New Beckenham / Braeside / Overbrae

[Pritamin]

We're looking to move to Beckenham and recently broadened our search to New Beckenham, namely to the Greycot Road / Overbrae / Braeside area. We are slightly concerned though that we recently saw a bunch of loud and abusive youths in broad daylight.

Anybody could tell if this area is a safe and pleasant area to live and bring up a young family?
What are the primary schools like in the area?

Many thanks!

I live 3 mins from new beckenham - I think you're looking further north towards Sydenham? We love it here, cator park is right next to us, ten min walk into beckenham. No issues with youths etc
Schools are a challenge which we are starting to worry about. Alexandra is outstanding but tiny catchment area. Royston in penge is in special measures. Worsley bridge school will be taking kids from reception from September to cope with extra demand. I think it's an improving school.
What's your budget? Have you tried the clockhouse side of beckenham? It's got quite a lot of young families around there.

I lived in New Beckenham, just off Brackley Road. Lots of commuter flats and a really nice area. I never felt unsafe but the further you go towards Beckenham Hill (eg Braeside, although that is a lovely street) you're getting into Lewisham.

The other side of the train tracks from New Beckenham station is also nice though.

DH and I moved to the other side of Beckenham to get a more traditional house (around Groveland/Gordon Roads) and it's lovely round there. You have got the wonderful Croydon Road recreational ground (actually a fantastic park) within 5 mins and the more landscaped Kelsey Park in 10 mins walk. (I miss those parks!)

You're in the catchment for Balgowan (just, depending on the intake in any one year) plus Marian Vian which is also excellent. Secondary schools in the whole Beckenham area aren't as good but for primary it's great.

Thanks for the replies. Both are spot on what we felt about the area.(Beckenham Hill, now that I know ).
Budget is £450, for a 3+ bedroom, ideally semi or end terrace house. We looked around the Clockhouse end and saw some very nice houses but again, not too sure about the surrounding area, i.e. Beckenham Road... Or am I just a bit too fussy???

Clockhouse is fine actually - you're only ten mins into the centre of beckenham. I'd walk around and see what you think, I have friends around there and they like it. I know what you mean about the area though, it's not as nice looking.

It might be worth looking around west wickham for your budget as you will get more and some good schools too (pickhurst plus the Langley schools). We might move that way at some point.

My parents just moved out of Braeside! 15 very happy years. Pm me if you want to know more, but I would say loud youths are unusual. there's a secondary school on Beckenham Hill which can get noisy at break/lunch time but jut normal happy kids noise. Worsley Bridge Road did used to get speeding cars a bit but they traffic calmed the crossroads with Greycot Road and that seemed to fix things. I'm a couple of years out of date though.

It's all semis and a couple of detacheds on Braeside, and I think 450 would be optimistic. My brother went to Worsley Bridge and then Alleyns and there was a bus service from the area.

The area I said you should be able to get something nice for £450. We sold ours (mid terrace but four bed with loft extension and conservatory) for 380 two years ago. And it is great for commuting as you have Elmers and and Clock House both within walking distance.

Have a drive around all those areas and the parks etc. Good luck :)