Is Sidcup (DA14) nice area to live?

[tolz]

Hi,

We currently live in Blackheath but looking to buy in Sidcup (Longmead Drive to be specific) - close to Albany Park Station and Foots Cray Meadows.

Does anyone know if this part of Sidcup is nice? Troubled area? We don’t mind the Suburbia concept but would be great to get views if anyone knows the area well

Thanks in advance

Whenever I was looking around the area, I was told to avoid Foots Cray. Have you done a drive around?

Come to think of it, I think it was the Swanley side of Foot's Cray I was warned off, so if it stretches to Sidcup, that part might be alright.

Sidcup is a pretty good place to live if you are priced out of Blackheath.

I don't think Albany Park has all that many trains.

Another place you might want to look is Eltham. There are some lovely Victorian houses in the old part and that does have a good train service, possibly two lines through it, can't quite remember.

Have you looked at Hither Green?

@KievLoverTwo Never considered Hither Green. Will take a look around. We do love the house we’ve seen and is right behind Albany Station so away from the Swanley side

We are the other side of Albany Park station.

It's fine generally and great for us at the moment. There is probably not everything on your doorstep like Blackheath, but there are nice places in Bexley Village and Sidcup to eat/grab a coffee etc.

I use my car more than I would like as getting across the borough is difficult. Loads of kids/baby stuff going on if you have a family and Foots Cray Meadows is great.

The trains are annoying since the timetable change though with half as many trains stopping at Albany Park with all of them stopping at Sidcup and Bexley either side.

Thanks @Lockdownmummy We have a car but wouldn’t mind the odd walk here or there to Sidcup High Street.

My main concern is safety, which my research and feedback from yourselves seems ok. Seems crazy but we’d probably keep the kids in their schools in Blackheath as the drive is only 15 mins

Have you done the drive to/from school at drop off and pick up time? Traffic can be a nightmare!

@Lockdownmummy I haven’t but need to give it a go before we commit

There's some beautiful houses that side but like a pp I was told to 'avoid all the crays'. A friend lived on riverside road and didn't have nice neighbours but that could happen anywhere. She only moved the other side of Bexley Lane.

Sidcup is fine and mostly a safe place for a family. Some nice schools, good access to A2 etc. There are issues, car theft is very common, kids being little so and so's.
Bexley village is very nice if in your price range. Hither Green as a pp said is also really good.

Have you walked down to the meadows and around Kimberley drive and Maryland's drive.

Trains- I haven't really used them since lockdown but you were more likely to get a seat from Albany Park than Sidcup in the morning.

I think Sidcup itself is nicer than Albany Park - a lot more going on with cafes and restaurants, Waitrose/Morrisons, new library and cinema. Albany Park has some nice houses but is very dull I think and some of the area feels a bit dodgy. There is a lot of car crime - stolen land rovers and catalytic converter theft.

Sidcup is a 20 - 25 minute drive to Blackheath in the morning on a good day from the New Eltham side. I'd say the Longlands area is nicest for convenience (can either use New Eltham or Sidcup stations) and has very good primary schools. You also have a choice of local grammars or the super selectives in Dartford and Orpington that are easy to access from there.

Considering it's so close to Blackheath and Greenwich it has a lot more of a suburban feel - not much that's 'chi-chi'. The Eltham Park area is nice as a previous poster said but a comparable house will probably be more expensive than Sidcup. Have you also looked at Chislehurst?

@euff I haven’t- is that the better side of Sidcup? We’re planning going there Saturday, parking the car up and just walking round

@Turmerictolly We would actually love to move to Chislehurst but what we want we are out priced. Will take a look at the Longlands area also

@tolz that sounds like a good idea. I would have advised trying to come at school time too if it wasn't the end of term now. As a pp said traffic can be quite bad and is completely different in the holidays to term time at school time. Bexley Lane can be quite slow moving at times. I have a friend in Blackheath and it has taken as much as 45 minutes to get home from hers after visiting.

I think as @Turmerictolly says the Longlands area away from the shop end is probably the nicer part. There's a lot of movement into the borough for schools and because of house prices so things are changing.

OP I live very close and to that area and walk to / from AP every day. 35 mins to Charing cross or 25 to London bridge. 2 CX trains an hour and Cannon Street trains too.

Never had any trouble or felt unsafe in the years I've lived here. Sidcup has had some great changes lately - new bars and restaurants, an independent cinema, good bus routes to get you elsewhere.

I'm really settled and enjoy living here!

Is the drive really 15 minutes? I think that's pushing it, especially during the school run time

@runwithme Def need to give it a try during school run time.

There are quite a few houses appearing on the market in Sidcup. A year ago these would have been snapped up in a day but are now hanging around for much longer and some seem very overpriced.

Personally I'd wait to buy for a while as there will be some reductions I think.

Is it the property with two separate annexes/ apartments? I'm on Rightmove every day even though no desire to move, I just love looking. If it is that one I was showing my family that. Seems very good if you want to have different generations living together but not in the same house or to rent out a part. It has been around for a few months though and I think asking has dropped.

My late Mum lived in Footscray very happily for 35 years and I know the area well. She lived near to the Baptist church on the hill. In all that time she never had any problems with burglars, vandalism, or any anti social behaviour. She lived alone for much of the time and never felt unsafe, and I was also never worried for her safety as an elderly woman on her own. The area is quiet and the average age seems quite a bit higher than many areas. I was always struck by the nice sense of community in her immediate area. I think the area is quite good for shopping, with a couple of big supermarkets nearby and some lovely garden centres, and you can get most things you would need in the high street. There are a number of good schools in the area, and public transport is good.

If you live in Blackheath at the moment, you could get SO much more for your money in the area.

I think the other part of Sidcup (DA15) is nicer - agree you should look at Longlands and moving up towards New Eltham station which is SE9.

In rush hour it will be a trek to Blackheath. You'd have to get onto the A2 at Danson and it will be traffic all the way.

I wouldn't bother with the A2 or A20 in rush hour - too clogged up. Best way from Sidcup is via Footscray Rd into Eltham and then Rochester Way to Blackheath.

Is Sidcup Hatherley Road nice place to live in Sidcup and primary state schools.

Is Sidcup Hatherley Road nice place to live in Sidcup and one can get into the primary state schools ?

Is Sidcup Hatherley Road nice place to live in Sidcup and and one can get admission to primary state schools.

Hatherley Rd is a good area in terms of location. Most of the primary schools in Sidcup are good. It's also close to Sidcup station.

I agree, don't go too far down Sidcup Hill, it's almost a different world. Sidcup is quite pleasant on the whole, the high street is nice, good shops, restaurants, etc.