Bromley - Nice areas for family house

[Aerie6]

We are currently living just outside London but we are thinking about relocating to Bromley in order to buy our first property (a three bed house). Unfortunately we are not familiar with the area but the commute to Central London looks really good so from a work-life balance point of view looks attractive. What do you think about Bromley as a choice for a place to live?

We are looking for a house in a nice and safe residential area, close to good (& outstanding) primary schools, within 1.2 miles from Bromley South train station, preferably greener area.

Which streets/areas should I be looking after, and which should I avoid?

Many thanks!

Hi, I used to live not far from Bromley South, though it was a long time ago. I remember that Bickley was a very nice area. May be somebody more knowledgeable will come round soon.

Hayes is lovely. Great schools too.

You would need to give more information to be able to get more useful information
What's your budget?
Where in Central London do you wish to commute to?
What sort of house are you interested in?

What's your budget

This is also my question so that I can justify looking at houses on zoopla

Bromley south is great, great schools. Really up and coming from an already good start point! House prices show that though. No need to avoid any roads in Bromley south but be careful once your radius expands past a mile! we love it!

Thanks! The budget is up to a max of £550k but we'd rather not go that far. We'd like a 3 bedroom house, semi detached would be nice but not essential. So far, made a note that Bickley and Hayes are nice, thanks! Any other suggestions? X

Bromley South is great if you need connections to Victoria or Blackfriars. However Orpington offers more as trains go into Charing Cross and Cannon Street as well as Victoria and Blackfriars.

Hi Op beckenham/Eden park/Elmers end are all good areas with really good transport links/green spaces/shops etc Bickley,Hayes very nice, Bromley common(bit far from stations though) further out you have chiselhurst, petts wood, both really nice places, depends a bit on where you need to travel too.

Orpington does have some dodgier areas, towards St Mary's Cray. As is Bromley Common.

Bromley, Bickley, Hayes, Beckenham and West Wickham are all good, but quite expensive, as you'd expect. Lots and lots of nice places in the Palace Road area, behind Bromley North station.

If staying central, try to find somewhere within walking distance of the high street because parking/traffic is a bit of a nightmare.

It's a good place to live, lots of good schools and transport options - you can go from Bromley South direct or Bromley North to Grove Park and change to get to different city stations.

That's very helpful, many thanks!! X

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40638108.html
Has an open day Saturday and in good schools catchment, close to station!

Agree with pp the crays & some parts of Orpington are bit dodgier, also parking around Bromley north/south stations is awful & lots of restrictions.

@Rahgh Nice pick, thanks!
Thank you, all for really great advice. X

As PP have said, Bickley, Petts Wood and certain parts of Orpington are great. Chislehurst may be a bit too far for you(?) but it is lovely. As is Keston.

Again, avoid St Mary Cray (be careful when searching for houses in "Petts Wood" that are actually in SMC!) and St Paul's Cray. I'm also not a huge fan of Green Street Green.

Also second Beckenham - fab area, loads of amenities and lots to do, especially for families.

Forgot to add that Sundridge Park is also a nice area.

I believe there is a MN Local forum for Bromley too - might be worth posting there too?

Good luck in the hunt OP!

@Aquiver Many thanks! X

Another vote for Petts Wood. You also get more London destinations than Bromley South so you can go not only to Victoria and Blackfriars but also Cannon St, London Bridge and Charing Cross. With frequent engineering works at the weekend PW is rarely left with no trains whereas those further up the tracks are they don't have so many options. I love the choice of shops, restaurants and parks. They have tennis for free courts at the Willet Rec, lots of groups like Petts Wood runners and events like Petts Woodstock each August and the May Fayre help add to the community feel. As others have said be careful of some areas describing itself as Petts Wood when it isn't. A three bed semi will cost between £500k and £570k.

@Aerie6 what is your decision in the end? What area in Bromley do you like?

We are thinking of buying flat in Bromley with an easy commute for trains to Cannon street or Charing cross and a good or outstanding state primary school for DS who is now 2 year old.
Best area in 0.25m radius of a high street
Bromley south
Bromley north
Sunridge park
Petts Wood

I liked Elmstead woods Waratah Drive but it's far from station and high street and rules out.

Petts Wood is a lovely place to bring up a family. There are not a huge number of flats in Petts Wood, the new development in Station Square had 2 bed flats going for about £400k and no parking. There are the flats above the shops too.

There are 1930s maisonettes (4 flats in small block, a fair number of these blocks dotted about) in Petts Wood that have a garden and usually long leases with peppercorn ground rent on roads like Shepperton Road, very near Crofton School around £300k. The kitchens are tiny but they usually have a separate living room plus 2 bedrooms.

There is a small number (12) of flats / maisonettes opposite the school on Towncourt Lane that have larger kitchens but leases are shorter and prices around £350k, on a busy road and with the railway behind, one is up for sale now. So depends on your budget and what you are looking for.