Bromley or Bexley

[HappyfeetD]

Hey everyone,
We are looking to buy a property in either Bromley or Bexley. We have seen some nice houses but a bit unsure about what area is the best for buying a 2/3 bed house?
Our budget is around 450k and we have two kids (4 and 1). Our DS will be starting primary soon.
Can I please get some suggestions about :
a) which is a better Bromley or bexley
b) what are better area in both boroughs where should we look?
We need to be near good primary school as well.
Thanks

Your money won't go as far in Bromley as Bexley unless you move to the outer reaches (it's a big Borough). - Orpington (BR6) has some decent houses in that budget and has a fast train line to Central London. Maybe also look at West Wickham/Hayes area. There are some roads around Grove Park station that are nice but it's a bit grittier round there.

In Bexley, the area around Longlands Rd in Sidcup is nice as is the Bexley village area. Sidcup/New Eltham/Eltham are nice areas and you could get a 3 bed with garden just about. Blackfen/Foots Cray are the cheaper areas of the Bexley Borough but not as well connected.

Both Boroughs are green and safe as far as London goes. Grammar schools in both but Bromley only has two super selective Grammars so has some good secondary modern schools such as Darrick Wood and the Langley schools. Bexley doesn't fare as well outside of the Grammars. Also easy to get to the Dartford Grammar Schools from the Bexley Borough.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk

That’s where you can look at schools. I’d also plan for secondary as time will fly and that’s more difficult to get right than primary and you can’t assume you’ll get a grammar place.

Hey,
Thanks alot, really helpful.
I saw a couple of nice houses between St Pauls cray and sidcup. Any idea how the area is? The nearest primary's rating looks ok. I am not too concerned bout the secondaries at the moment because in 4 5 year time ill probably be moving again.
Any idea about the community around at Mary St Paul cray. The nearest station to these house is St Mary cray.

Any of the roads off Brampton road - more towards Bexleyheath side than Welling. Either are fine though and should have something in your budget with a drive and garden. Good luck!

We looked at both and settled in Bromley (borough rather than town). Your budget could possibly stretch to a 3 bed.

Bexley is lovely around the town centre but once you move even slightly further away, it's not quite as nice. The area closer to Albany Park, which would be in your price range, felt quite dingy. All the houses we looked at were also very noisy because there's a big A road nearby. Also tons of pylons everywhere! Apparently the big exchange between Bexley and Bexleyheath can be a nightmare, if you drive. Danson Park is lovely though.

Bromley town is great but expensive. I would recommend Orpington, but make sure you're in the good parts - avoid St Mary's Cray and St Paul's Cray. Petts Wood is out of your budget, but Crofton and anything south of the A232 is lovely. Tons of excellent primary schools in the area too and 2 excellent grammar schools. I also think Orpington is 'on the up' - excellent train links (15 mins into London Bridge), lots of development planned for the high street, and more bang for your buck.

There's not tons in your price range, but this one could work: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80431972.html

The cray areas are the worst part of Bromley borough - I would avoid.

I think they are both interesting names, if you go for a middle name perhaps something like 'Bypass' (I like the alliteration)

Oh rats, I think I have misunderstood another thread title.

Just to add - we looked at both Bromley and Bexley before we settled on staying in Bexley... @TaleOfTheContinents is right about the A roads and pylons but I would say it's limited to a specific area so you can find nice things around it.

We didn't like Orpington, St. Mary's Cray, Albany Park, Blacken, St. Paul's Cray. Petts Wood is lovely but pricy. A lot depends on how you need to get around, for us needing to commute was a consideration so to be between the Abbey wood and Bexleyheath stations meant we had options, and we can still get to either tunnel or bridge in 20-25 mins depending on traffic.

Bexley goes much further north than you might think but I wouldn't actively look north of Woolwich road if you're looking for something for 4-5 yrs.

Hee hee, @Cherubienne - just goes to show that it really just depends on individual preference!

Biggin hill is fab, though it may be a bit far out for you?

Really don't move to anywhere with Cray in it. It really depends what you want. Some areas of Bromley borough are just suburbia, but nothing much of interest, just perfectly normal and nice. Some better for train links. Do you need the station ?

Bexley borough is more London, but much improved of recent years. Bromley is by name, but isn't. I would choose near to Bromley town centre - shorthand's / Bromley / Chislehurst ( over budget I would expect ). There are patches I'd avoid in any area.

@togetsomeperspective

Bexley is more London? When I once drove through Bexley Village, I saw horses in fields sort of stuff.

As kids we used to call Abbey wood Scaby Wood. Having said that I visited Lee near Eltham recently and it was lovely. About 20 years back, I had friend that lived there and it felt so shady. Things are changing, places have come up. I visited the same house and it the area was so nice now.

I would say if it's London, then the shops have those metal shutters when closed, if it's not they just lock the doors when shut. Does that make sense?

Wouldn't touch either of the Cray's with a barge pole.

@custardbear

Biggin hill is fab, though it may be a bit far out for you?

Transport links for Biggin Hill are dreadful. The main bus between Bromley and Biggin Hill looks good on paper but there are constant issues.

@togetsomeperspective

With the shutters on shop comment, are you hinting at crime rates? They’re consistently lower in Bexley than Bromley but Bromley is probably more affluent than Bexley if that’s what you’re getting at.

DH grew up in Bromley very happily. Don’t know much about Bexley though.

@JoJoSM2 I wasn't particularly thinking about crime, I thinking about feel. It really depends what you want. If you are considering those boroughs because someone wants a leafy area close to London or do you want London.

I've moved much much further out in the last 4 years, but I lived as an adult in Grove Park, Bromley, Shortlands, Hither Green and as a child in Crofton area of Orpington, then near Orpington high street. I was pointing out that areas have changed somewhat in recent years. I still have friends and family in these areas, so visit. There are good and bad about all of them.

Biggin Hill is a cut off part of Bromley borough , but prices will reflect that. Again depends on your criteria. Its would work for your budget. It's perfectly nice, suburbia. I don't live there, because it's too difficult for the commute and things for older kids to do.

Grew up in Bexley and whilst it was lovely, sadly your budget won’t get you anything in the ‘naice’ parts. As PP said avoid anything with the word ‘Cray’ in like the plague. Barnehurst is pretty okay for your money and schools are pretty good. By and large Bromley is the more affluent of the two and probably more where I would want to raise my family if I had to chose between the two...

Also avoid the Ramsden estate area of Orpington, but Orpington has great links and good schools generally.

Can only go off what i know, but that budget would get a decent 3 bed in the better part of Blackfen (i.e around The Oval).

Potentially in striking distance of good primaries there too (Days Lane and Chatsworth Infant)

Thanks alot, going to start restricting my search to the area suggested and hopefully will find something will probably come back will for reassurance about areas once I find a good house

I would choose Bromley over Bexley how about something like this Stanley Road, Bromley
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82759519.html

It’s small for a 3 bed but it’s in catchment for Raglan school one of the best state primaries in the country

It’s small for a 3 bed but it’s in catchment for Raglan school one of the best state primaries in the country

Lol It looks ok but there better schools in Bromley and Bexley, never mind the rest of London or England.