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Original poster

Please tell me about Orpington ...

52 replies

basementbear · 08/05/2009 20:54

We live in central London and love it here, but we absolutely have to move as we have a tiny flat and we are also thinking ahead to secondary school (they are rubbish here)...

Orpington appears to meet a lot of our needs - houses with big gardens that we can afford, good secondary schools, easy commute into several London stations for DH.

So.... is there anything I should know? Any bad bits, any downsides? Please tell all!

Thanks

OP posts:
crispies · 06/01/2012 02:21

returning to the subject of secondaries in and around Orpington... am about to move and will be exactly a mile from Darrick Wood School. Can anyone tell me whether we're likely (certain?) to get a place there..? The school website is unforthcoming about admissions and I've not found Bromley education people to be helpful either. I HAD thought we would definitely be ok, but am now worried about this talk of darrick wood's small catchment (on posts up to 2 years old).. thanks

FMG · 07/02/2013 12:52

I am resurrecting this thread as I too am thinking of moving to Orpington. We have been (internet) looking at houses on the edge of the Knoll area, but towards St Mary Cray and Perry Hall school. does anyone know anything about this area and, particularly, this school? it is officially outstanding. I think the area might be within the catchment for Crofton as well. Concerned about the references above to St Mary Cray area being not so nice. Any advice gratefully received.

MyMamaToldMe · 07/02/2013 14:16

hi FMG - I live in Orpington and my child goes to Perry Hall. I know the area you mention, but would be better if you could tell me exactly where, as it goes from very nice, to not so nice in a space of a few roads.

The school is excellent (and as you have seen it recieved an outstanding for Ofsted). Although our DD is only Reception, so far we have been very pleased with everything . Teachers are great, the Head is great, fantastic PTA, etc. Evrey parent I know is happy with the school. The catchment for Crofton is bigger, so chances are you will be in the catchment. It is a much bigger school than Perry Hall, and a very good one too from what I hear.

St Mary's Cray isn't great, but it depends what you are after. Again it is one of those areas that has some okay parts.

Crispies, I have a friend who is a mile or so away from Darrick Wood and her son got in (last year).

FMG · 07/02/2013 14:27

Hi MMTM thank you so much for your reply that is brilliant to hear from someone's whose child actually goes to Perry Hall. I have been looking (only on the internet) at houses on Chislehurst Rd, Broomhill Rd, Westholme Rd and Stanley Rd. We would be happy with Crofton school but the catchment last year really shrunk - I know people just north of petts wood station that didnt get in on first round. So these roads are 0.8mile from Crofton which may or may not get in. Hopefully the catchment for Perry Hall wont shrink further! that's not even getting to secondary options...
To be honest we don't know the area at all, we had been looking at Petts Wood but there is nothing suitable within budget there. I would prefer somewhere with a little parade of shops or nicer high street but it doesn't bother me that much, and most importantly it is apparently a little bit leafier than south east london where we are now and quite a family-orientated area. Thanks again for your response.

MyMamaToldMe · 07/02/2013 14:39

All the roads you are looking at are very nice! I live just off Chislehurst Rd. And all in catchment for Perry Hall and Crofton. There is a little shop just off Mayfield (near Westholme Rd), but all the roads you are looking at are also close to the Orpington HS, PW HS, and driving distance from the bigger shops like Next, Laura Ashley. And of course Bluewater. You would be 5 or so min walking distance from Perry Hall school from any of those roads.

FMG · 07/02/2013 16:09

Thank you - looking at a house this weekend so fingers tightly crossed!

Morena · 13/02/2013 13:43

Could anyone tell me if the area around Perry Hall road is good? I looking to buy but prices in Petts Wood are a bit high . Looking for alternatives. Any tips on good/ affordable locations welcome :)

Gingersnap88 · 13/02/2013 19:08

My DSS goes to Perry Hall School (year 2), its a great school.

Perry hall road is nice, lots of bungalows! Big houses on the streets surrounding, nice park, easy walk to high street and station.

Morena · 13/02/2013 21:11

Thanks Gingersnap I will start looking at houses around there.

ma01hh · 31/03/2013 18:13

Hi MyMamaToldMe, we're also looking at moving into the area due to commuting into London.

Following on from your response to FMG, we've found a property we really like but we would love some local knowledge from someone such as yourself. What are your thoughts on Littlejohn Road? It seems quite close to St Mary Cray, but also close - by walking through Poverest Park - to Perry Hall. It seems like it's nice, but we'd love your opinion since you know the area so well.

Also, what's the area's history like? It seems as if Orpington as a whole is on the up, but is this confined to certain areas?

We did a Wikipedia search on St. Mary Cray and it seems to reference settled travellers, but then again should you believe everything you read on the internet...

All information gratefully received!

Many thanks indeed

MoonlightPicnic · 10/08/2013 20:02

I moved to Orpington from Tunbridge Wells to be with my partner (now wife).

I wish I hadn't. We settled in what seemed a nice private area ,Orpington but close to the Ramsden estate/St Mary Cray. We've experienced..

(1) Two kids stealing a motorbike then ploughing it into a tree, killing the one at the front.
(2) Countless break in's to garages/properties.
(3) A murder (stabbing).
(4) A school who thinks it's ok for pupils to randomly insult adults. This happened to me. I received no answer from the school despite e-mailing twice. I included my phone number, address etc, not a twitter. That school is the Priory School.

There are good areas Chislehurst, Petts Wood. The is a certain amount of homogeneity in terms of property.

The High Street shopping's very low rent for somewhere that's in the commuter belt. Lots of restaurants/takeaways though.

Avoid St Pauls Cray. Parts of it are even poorer then St Mary Cray. Cotmandene Crescent (The main shopping area) is reminiscent of a wild west town.

Niilady1 · 18/08/2013 00:40

Hi there

Sorry to resurrect this thread. We are looking
at a property on Lockesely Drive in Orpington. Does anyone
have any local info or knowledge about this area?
What primary schools will be this area be in catchment for?

Thank you

Couturelocks · 22/08/2013 15:25

hi Niilady1, I think we might be looking at the same property. I'm told that it's in the Perry Hall catchment. the 'better' side of MaryCray......
Goodluck.

Newhome12 · 11/10/2013 13:56

Hi All,
Really sorry to start this link again, I am not familiar with the Orpington area at all and have a viewing of a property on Court Road, opposite Priory Gardens and judging from some of these comments, it makes me a little nervous to go view this property. Does anyone know what this area of Orpington is like? Thank you very much!

woodyyy · 03/11/2013 18:44

Hi my daughter goes to Perry Hall and we are pleased with the school. She is happy and doing well there. Only thing about area is Perry Hall is very good but local secondary schools are not so great. We are trying to move to BR6 area to get into Darrick Wood. Lots of parents do tutoring for grammar schools, we have decided best to move rather than heap the pressure on to get into grammar ( as she not overly acedemic)

mrsaleonard · 19/08/2014 09:03

Hello there,

Hope all is well with you.

Just read your 2009 discussion about Orpington.
Just wondering how did it go?
We are in the similar position like you were 5 years ago, and any insight about Orpington from your years of experience now would be very helpul

Many thanks :)

poppy913 · 28/09/2014 09:06

Bump

aaloo1234 · 03/02/2015 20:04

Looking to buy house in St Pauls Cray. Any one can tell about the area

leena14 · 06/02/2015 12:41

I am planning to buy house in high street, orpington, anyone let me know about this area and something abt perry hall school .

SB5186 · 23/07/2015 13:35

Hi,

I know this is really old thread. However we are planning to buy a house in Orpington because we just cant afford in London anymore. we are a couple with no kids and looking to spend 320k on 2 bed. So the information on areas to completely avoid in Orpington will be a big help. We both work at central london so commute wise, i believe orpington is good.

Thanks!

PettsWoodParadise · 23/07/2015 22:11

Feel free to DM me the road. Best areas are Knoll and, Petts Wood, but that is just one opinion. We have property we rent out in St Paul's Cray so know some of the better bits and some of the less desirable. Traditionally the areas around Cotmandene have been less desirable but the residents are working hard on turning that round. Also a new McDonalds on Broomwood Road has blighted some houses. If you are closer to St Pauls's Wood Hill or Tillingbourne Green that is fairly good. I have lived in the area for over 40 years. Some areas have a bad reputation and may not be top choice but unless it is a few choice roads there are only a tiny number of roads that are no go areas. Some have school black holes depending on age of children. A real hot spot is with half a mile of Darrick Wood school.

preeprave · 04/08/2017 14:07

Hi, I know this is a very old thread. But i found it very informative as I am in the same situation as you guys were earlier. We are a family of 4 ( with 2 year old twins) and moving from London to Orpington. We are seeing a house in Elmcroft Road in Perrry Hall School's catchment area. Would you be kind enough to give some insight about the area. Also, any good day care over there? Penguin day care have vacancy as of now and I am considering it. Thoughts please?

Runa01 · 14/05/2018 10:44

Hello mums in Orpington,

I have twin sons and was thinking of putting my boys in a prep school in sevenoaks, I am just a bit worried about their commute. Are there any other children from orpington going to sevenoaks and what is the usual mode of commute. Also anyone up for pooling with me. please let me

Fmlgirl · 14/05/2018 19:53

We've been looking at St Mary's Cray and St. Paul's Cray but people that we know in Orpington are telling us to avoid, too.

Rosie1905 · 20/05/2018 21:43

The roads around Perry Hall school im behind poverest Park are perfectly fine . Perhaps Lockesely drive being slightly less fine but no real issue at all. Forest way is a lovely road . kedleston drive which is more affordable also no problems as at. Only very few parts of st Mary Cray behind nugent Center are an issue . The roads people asking about for Perry Hall are not St Mary but just part of orpington . Petts Wood borders. Petts Wood lovely, Orpington mostly lovely and compared to London a very safe place for kids .