Hi Mums. This question will appear probably redundant given all the posts on here but I’m trying to collect recent information and am getting stumped. All of this is tied with the fact that we’re childless but planning and concerned about primary schools, want a proper garden, 3 beds and generally pretty area because you can make your house look nice but you can’t force your neighbors. Oh and only £500k to boot (so lol on points 2 & 3 below- I get it).
We’re looking to move to 1) Orpington, 2) Petts Wood, 3) Bickley, 4) Bromley South, 5) Bexleyheath, 6) Beckenham and here’s where the issues start:
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when I say I’m thinking of Orpington I get told DONT go into anything ending in Cray because it’s horrible. Don’t go north of priory garden. I get told what’s bad but what’s GOOD? Is Derry Downs ok? BR6? No to BR5? What about Green Street Green? I then read Farnborough is BAD so don’t get too close there. Can anyone really safely say what is the generally ‘good’ area here? Maybe even a street to focus on? I’m so confused by Orpington and had some real hopes for it but it’s been beaten out of me recently with reviews.
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Petts Wood seems green and pretty and high end. So is there an area to AVOID? Given my budget if I discover a 3/2 for £500k should I run if it’s on X street?
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Bickley- see 2 above.
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Bromley south/ Chatterton ‘seem’ ok. That Raglan school looks great. But then it’s quite developed. I live in Penge/ Crystal Palace currently and want to move to avoid increasing crime and bc the area does still feel quite ‘city’. No tree lined streets. Lots of rubbish, generally a bit grimey, etc. given covid I can’t just head out check out streets and local pubs and high streets so I’m worried Bromley is a more expensive version of what I currently have. Then I read Bromley North is nice. But don’t go TOO far north because you have to avoid mottingham. I feel like I can’t catch a break- I find a house, hop on here and immediately the area gets ruled out. I’m starting to feel like I’m trapped... any advice on Bromley North/ South/ Sundirdge park? I’d like to know where to go here and where to avoid in a little more detail.
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Bexleyheath is lower on my list because again you read people saying avoid the town centre like the plague. It also feels very ‘city’ on some of the streets with lots of concrete and hardly any tree lined streets. I have no idea in this area what is the ‘nice’ area. Just a general message to avoid one bit. But what’s the avoid radius for example?
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I’ve been into Beckenham a few times. Seems to fit the bill but naturally not much in my price range. In this instance I’ve got a picture on where is good- I just need another 300k to make it happen- so my question is what to avoid here?
I appreciate this posts covers a lot of areas but I’m not native to the UK, my partner is from the north traditionally and until recently has never given suburban life any consideration so we’re both confused. Friends are still London way more or less save for a couple in Bexleyheath and we’re a little meh on their area. There are so many conflicting and older views-,I’d be so grateful for thoughts and recent experience in these area. I want to get my life going with a family and just want a safe, green place to do it with some space. Thank you again! X