Nestled between more central London and Bromley, Beckenham is a buzzing London suburb that appeals to both 20-30 something professionals, AND young families looking to make the move from Dulwich, Clapham et al who want to buy a family home at a more affordable price.
With a packed high street full of shops, restaurants and bars, green spaces and a ‘village’ feel, Beckenham is a place that we always receive enquiries about when it comes to both buying and renting property.
Getting about
Beckenham has excellent transport links to central London.
Rail: Both Beckenham Junction and New Beckenham stations provide 4-hourly services into London Bridge, Victoria, Herne Hill and Brixton, and Charing Cross and Cannon Street and London Bridge respectively, with journeys taking approx 20 minutes. Clockhouse, Elmers End, Kent House and Eden Park stations also cover parts of Beckenham and are on the aforementioned train routes.
Tram: Tramlink services run from Beckenham Junction station to East and West Croydon and Wimbledon, as well as Mitcham Junction and Elmers End interchange railway stations.
Bus: Local bus routes include 54 (to Woolwich), 194 (to West Croydon), 227 (to Bromley) and 358 (to Crystal Palace). the 352 runs through Beckenham from Bromley to Lower Sydenham. The N3 night bus runs to and from Oxford Circus.
Cycle: There are plenty of parking spaces for bikes at the local stations, with many locals opting to cycle there instead of park their car before commuting by train.
Airports: For air travel, Gatwick Airport is just under an hour away by car.
Local amenities
Beckenham High Street has a number of excellent independent shops selling everything from sausages to wedding dresses! Supermarket-wise there is a large Sainsburys and Lidl on the main High Street, as well as a Waitrose right by Beckenham Junction Station. The listed 1930s Art Deco Cinema is an Odeon, and for leisure facilities there is Beckenham Spa (home to what was once named the best public swimming pool in the UK!). As well as exercise classes here, there is also a large cafe and soft play, plus library next door.
Schools
At Primary School level, Balgowan, Clare House and Harris Academy Beckenham Green are all popular. For secondary schools, the same-sex Langley Park Schools for boys/girls are a huge draw, and Harris Academy Beckenham and the newly opened Eden Park High are also well-regarded.
Out and about
Beckenham Place Park, the area’s biggest green space, has recently enjoyed a £4.9 million Heritage Lottery Fund restoration that boasts a new café and education centre, 15,000 trees planted and a lake for wild swimming.
The park’s beautiful original mansion is now managed by the crowd from Peckham’s Bussey Building and houses artists’ studios, yoga, Pilates and wellbeing classes, arts and crafts workshops and a café.
There are a huge number of pubs, bars and restaurants, as well as Beckenham Theatre and the Bromley Churchill within easy reach.
Breeze Yoga studio offers yoga, pilates and meditation classes for those who like the more zen side of life.
Kelsey Park is one of the most beautiful spots in Beckenham, with it’s stunning lake, children’s playground, tennis courts and crazy golf course. Beckenham Green at the top end of the High Street is a small park where local residents put on events (especially at Christmas) and also host the St George’s Arts Festival there. The South East London Green Chain that runs through Beckenham and is a walking route that connects green spaces from Erith Riverside in Kent to the more urban ones of Peckham and Nunhead, totalling over 50 miles.
