Honest opinions on Bromley please

[beaglesaresweet]

Is it a good place to live, or a dull overcrowded suburb as some think?

I've been to the High street once, and it all chains and not anything special, but maybe there ae some areas away from there?

What are the best streets/areas within easy access to B.South (walk or bus)? Is it safe to walk at night?

I'm attracted by reasonable prices and quick links to London, but I wonder why is it cheaper than many other surrounding areas.

What are the people like?

If you think Bromley is not great, any recommendations nearby with a train to london? Budget is modest but not fussed about size of garden.

if you know of anyone wanting to sell a nice but smallish house or a large period flat, can you point me in their direction!?

Horniman isn't penge

Penge/beckenham borders are actually quite nice.

Agree Horniman is Forest Hill but only 10 mins drive/bus from Penge. Agree Crytal Palace park is lovely. Had no idea there was a problem with the Sainsbury s there !

I think of Brockley as more towards Lewisham Crofton Park way, so other side of Peckham.

Wishidabs - I've never had a problem with the Sainsburys either! Just hearsay from a friend.

There is a nice French market over in Penge once or twice a year.

Try the Brown and Green station cafe in CP station next time you're there. I personally think Penge/Anerley will be the next big thing in terms of areas as CP has got better and better. People are already referring or have been to Penge as Ponge posh voice. LOL :-)

What are the horror stories about Penge Sainsburys? We go there every week! Lol at Ponge.

It's true Bromley high street is not visually inspiring at all but since using it as our local shopping town I've been really impressed. It doesn't look particularly upmarket but it's got a surprising number of the kind of shops you associate more with Kingston or Richmond - Apple shop, Lakeland, Phase Eight, Gerard Darel etc. I go there quite happily now if I just want a look round and can't face Oxford Street. And the street markets always look bright and inviting.

Also absolutely intrigued by Penge Sainsbury's horror stories. Might have to warn my friends for whom it is their local ...

Please, please update

Eleanor, thanks for the agent details, I think registreing with someone reliable is neccessary in these popular areas, I've so far only contacted KFH and they aer te 'fast boys' . The smell by the dump is a tricky thing as depends on wind direction, tbh I'd rather stay away. But the house that I like in Chatterton is objectively too nice for then to drop 20K! I will try to speak to the agent and see what they say but not yet, as no doubt they wouldn't even consider it to stat with. I think it's a goner .

I did look at Anerly and at Penge by the station a year or so ago when I also looked at CP. I didn't really lke them, CP was quite good but over budget (I need a 3bed flat ideally or a 2 bed with good loft, or a house, as I work from home and ned lots of storage too. Walking to Anerly, it felt immediately less safe and rougher than CP, a man of drugs wondering around and no one else around as this was daytime when the place is empty then, I felt vulnerable. I often go back home late and need to feel safe. Penge, from what I've seen (very little) lack a high street really and lacks the type of houses I like, they are tiny there, also proces higher than Bromley a bit but with all te grotty high st andsuch added. Afaik, the train from Bromley is fater to victoria than from any of these, and Norbury too. The other thing is, I like to be nearer to countryside, that's why would rather go further into Kent (a bit) then into rought london areas which are not central anyway.

Norbury and Streatham, I'm not keen on due to crime levels, ther is a reasdon why they are cheap eve nthough close to Balham and so on. And the train is not that quick. I did look at West Norbury a while ago and probably should have bought tere as now the prices ar higher - it's not enough space - but I was put off by te High street again, and some roughness though it's not as bad as stretham imo. If you have a P/H this is maybe not a factor, but walking back home at night and being scared is not for me, I'm a sensitive soul . Sorry, while I was typing, lost your username, and can't look back .

sorry, very tired today, and not pressing keys hard enough - lots of missed letters (and not just)!

MadBusLady - interesting about the shops! I ve been there two yrs ago and didn't look that clsely, I do think things will be improving as more people aer pushed out of london that way. Are these on the small high st leading to station or within shopping centres? is bluewater really as good as people say?

All but Lakeland are within the (rather unlovely) Glades shopping centre, Lakeland is just outside on the side away from the station. Further on from the Glades (as you come from the station) is a pedestrianized precinct with the theatre, library and a load more high street names. It does lack for independents and good cafes though, I go to Palace or Forest Hill for that kind of thing.

It's sad when you look at the map of Bromley and realise what happened in the 60s, basically it was a decent market town with a river curving through it and various little bits of green, and they built all the shiny new concrete stuff with its back to the river so that the shopping area is completely enclosed. It could have had a Richmond type atmosphere if the development had been done right.

Lived here five months and somehow haven't been to Bluewater yet

£275 in beckenham

£230k beckenham

This part of beckenham is near Kent house (my local station), you'd walk on a main road to get from kh to these places. A lot of young families live on these roads, you've also got clockhouse station for trains into London bridge, charing cross if you're out in the west end.

Just been doing the usual daily check on rightmove for Brom;ey, and the house came up - 3 bed, good size garden and all done-up inside, but in New Eltham - on the map it's between N.E. station and Chislehirst area. Just 280K! I know Mottingham is supposed to be rough, and that's nearby, but is the area of hte house really bad? Looks like a family lived there before and it's all interior-decorated etc so they must have lived there happily enough and spent money - wouldn't make sense it it was awful criminal area??

Thanks, Creature - they are both nice, but I can't have neighbours above anymore, or a ground floor (security), has to be a house or a good size non dormer top floor. Still, will keep an eye on that aera as maybe something will come up. Will be visiting anyway next week, just to be sure about the area, maybe to register with agents.

it's near White horse Hill, when I say not far from Chislehurst, I mean the aera border, not anywhere near station (though might be a bus to there or Bromley?)

Ah ok thought one was a top floor (well two top floors).

I would visit the chislehurst one just to get a feel! And be nosy!

ah sorry - it had kitchen in the living room (which is a 'no' for me), also smaller than it looks as lots of space is in eaves, but I will be looking for similar). Is there a quick train to victoria though? see, Bromley winns with that - no stops as well!
That house is in New Eltham, not right next to Ch, but not far - though if you are local you might have heard horror stories about Eltham - as it's neighbouringto Bromley.

New Elt is surburbia with a20 slicing it across from Chislehurst. It's safe and Eltham has a bad name unnecessarily so.

There are lots of family's in this area, excellent schools.
Close to new Eltham is Greenwich park, Scadbury Park, Eltham Park. Great bus routes. Don't forget Eltham Palace.
Train is to Charing Cross.

This corner where Greenwich meets Bexley meets Bromley boro's benefits from all three boro's but is much cheaper than its neighbours, I think because it's surburbia and a journey to a high st. (Note only Bromley could be called a shopping destination).

Bluewater killed Bromley shops. Who shops anymore tho? There's nothing to buy independently anymore anywhere but online.

Try the Sidcup train line avoiding Mottingham, Albany Park and Crayford.

There are lots of large Victorian conversions near mottingham train station opposite Royal Blackheath golf course. A nice little pocket of a place.

thanks, Allabout! really surprised that Eltham is safe. Are there no big estates nearby? as you say, I know Mottingham is definitely rough, but it's very near isn't it.

Is there a bus from New E to Bromley shopping area or bluewater? More importantly, to Bromley South station, as I'd be using that, not NE to Charing Cross (mainly). If there is a quick regular bus, I'd consider. Otherwise it's stll Bromley for me, for the train and shops convenience.
I'm going to Bromley in couple of days, and might look at NE if there an easy bus (limited time).

Beagles - I've lived in Chislehurst for the past few years, and it's a lovely area. Still pockets of green space, good connections to London, reasonable schools.

The transport links from the place on White Horse would be either a walk to Elmstead Woods (which is on the London Bridge-Charing Cross/Cannon Street line) or buses run down to Bromley fairly frequently. It's a nice enough area there, and while Chislehurst is mostly restaurants/boutique shops, having handy access to doctors/Sainsbury's/chemist etc has been great. I've never felt unsafe, no matter what hour I've been heading home. Best of luck with the house-hunting!

thank you, Occams! not that much on the market, do yo know if it usually pick up in Sept? so you would class the New Eltham as Chislehurst? I thought it wasn't the same, Ch. being much more expensive - will it come up under bromley on rightmove, or best to specify?

I went to Bromley South yesterday, sadly for very short on time, but wanted a quick look at the aera near the station where the two properties I liked have sold - just off Westmoreland rd.
It's definitely nice enough and clean, though I was surprised how built-up it is, as someone saud 'lots of people live there' . Is where you aer as busy? Not that there weremany people around as this was just before 6pm and only some were coming back from work, but I imagine it's really busy at weekends. High st actually looked better than I rememebered, well, being a summer day. Impressed with buses andfrequenncy, so North B also an option as it's 5 min by buses to S Bromley which I need.

Another question re people, are they friendly? I sort of got the impression people are a bit huffy, not obvioulsy friendly like in some places, even the staff at the station, but again, didn't see that many.Funnily enough when I visited Sevenoaks long ago, I thought that people were huffy - is it because the demographic in these places aer those who aspite to be richer/in London but cant afford it (sorry if it's not at all the case, a wild guess!). Seems like west/north of london is nicer in this sense. But so far nothing beats the train links in B.!

picks up

oh God, I meant 'being a sunny day' all looked nice.

Haha... I think the people are pretty much as they are most places. There are a few 'moneyed' prats in Chislehurst (yes, I'm looking at you, teenage boy with the manicure and sweater with leather elbow patches yapping loudly on new iPhone), but no worse than most. In fact, the majority of people I've met have been really lovely, and there are quite a few pubs (considering the size of the place) where people tend to congregate. I'm early 30s, and found that getting involved in various activities - netball, running/exercise groups etc and then later mother's groups led to a fairly wide social circle.

To answer your questions:
There's definitely a difference between New Eltham and Chislehurst. Not least as I think you'll have to cross Mottingham to get there (not that I think that Mottingham is a bad place, just saw it getting a bit of poor press earlier in the thread) Though someone may be able to correct me, I think that most of Mottingham is south of the station (i.e. bordering down to the White Horse Hill area) whereas New Eltham is more to the north of Sidcup Rd and further west.
The other thing to think about is that further down White Horse Hill/Green Lane you go, the postcode changes back from a BR7 into an SE9 (I think!) and while that will impact insurances etc. but it's really not a line drawn in the sand for me.

I don't think Chislehurst will come up under Bromley in Rightmove.

From memory, there does tend to be a few more places available after school placements, but I haven't been looking lately so not sure what this year's been like.

Bickley might be another option (can't remember if anyone mentioned it) as it's still pretty easy to get into Bromley South?

We've chosen to move to Bromley (contracts to be exchanged) after researching the area. This thread was helpful.

We're close to Chatterton Village, mentioned above, and the dump was something we worried about. We've been told the smell doesn't travel that far and in all the time we spent in the area, we didn't smell it until we got to Baths Road.

Reasons we chose Bromley, and more specifically Chatterton Village...

• A calmer, friendlier feel compared to London
• Great transport into London for work (and play!), you can't argue with a 12 minute walk to the station
• Well within the catchment area for Raglan Primary
• Close to some nice parks and open spaces. Our new house backs onto a playing field
• The town centre had a nice feel to it with a level of normality that we both liked.

All other reasons are personal to us but all together I think it's the right choice :)

Just to add to this...I live in Bromley South (up near top of Westmoreland Road/shortlands border )..have been here for 5.5 yrs & love it! So handy for London & getting back & high street has most of what you need. I visit Beckenham quite a lot & hubby & i love it. Now have 2 kids & don't really plan on moving from the borough if we can help it.. Originally from Glasgow, lived in Maidstone & Sittingbourne in deepest darkest Kent previously. Friends think we're gradually moving back up north ??.

But we chose Bromley for same reasons as OP...v handy for London but great for heading back to coast to meet with friends who still live that way. Really like all the parks, great running routes & gyms on offer. Have made loads more friends since having the kids have made even more friends & find people really friendly.

Good luck with your search.

ooh, some new responses!

Adi - glad you say that this thread helped! you are a VERY fast mover having found and offered on a home since the thread started! Is your budget much better than ine ?

I'm still waiting for things to come on the market, sadly. The two big flats I saw in the summer on rightmove have gone, and nothing similar since, very little for this price at all - and currently there are either 60s houses, or ground floors, or a modern open flat flats.

Adi, can you tell me where aer hte nice parks? it;s not that obvious, on the map I can see a small one near Shortlands, but maybe further out?

I'm also interested to know, how is it on weekends - very crowded? I can't visit on weekends myself.

Thanks, Occams, so what IS the big difference (re New E) - is it rough?

Chislehurst does come out if your search within a mile (as I do).

Thanks, Granny, I'm happy to hear that people aer friendly. Maybe it was just the getting back from nwork grumpiness as I did visit at 5-6pm. More than understandable.

Did anyone try Bluewater? is it good or bad (have heard very divided opinions).