Hampton versus Bromley

[Debbles75]

Anyone live in Hampton or Bromley? I'm planning to move back to london after moving to the midlands last year. I'm a single mum, mixed race with two boys aged 11 and 7. My 11 year old is autistic and gets overwhelmed by noise and busy areas, while my 7 yr old and I love the buzz and energy of London. I"m focusing on Bromley and Hampton as they feel like quieter, greener and safer areas that are within easy reach of london. Budget is tight - i can afford £650k max for a 3 bed house. My preference would be for Hampton but haven't seen many properties coming up within my budget. I've concentrated my search within a mile of Hampton station. Are there any other areas that i should check out? Would like a community with a bit of diversity. thanks in advance :)

I would say your budget won’t get you what you want in Hampton but Bromley, Hayes or West Wickham could work for you.

I don’t know Hampton at all, but live in one of the areas mentioned by @friendlycat and you could get a 3 bed here. I think its a lovely area.

Don't know Hampton but Bromley is high crime with large disparity between working class /unemployed and stereotypical aspiring nouveau riche with leased land rovers who couldn't afford to buy in London.

Thanks all. @Wheyprotcookie, i'm surprised to hear this about Bromley, its repeatedly come up as one of the safest boroughs in London. Second only to Richmond according to one. hmmm. will bear that in mind. friendlycat and Rrrob, thanks for the headsup. I've been hearing lots of good things about Hayes. Will look into it. Rrrob, i'd love to know what you like about living in your area (if you don't mind naming it - promise not to track you down :)

Bromley isn’t a high crime area, it’s a boring as hell but the only real crime issues are things like car theft - it’s perfectly safe to walk the streets at night.
My bit of the borough is firmly middle class & I don’t know anyone with a leased Land Rover

The Borough has very good schools but you will need to make sure you but as close as possible to get a place. You may struggle with your older son, from what I know from friends there isn’t great provision for kids with autism

West Wickham & Hayes are both nice enough areas, you will be able to find a house within your budget & transport in to proper London is ok.
In your position I think I would look more at West Wickham or parts of Eden Park for Langley Schools (I believe Langley Boys has a specialised autism ‘unit’ if your son needs that level of help)
The west Wickham side of the school is a bit nice than Eden park but that’s just my opinion

@Wheyprotcookie

Don't know Hampton but Bromley is high crime with large disparity between working class /unemployed and stereotypical aspiring nouveau riche with leased land rovers who couldn't afford to buy in London.

? That doesn't sound like the Bromley I live in.

I live on the boarder of Bromley and lewisham. Bromley is a huge borough and has very green areas and more 'city' like areas.

@Wheyprotcookie

Don't know Hampton but Bromley is high crime with large disparity between working class /unemployed and stereotypical aspiring nouveau riche with leased land rovers who couldn't afford to buy in London.

No it isn't.

I’ve never heard Bromley be described as a high crime area. You’re more likely to get something there for your budget than Hampton, but just.

11 year old is autistic

You need to talk to parents with kids who have SEN - go to the SEN board - to find out what education provisions are there for your kids in each London borough.

@Wheyprotcookie

Don't know Hampton but Bromley is high crime with large disparity between working class /unemployed and stereotypical aspiring nouveau riche with leased land rovers who couldn't afford to buy in London.

Total bollocks

@Debbles75 no worries, just have many friends living there and rented there myself too, so speaking from experience. There are websites which you could also check regarding crime rates. My house was burgled and various friends have had to move to gated areas. It does create a sort of segregation between the haves and have nots, it's very noticeable in the centre. Regarding schools, unfortunately not many good state schools, privates are not too bad, but certainly aren't high achieving. If your son has sen issues I'd definitely not send him to the Bromley schools I know of. Privates are likely to find excuses for not taking him on due to stats, and he'd get lost in state schools. Feel free to pm me if you'd like more info.
Sorry don't mean to offend anyone but these have been my experience and observations from Bromley. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions.

I’m sorry but I don’t recognise Bromley as having high crime either.

Yes take a look at
Bromley but it’s a wide area
Hayes
Eden park
West Wickham

Bromley-By-Bow?

Bromley is not generally a high crime area. Perhaps Downham and Penge bring the crime average up but the other areas are all very safe. I'd recommend Bickley and Chilslehurst - nice areas with very good schools.

Pets Wood, Chislehurst, west Wickham, Chelsfield, Beckenham all fairly nice areas

Bromley schools are poor? It has some of the most high ranked schools in the country although admittedly 2 of them are grammars. Pretty sure Langley Park scores highly as well.

2021 Crime rate for Bromley Borough is 67 per 1000 which is 30% below the London average of 87 per 1000. Quick google found this so I have no idea what @Wheyprotcookie is garbling on about. Also Bromley has some great schools - some very highly regarded comprehensives and two top performing grammars. And many excellent primary schools. It's also well served for a range of private schools in the borough or close to it (Dulwich, Eltham, Sevenoaks) if that's your choice. There are a few gated places but nothing like suggested creating have/have nots. You can get a reasonable house in a leafy part of the borough and feel safe.

I don't know Hampton so cannot compare but a quick look on the map tells me that would also be a pretty nice area.

Essentially they are both parts of london and so reflect that.

Bromley is the sort of nice area that people deliberately move to from inner London. The schools are good, some of the best in the country.

This is within your budget in Hampton:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117093422

Hampton is a lovely part of SW London, but I'm not sure about SEN provision in the local schools - maybe ask on the SEN board too.

@Borland

This is within your budget in Hampton:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117093422

Hampton is a lovely part of SW London, but I'm not sure about SEN provision in the local schools - maybe ask on the SEN board too.

Good provision at Turing House school I would say but It would depend on catchment of course. They have got a site at Hampton but are now moving to a permanent site next month so I'm not sure if this changes anything on that geography.

thanks everyone. you've given me lots of food for thought, especially re: schools. @nancy75 i know beggars can't be choosers but had hoped there might be some interesting parts of Bromley to discover. i'd lived in Hackney for 17 years prior to my move to the midlands and although, admittedly, Hackney has a high crime rate, it is/was such a great place to live. Vibrant and creative with tonnes to do for all ages. I've found it really difficult adjusting to suburban life in the midlands. So would really like something in between suburban sleepiness and inner city edginess.

@Borland thank you :)