Area within Bromley

[Sudha2014]

Hi, We are a family with young children in primary schools looking to move to Bromley. Please could someone recommend leafy, safe, culturally diverse areas within Bromley suitable for young families, close to good primary and grammar schools? Many thanks!

Orpington ?

Good schools. Good transport links

Depends on your budget. Chatterton Village / Bickley are nice areas.

Penge had a lot of that, as does beckenham but no grammar schools.

It's at the top of Bromley borough, it has some parks and a bit leafy but more urban and more culturally diverse.

Excellent primaries but secondaries are a bit hit and miss at the moment.

A new secondary is being built but it depends on the age of your children currently.

Are your children already at school? It's worth finding out which schools can offer a place as most of the desirable schools are oversubscribed

Chislehurst is nice - not sure it's that diverse as a village but it's close to Bromley town centre which is more so.

Yes, children in Reception and Y2 currently. What are your views on the Sunridge Park area?

Yes, Orpington is an option. Any parts of Orpington to avoid?

Yes Orpington is an option. Any parts of Orpington to avoid? Thank you!

Sundridge park is great, far enough from Bromley proper. Three decent primaries, one is catholic, Bullers girls and boys for secondary. Decent links into London even with the faff of the shuttle and you can always go to BS.

What's your budget?

Orpington isn't Bromley, you will get more house for your money. Stay well away from any of the Crays.

Any thoughts on Petts Wood and Sunridge Park please

Sundridge park is nice, don't know too much about the schools but the area is fine.

What is your budget for a house?

800-900K , could stretch a bit for a good property

Sundridge Park is great. You have plenty of primary choices including Burnt Ash (outstanding), Scott's Park, Braeside (private) and then La Fontaine and Bickley primary further down the road. We absolutely love living round here and Bromley Town centre is a 5 minute drive or 10 minute walk which is super handy.

Sundridge Park is great. A parade of shops near the station including two nice coffee shops, close to a park/recreation ground, Kings Meadow, which leads straight Burnt Ash which has a little library (not open every day) and a LIDL (v handy).

As others have said, there is plenty of choice of primaries, and Bullers Wood Boys and Girls are good (and nearest) secondaries (my DD is year 8 at the girls school).

There are no grammar schools actually in Bromley. There are two super selective schools which have their own entrance exams - Newstead Woods for girls and St Olaves for boys - both in Orpington. They are both more demanding than grammars which are over the border in Bexley or Kent. Children often take the Bexley and Kent tests and some do travel from Bromley to the grammars. They are a fair trek from Sundridge Park though, less so from Orpington.

I like SP for the connections to London and easy walk into Bromley town centre.

Farnborough
Biggin Hill
Keston
Shortlands
Bickley
Chislehurst
Beckenham
West Wickham

I'd avoid Orpington. The high street is ugly and run down and St Paul's and St Mary's Cray are just up the road which are better avoided.

Google 'bromley attainment 8' to see secondary school rankings. Always good to have a good back up in case they don't get grammar. The good secondaries in Bromley tend to have a good primary nearby.

Beckenham is very nice. Good primaries and secondaries, nice high street, very quiet as long as you're not on the high street.

Petts Wood is lovely - very leafy and safe and lots of families.

Petts Wood and Sundridge Park are both great areas. If you find a suitable house in either that would be great. Both popular.

Bromley isn't culturally diverse at all. The only nice area that is, within the borough, is Penge. I live in Penge and parts of it are really nice, with a good community feel, great transport links and it has just been named a best place to buy, by the London Standard. All the primary schools are decent but you'd probably need to get a train elsewhere for secondary (my son went to St Olaves in Orpington)

www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/property-news/where-to-buy-a-home-in-2023-top-london-regeneration-zones-b1049010.html

The areas in the list are lovely but I wouldn’t say that any of them are diverse

There are only two grammar schools in Bromley - Newstead Wood for girls and St Olave’s for boys. You would be best to get a house near a non-selective high performing school such as Bullers Wood in Bickley, Hayes or Langley Park and then if they pass the 11 plus that would be a bonus. Some families also travel into Kent for grammars. What type of house are you looking for?

Totally agree with @Lampzade . I live in one of the areas listed and love it, but wouldn’t say it’s especially diverse. Schools here are very good.

Thank you so much for all your messages.

We are considering Beckenham, Sundridge PArk, Bickley and Petts Wood as primary areas in our property search. I know most schools are oversubscribed so fingers crossed we get a good school when the time comes.