Is Sidcup DA15 nice?

[OneCraftyPanda]

Hi All,

We currently live in Bromley and have been looking around the area for property, a couple of properties have popped up in Sidcup and having spent some time walking around the area over the weekend. It all seemed rather nice and a great family spot, with the highstreet showing a healthy level of parents and prams.

From what I can see, it has a good mix of well rated primary, secondary schools, the highstreet seems to have been somewhat recently redeveloped, with a decent mix of shops/things you often need with a child i.e a boots/library/a nice park with the church near the station, quick connection into London Bridge, a few little book shops, as well as wine bars, craft beer places, nice brunch places, a Little Waitrose (with a M&S apparently popping up near the station sometime)..... e.t.c

Then the housing stock seems to be the usual London housing mix of big properties, semi's and terraced, with some streets being nicer than others.

It's then also in very short driving distance to Scadbury park (have been and it's nice) and Foot Cray Meadows (haven't been but looks nice)

What am I missing, both pro's and con's?

Hey there,

Just came across your post after searching for more information about the area. Like yourself, I'm exploring houses in Sidcup. Did you finalise your move and close on a property there? I was also wondering if Sidcup is better or Bexleyheath, the side close to Danson park.

I have a baby who will be going to daycare from January, trying to find something decent near good schools/nurseries and parks.

We did and are very happy with our choice.

It's perfect for a young family from our brief experience (3 months), a decent vibrant high street with good cafes, brunch places, micro pub e.t.c for the adults plus a brand new library which has a good child's section.

Then for nurseries and later years you are spoilt with numerous outstanding nurseries and then a couple of decent private schools and chis and sid grammar.

Great rail links, decent parks (the one near the star pub) plus lamorbey park near the college which is lovely with people fishing and a duck pond.

Seems to be heavy positive investment in the area too, with the high street revamp, to the new library , a new m&s just opened near the station and a PureGym is following in close proximity.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Thanks OP, I'm just a bit nervous 'cos I'm Indian and I'm not sure if there are many South East Asians around there. I've heard a few stories about racism but am hoping those are isolated incidents and not something common around there. We are very open minded and integrate well with other nationalities, would love to meet similar people. What sort of activities are you doing with your kids?

Oh and congratulations on the move :) where did you end up buying your home, as in which road?

Glad you've settled in well.

You'll be fine in Sidcup. I grew up there in the 1980s/90s - it wasn't very diverse back then but it was always welcoming. If you've got any specific questions about the area I might be able to help?

Hard to say unless there is publically available census data available.

However from what I have seen just on my walks about the area plus friends, neighbours. It is the usual London/outer London mix, and it is certainly welcoming (more so than Bromley - but it all depends on luck of the draw with neighbours e.t.c), a few of our neighbours on surrounding streets are SE asian and one of the neighbouts gave us a big wave/smile and came and introduced themselves about a week after we moved in when we were taking something out of the boot. I found similar when we lived in Bromley, but unfortunately all areas are going to have an idiot. I certainly haven't heard of any incidents in my time here.

In terms of activities, largely the green parks inc duck pond, the play area parks (the one near the star, there is another linked to a park behind the college e.t.c), Sidcup swimming pool has a good childs pool area, there is soft play on the way to Ruxley, little visits to the Library. You also have Chislehurst pretty much on your doorstep, that again has a duck pond x 2, decent forest walks (Scadbury/Hawkswood), nice restaurants e.t.c

Then depending on the age of your child, there are always some kind of regular child play/learning opportunities e.t.c