Moving to Bromley

[jiya90]

Hi, the OH has been offered a job in bromley that he is very keen to take up. It's a wrench because we have lived up here in Scotland for a while now and tbh the thought of London intimidates me. We have two children, girl 6 and boy 1.5 years. I am a stay at home mum. Any suggestions about a good area to move to within bromley? Or recommendations about good primary schools? We are asian, so a mixed/multicultural community would be good. I'm just so in the dark and would be grateful for any info. Thanks

Bromley is nice. It is not London, though, so no need to worry.
I dont know about the cultural mix, but my friend lives in Shortlands, which I think is a very nice area of Bromley, with good parks, playground, good local primary school (Church of England), easy distance into central Bromley or nearby Beckenham.

I'm just down the road from Bromley, it is London but Greater/Outer London)

It is nice, has a lovely shopping mall (The Glades)

Nice Theatre and nice parks.

No need to worry about the cultural mix, i have mixed race dds so i understand why you do but Bromley is fine.

It's a nice place to live.

Hi, we are also Asian and live in beckenham, And have family in Bromley itself. It's a nice area, parts are very quiet and others quite urban so depends on what your needs are. It's not particularly multicultural but people are friendly enough. dS has just started school (reception) and is settling well. There are fast trains to London from Bromley but you won't need to venture out really, the town centre is big enough for most things. Whereabouts are you thinking of living? Feel free to PM me

Thanks. Any one else have any area or school recommendations. It's links like these that get me worried.

uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080727013355AACjW9G

When we moved first to perth my daughter absolutely hated the nursery she first got into. Cried hardly made any friends, picked up language very slowly. Later we moved houses and changed schools. Thankfully she adjusted really well to the new nursery and moved up to primary 1 and then 2 with the same group of children. So having a school with a good record and preferably some Asian/ other race children would be ideal. Also since I don't drive we would look to rent somewhere closeby to the school. Any help appreciated.

Thanks silver sixpence. I'll pm you.

Jiya

I would highly recommend an estate agent based in Bromley called Sinclair Hammelton. I have used them in the past and they are brilliant. All of them have worked in the industry for years, live in the Borough and know it like the back of their hands Their telephone number is 0208 464 5566

Thanks Clare. That's brilliant.

Hayes is lovely. We've been here for 12 years, my DCs are mixed race, and we've had no trouble at all. Schools are excellent too, primary and secondary.

I have just moved to Bromley myself. I just want to point out that the first reply in the link you posted is getting confused with Bromley by Bow.

From what I have seen Bromley is nice and no more 'dangerous' than any other town. It seems to be full of families with small children.

Bromley is like London with most of the horrible bits taken out! Please don't worry, it's a great place to be with kids and as London goes is one of the cheaper parts, as not fashionable (it is constantly confused with Bromley-by-Bow in east London though). It (Bromley) is close to Kent giving more choice of schools and jobs (e.g. you can travel into London or travel out). If you are looking round the Shortlands area then there is a very good local estate agent called HomeZone. www.homezone.co/

Maybe try looking at the Bromley North area, it has good primary schools nearby, is an easy walk to the shops (esp handy if you don't drive, like me) but is quite quiet.

Is the job actually in Bromley? Does he drive? Would he get a parking place with his job? There is no where to park in the town except expensive shoppers car parks.
Some parts of Bromely are v expensive and a little bit exclusive. It is a huge borough, with all types of places to live within driving or bus distance of the town.
You may prefer Orpington which is a bit cheaper, more multicultural. Or a village setting like Chislehurst, possibly Petts Wood, both are pretty and quite expensive. Beckenham is also nice and a bit closer to London.
You could live in Catford or Grove Park and easily get to work in Bromley, or in the London borough of Bexley also bus links to the town.
Of course, if you are going to rent, you can always find your spot later on.

It's nice. It's easy to be in lush green countryside in 10 mins.

Ps
Schools likely to be full.... Call LA to see where actually has vacancies. We've had a bit of a birth rate increase and there were several bulge classes in the area over last couple of years.
They will get you a school place, but their idea of transport being free to the child if more than 2 miles away is a London bus which will cost YOU £1.40 each and every journey and you might need two buses there and back.

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.

hi

I have same situation like you. We are moving from Scotland to kent and DH has got job in gravesend but we are looking for good area to reside. So how do you feel Bromley is now and my DD is 2 and half year old how is schooling and education there. Your advise will be appreaciated

Hello,
I have just been offered a job in Erith, Kent. As a recently divorced mum of 2 teenage girls, I am looking for a nice area to live with my daughters. I do not know the area at all. Any suggestions or advice would be gratefully received. Thank you.

Hi Saartje I would start a new thread as Erith is no where near Bromley, hopefully someone will be able to help, I only know Erith vaguely it's a bit out of the way.

Bromley is a huge borough, by London standards, and covers a wide range from country-side, through to inner-city areas. Prices will vary from lowish-for-London to multi-million £ properties in places like Chislehurst. No one but the odd idiot will bat an eyelid at new Asian neighbours. If you can, I strongly advise you come down and visit for a long weekend and travel around the area to get a feel for it and all the differences.