Beckenham/Shortlands/Sanderstead?

[mazzamoo123]

Hi Everyone, I'm looking to move from west Norwood and am trying to choose the best area to look! So far we've come up with Beckenham, Shortlands and Sanderstead. If anyone has any advice that would be great... here are a few things we're looking for:

1. we both teach in Dulwich so the commute at 7.30am(ish) can't be too long (40 mins max)
2. we'd like a fairly leafy/quiet street but that's accessible to one or two nice pubs, cafes and shops
3. family friendly (we have two small boys)
4. a good investment - this isn't our primary reason for moving but it would definitely be a bonus
5. primary school catchment area is not essential as our boys will probably go to school in Dulwich but in terms of investment we're probably better living in a fairly good catchment area for re-sale

Our budget is £650000 and we'd like a 3 or 4 bedroom house.

Thank you!!

Thank so much everyone!! We're going to have a drive around on Saturday and do a few viewings so no doubt I'll post with more questions after that! Thanks again, so helpful.

Can I jump in on this thread? We are looking at beckenham too to move from dulwich area. People who have made the move what do you miss? Are there any good butchers/grocers in beckenham? Restaurant recommendations? How reliable is the clock house train route? Cost from clock house into the city in a taxi/uber?

Anything to support my relocation argument with DH gratefully received!

Itd time to reply but great move and lovely area: no substitue for visiting which may well persuade your OH. Trains from Clock House generally very reliable.

It is a different feel to Dulwich, it's more like a self-contained town that happens to be bolted onto London. There's a nice local community feel - we know loads of our neighbours, people in the local shops etc.

It dos feel a bit more 'insular' than melting-pot London that I was used to - more people here seem to have been born and raised in the area, it's less diverse, people talk about going "into London" like it's somewhere separate. That's what I meant earlier by culture shock!

No regrets about the move though.

Sadly no greengrocers or proper butcher. There's a fish shop and gourmet sausage shop though! If you're looking at the Clock House/ Penge borders area you can always go into Penge for a butcher and the awesome PFC for fruit veg and Turkish goodies.

Restaurants and bars - Kelsey House is good for a cocktail, Chancery for gastro-pub and the Jolly Woodman for proper boozer. Tapeo for Spanish food, Koz for Turkish and there's a great modern Indian street-food place whose name escapes me. Friday and Saturday nights can be a bit full of people going "out out" - it's full-on get your hair done and don your skyscraper heels.

Kelsey Park is lovely and Beckenham Place Park is a massive green oasis. You can drive out of London into open countryside in about 15mins.

Rarely had any major problems with the commute from Beckenham Junction or Clock House and always get a seat on the train!

That's really useful thank you. Am hoping to persuade DH for a drive round at the weekend...

Loads of the DC teachers live Beckenham/Penge. Some of them bike every morning into Dulwich. Be aware, this side of the Crystal Palace hill has its own micro climate.

It's a great place to bring up children. Think boring suburb/small town; safe, you know your neighbours, everyone looks out for each other and excellent transport links to central London. That's not to say that there aren't the usual problems you find elsewhere and you can go to the bad just as easily, but it's a friendly area, if somewhat circumscribed in cultural activities and expectations. Good rugger and hockey clubs. State schools better than they used to be. It's becoming more socially mixed. Some good restaurants, a few independent coffee shops, an excellent small garden nursery /coffee shop, easy reach of second hand book shops, classical music concerts. Boring as hell for late teens aka v peaceful and they get streetwise going up to the smoke.

somewhat circumscribed in cultural activities and expectations

Euphemism of the day

Though, actually, there's a good little orchestra based at St George's, the Beckenham Festival gets kids from all over competing, st George's arts festival usually gets names known to the middle aged and elderly.. and the Bridge pub up in Penge has good theatre...there is a cinema in Beckenham...

Sydenham also has a large music festival every year made up of local musicians, of which there seem to be an abundance...

True...and great fish shop and the bookshop...

It does. I got into an argument with the bookshop a few years ago though so I can't go in there, which is super annoying as it was my go-to source for second hand Chalet School books 😳

Ooh so many of us Beckenham people!! I made the move from Kent house to hayes. Hayes feels more countryside but miss the great transport links of Kent house/clock house. Also at the Kent house end it's a 20 min walk to penge west to the overground. From memory an uber from town was about £30 whilst black cab was about £50. Also 2 different train lines so if one goes wrong the other still works!
If catchment not an issue should get a good house out of catchment as seems anything near Alexandra/balgowen has a premium. Shortland feels a bit less urban but can walk to Bromley.
Drive through sanderstead but feels much further out.
Beckenham has Loads of great parks and also near to Kent countryside. Lots of sports and football/rugby clubs (you did have ds?). And if it's on with Foxtons or even Kfh probably has a premium added! Good luck!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-57331915.html

Great road. V near clock house and 5 mins from Kent house. Sainsbury's at end of road and 2 mins to churchfields park. Can't see size of garden though.
However street has parking restrictions from 10-12 to stop station parking.

Also tramlink to Croydon useful, can get to Gatwick easy peasy.

Are you moving from west Norwood to afford a bigger house? I ask because I was going to suggest crystal palace if you wanted to stay close-ish to Dulwich but just didn't like the Norwood area, but if it's more bang for your buck you want, ignore me.

Some lovely families live in Kenilworth!

Just an update! We love beckenham, especially all the houses around cedars road etc but the Ines in our budget are quite small for what they cost so we're a bit stuck! We saw one on balgowan that we like but we're going to think about it. We're going to look st one tomorrow in sanderstead so we'll see what we think of it down there. I might start a new thread about that area and see if they're as helpful as everyone in Beckenham! Thanks so much for your help - so helpful!