Living in Beckenham?

[LifesaBotchh]

I started a thread about Charlton and someone recommended Beckenham so now I'm starting this thread. Always lived in central London but need more space etc. Need good secondaries and fast commute to City.

If you made the move from central London to Beckenham how have you found it? Does it feel like London? Politically speaking how is it in terms of left/right / Brexit? And is it ethnically / culturally diverse? I need to visit but have only been to the park which I imagine was full of day trippers.

I don't live in Beckenham but in a nearby borough so I'm sure somebody will come along to tell me I'm wrong, but I am not a fan. Think they voted remain but as a part of Bromley are pretty Tory. I'm sure it must be diverse when you're there (it's London after all) but it doesn't feel it frankly, it's a bit Chelsea tractors and posh handbags.

Depends on where in beckenham. It’s quite a large area. If around park Langley then poss less diverse but with the remain/leave side of things, quite a lot of folk in financial sector and in my experience they voted remain. But very Tory councillors. It’s actually a great area. Towards clock house I think there are a couple of labour councillors, and same in penge/anerley. I don’t live in beckenham (live in bickley/Bromley common) but go out there quite often, nice cafes, Kelsey park is great. I will say that despite Bromley being Tory through and through (outside of penge/anerley/Crystal palace and
Clock house) it doesn’t mean that you’re always in the minority. Lots of my friends here are likeminded. Bromley south has good transport links and good housing stock around the palace estate and off Westmoreland Road. But possibly too suburban for you?
With regards to the question of does it feel like
London - it does to me. I was born here and have always considered myself a Londoner. I know lots of digs about Bromley not being properly London and some people Would rather define themselves as Kentish or something else. But for me it’s part of London for sure.

Chelsea tractors and handbags in pockets - round the park Langley triangle, bits of keston and farnborough/Bickley/chislehurst. I know several myself - but would add that they were all remainers - the cars and handbags paid for by high paid jobs in the city!
Yes - some narrow minded folk around. But I’ve lived here for ages and while the political colour hasn’t changed significantly I do think that over time the borough has become less true-blue and more diverse.

What's handbags in pockets?

I mean there are pockets of the borough where you will see more Chelsea tractor/posh handbags. Not handbags actually in pockets!

Oh!!! I wondered as well

ah! I see!

What are secondary schools like?

I didn’t find it at all culturally diverse when we lived here 10 years ago. Lots of things to do with young children, plenty of groups and sports going on. Independent shops on the high street, coffee shops etc. I liked it a lot, we had fabulous neighbours and felt part of a community.

DH lived near clockhouse for years moved a few years ago.
It’s not culturally diverse.

Easy commute into the city though.

Just as an aside, there is an exceptionally good ballet school in Beckenham, with outstanding results.

Join the Beckenham appreciation group on Facebook and people may help.

Secondary schools in Bromley are all above average.

If you want one of the popular ones you will have a very narrow area to live in.

I live in Beckenham, have lived here for about 13 years. It’s definitely getting more diverse. We’re a mixed race family so really noticed it at first when it was just me and Dh. Then as the years passed, it’s got a lot more diverse. We have three young children in school and their classes are incredibly mixed and diverse.

Even though it’s a Tory councillor, literally none of my friends voted Tory. Same with Brexit - I don’t know anyone who voted Leave. I’m sure I’m living in an echo chamber but we have a lot of friends and acquaintances just from playgroups and school and things.

We’ve always lived very near the high street in actual Beckenham. I can’t speak for Bromley or other outer areas. There’s a coffee shop and restaurant culture growing and it’s definitely developing more of a Crystal Palace vibe in recent years.

We love Beckenham- would have loved to have bought there but ended up towards Bromley Common as slightly cheaper!

Everyone else has highlighted that historically there is a large tory contingent/right leaning but I would hazard a guess that generally people who have lived there for a long time...! You can completely distance yourself from all of that and enjoy others with a similar outlook to yourself :-)

I grew up in Beckenham and know it well. It’s obviously changed dramatically since my childhood!

It’s a World away from central London but busy with lots going on and a very vibrant High Street with many bars and restaurants. Actually at “throwing out” time on a Saturday night especially in the Summer it’s quite full on. Bouncers on all of the big bars along the High Street with quite a young vibe. But then during the day very family orientated.

There are so many different parts of Beckenham and it is really spread out. I grew up in Park Langley. Very affluent lovely houses etc. There are areas that are very expensive and others less so. Good schools, good transport, access to lots of things.

I would say it’s getting far more diverse now but is predominantly a Tory heartland.

Haven’t lived there for years but still know it well due to relatives that are there.

Out of interest where are you currently based to be able to give the more accurate comparison? As others have stated there are distinctly different areas to Beckenham and you will only get a feel for them by visiting and driving around in detail the areas within your budget.

Some roads you will get a house at say £650k, others £1.5 million, others £2.5 million upwards. It’s that diverse depending on the different pockets.

Re: schools - I don’t know about beckenham though have heard good things about the Harris next to Kelsey park (nephew goes there). Eden Park High is new, and getting popular. Historically Langley Boys and Girls have been in high demand - leading to small “catchments” though more so for the boys school than the girls. Round Bromley town, Bullers Wood Girls is rated (my child just leaving). My other children are at Ravensbourne which historically has had a “reputation” with everyone going on about ravenswood boys and hayes instead as the schools to get into. But I think it’s a great school personally - have no complaints (yet) and have had the chance to compare with BWSG which has also been great. For sixth form there’s a lot of moving around.

Used to live there and still pop down to waitrose occasionally (where i live now doesn't have one!)

Not a fan. It just all feels a bit little England/ Tory Heartland.

I have colleagues who live there who like it so I might just see the worst of it.

I feel much more comfortable in the Herne Hill/ Dulwich borders areas. Bit more liberal and bit more mixed.

Beckenham is a strange place tbh. As a PP said, it has changed a fair bit over the years. 20 or so years ago, it was full of what many would consider to be former white east enders, who moved to 'Kent' to get away from the 'ethnics' and had ideas 'above their station'. These are not my words, this is how my former estate agent friend described it and it does ring true (although I personally would phrase it differently).

As parts of Beckenham border the more diverse Penge, Catford and Sydenham, there has been some overspill over the years.

Right now, I would say it is more diverse than it was 20 years ago, but naturally some of those very inhabitants from back then are still there. No one will stare at you if you are not white or be openly hostile, but I wouldn't class the area as liberal and enlightened. Some very uneducated people still inhabit the area. I know of some people that have had some 'issues' in shops re being ignored or being served last despite being in line first etc.

That being said, I do know some black and Asian couples who live there, but I wouldn't say they are part of the community. They still spend lots of time outside of Beckenham.

Politically, I would say it's full of right wingers who oppose Brexit due to self preservation of their middle management type city jobs.

It’s so interesting @singtome - your description is not the Beckenham I recognise at all. Do you still live here?

I can imagine it in the outer areas but then again, I’ve never really visited those places so couldn’t say either way. Immediate Beckenham area - high st, new Beckenham, Clockhouse, up Ravensbourne sort of way, Croydon road area to me are hugely diverse. We’re a mixed race family and majority if not most of our friends are mixed or non white.

Similarly with outlook, I’ve not met many that aren’t hugely liberal. Older generations perhaps but not our peer groups. We have three kids - by default we just know a lot of people and stand around parks and after school chatting on the green. Brexit was a hot topic as were the elections. Green Party and Labour are massively supported and there’s a general completely contempt and dislike of the Tories. But the incumbent Tory councillor has been in office for years and there IS a lot of older generations who keep voting for him. So I guess it takes time for younger generations to bring change. Most people on the Beckenham FB group seem to really dislike him and his policies. His voting record is criticised a lot and very vocally.

So I don’t know if it’s the complete picture to say that it’s a Tory area. Or to consider it a predominantly white area. It’s really really not.

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling

It’s so interesting *@singtome* - your description is not the Beckenham I recognise at all. Do you still live here?

I can imagine it in the outer areas but then again, I’ve never really visited those places so couldn’t say either way. Immediate Beckenham area - high st, new Beckenham, Clockhouse, up Ravensbourne sort of way, Croydon road area to me are hugely diverse. We’re a mixed race family and majority if not most of our friends are mixed or non white.

Similarly with outlook, I’ve not met many that aren’t hugely liberal. Older generations perhaps but not our peer groups. We have three kids - by default we just know a lot of people and stand around parks and after school chatting on the green. Brexit was a hot topic as were the elections. Green Party and Labour are massively supported and there’s a general completely contempt and dislike of the Tories. But the incumbent Tory councillor has been in office for years and there IS a lot of older generations who keep voting for him. So I guess it takes time for younger generations to bring change. Most people on the Beckenham FB group seem to really dislike him and his policies. His voting record is criticised a lot and very vocally.

So I don’t know if it’s the complete picture to say that it’s a Tory area. Or to consider it a predominantly white area. It’s really really not.

You are probably in a bit of a bubble. You mention all the people you know are liberal and hate the Tory councillor, yet the area majority vote Conservative hence the Tory councillor.

I have been in and out of Beckenham for over 25 years, so know the area extremely well.

If the OP is going to stay in the Clockhouse area and frequent the High St, she probably won't notice. Clockhouse area is diverse. The High St is relatively diverse, you generally see all sorts of people walking by and it's a younger vibe than other parts of Beckenham.

Well yes but that’s what I am saying - often with your own peers and friends, it is perhaps a bit of an echo chamber but…if there are lots of people that don’t vote Tory, it means the area is diversifying. So my experience of having lived in Beckenham for 13 years predominantly around the high st/ Copers Cope area is just as valid as your experience and perhaps not necessarily a bubble but simply representative of another type of Beckenham. I can totally see how the outer areas like west wickham areas, Langley Park areas and others are way more suburban and perhaps have a more conservative feel but that’s not beckenham as a whole.

I guess what I am saying is it’s not as simple as saying it’s a Tory right wing area. That’s not the true and full picture.

Beckenham is not like living in central London, I grew up in Beckenham and have lived in both. The transport is very good, there are several stations arriving at different London stations ,many trains to London and you've got the tram to East Croydon for fast trains to Victoria when there are delays, strikes, bad weather. There are plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants now and Lidl, Sainsbury and Waitrose, there is a large Tesco not far. The sports centre is great, there is a cinema and several parks. I think you said you have visited Beckenham Place Park before. Like pp say, areas around Park Langley and Kelsey Park are not diverse and are expensive but central Beckenham going towards either Kent House, Eden Park or Catford are more diverse. What's the house budget and what are you looking for.