
   The only thing that sold it for me is that on the odd occasion I go out in central london there is a night bus that goes through Beckenham - albeit its a long journey its much cheaper than a cab.
   
   I do not place too much emphasis on catchments just because the catchment size changes year on year in my experience - its a personal choice so I will leave that one with you.
   
   Lastly I knew that Croydon were deciding on who was to build a new shopping centre possibly a Westfields - I figure that it will bring up the Croydon area to an extent but it will also have I hope a positive effect on house prices in surrounding areas too where it is easy to commute to - obviously this is very subjective and there might not be any effect at all but you never know.
   
   Hope this helps

[nancy75]

The post code for the infants is br2 0 rx, try that with half a mile radius, some of the houses will be out of the Langley catchment, others will be in it!
I don't k ow too much about unicorn, it's quite a new school and we didn't look at it for dd.

[LittlePickleHead]

nancy there is a resounding blank on my rightmove map for the whole of that area so I assume we are priced out! Perhaps we need to focus on primary for the moment and cross secondary when we get there.

Any views on unicorn? The oftead is good

[nancy75]

High field infants and junior school is covered by a lot of the Langley catchment, however it is the more expensive part house wise, you would need to look at park Langley or some roads off of Hayes lane. High field is an excellent primary and you do have to
I've nearby to get on

[LittlePickleHead]

Thanks for all the info!

So is Eden park nice then? We'll pop by for a look at the weekend, but good to get opinions of the feel of the place and likely neighbours etc

LilMiss if you don't mind me asking, which area of Beckenham are you moving to? How did you decide?

[EmpressOfTheSevenFlames]

Pickle - trams go from Elmers End which is v close to Eden Park.

[LilMissSunshine9]

I am moving to Beckenham and cannot wait mostly because I couldn't afford ED but also because it is like ED but undiscovered by the massives.

Plus I had a colleague at work today confirm that Westfields have won the rights to redevelop the Whitfield shopping centre in Croydon which is a godsend. Might be a year or two before its complete but I cannot wait - no more trekking into central London for decent shopping. A tram from Beckenham to Croydon is approx 15mins.

[EmpressOfTheSevenFlames]

Eden Park's close to the big tesco as well. Ok for the High St, as scrivette said - you just drive straight up Croydon Rd - and on the Charing Cross line.

[scrivette]

Pressed too soon...

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[scrivette]

Eden Park is very close to Beckenham High Street, there is a big park (Harvington) and is near Kelsey Park.

[LittlePickleHead]

Oh, and if anyone could let me know what it's like in the Eden park area (it looks really far from the centre of beckenham, is it proper suburbia?) as there is a house that looks like it would be catchment for unicorn primary as well as the Langley schools. Thanks in advance!

[LittlePickleHead]

I was looking at the Langley schools area but there doesn't seem to be anywhere close that would also be in catchment for a primary school? Unless I have missed something. I do agree it would be better for the long term investment, but I dont want to risk not being close enough to any primaries and facing a long journey if we just get allocated one within the borough.