Love local: Celebrating Bromley

Bromley, historically part of the Kent county, has plenty to offer history buffs. The arrival of the railway at Shortlands in the middle of the 19th century changed Bromley’s destiny to be an important local centre of commerce. Each of the town centres in the borough has its own character; the villagey feel of Petts Wood, Hayes and Chatterton Village; the champions of the independents like West Wickham and Orpington; and the larger town centres of Bromley and Beckenham. Add on Orpington’s Nugent retail park and Bromley’s The Glades and there’s really something for everyone.

Green spaces

Keeping healthy

With so many green spaces, parks and cycle facilites, plus a range of leisure facilities, there’s no shortage of places for fitness enthusiasts to walk, run, swim or cycle. Plus we’ve got outdoor gyms in places like Anerley and Farnborough – and not forgetting the abundance of golf centres – including mini golf options for the kids! As the largest London borough by area, Bromley has over 100 parks and open spaces. These range from the iconic like Crystal Palace Park and High Elms to unspoilt nature reserves like Jubilee Country Park, Farnborough Fields and Keston Common to name a few.

Housing for all

LOVING LOCAL:Celebrating BromleyBromley has a staggering array of different housing options from rented flats, affordable family homes all the way up to enviable mansion-like piles.

Great reads

All of the borough’s town centres have some sort of library offering and there are a number which offer meeting rooms and coworking spaces, plus interesting exhibitions, talks and events.

A creative spark Family days out

From Christmas Tree Farm for animal lovers, to Crofton Roman Villa and Charles Darwin (Down House) for history fans, there’s a whole host of things to do with the kids, many of them free or very affordable. And when rain is forecast, we’ve always got the theatres, leisure centres and cinema complexes to keep us entertained!

We’re proud that the legendary David Bowie called Bromley home and we’re certainly keeping his artistic legacy going throughout the borough. From the creative workspace that Contingent Works offers, to venues such as The Ripley Arts Centre and more drama, crafting and singing workshops than you can shake a stick at.

New developments

The borough is continually developing in response to demand – and we’re not just talking about residential property. In Bromley’s Elmfield Road for example, the Commercial Park Group is overseeing an ambitious commercial development. In Phase 1 alone, the redevelopment of Wells House will deliver 96,213 sq ft of Grade A office space. Exciting times ahead!

Places of worship

The borough is served by 26 railway stations which lead into London and out into Kent, plus there’s a comprehensive bus network - and even trams in the west of the borough.

Famous faces

There is a glittering list of stars that either call Bromley their home or who hail originally from the Borough. Sporty Emma Raducanu lives in Orpington (read our interview with her on p41), while pop star Pixie Lott is a Petts Woodien! Meanwhile, Enid Blyton, Richmal Crompton and HG Wells all have local connections.

A buzzing nightlife

Bromley is home to around 20 state secondary schools and over 70 primary schools, many of which are rated outstanding or good. There is also a number of Independent or specialist schools and Further Education is provided by London South East Colleges which has campuses in Bromley and Orpington.

After having filled your belly, the larger Bromley and Beckenham towns in particular are home to a number of nightspots including bars and nightclubs. Alternatively, you can enjoy live entertainment at the Bromley Churchill Theatre, one of the South East’s top entertainment venues or explore more intimate settings like the Bromley Little Theatre.

Gastronomic delights

As you might expect from a borough the size of Bromley, every corner of the globe is represented locally. As well as this, residents enjoy everything from modestly priced cafés up to destination fine dining. Local markets provide opportunities for exciting street food and Bromley’s location next door to Kent means a wealth of local produce.

Celebrating Bromley

We’ve got a million and one reasons to love about living in the borough of Bromley. Here’s just 20 of them! Green & clean

Music, culture & creativity

We’re lucky to have a thriving musical and artistic scene with live music in a number of local pubs, live entertainment including theatres and comedy shows, insightful exhibitions at the borough’s libraries, plus great venues such as Crystal Palace Museum and Bethlem Museum of The Mind, to name a few.

Quirky & quaint

Bromley isn’t all about large town centres. One of the charms of the borough is that you can stumble across idyllic villages with quaint teashops such as St Mary Cray’s The Croft Tearoom and quirky pubs, complete with quirky locals!

Technology

Bromley’s Economic Development plan for the next ten years highlights and emphasises the need for improving connectivity and tech infrastructure. This will mean promoting access for all (provision in libraries and Business Lounges) and encouraging 4G and 5G rollout, even in more rural areas. We really are getting connected! As well as benefitting from a large number of green spaces, Bromley is also among the ‘greenest’ Boroughs in London, ranking number two in 2019 when taking into account household recycling, composting and expenditure on environmental initiatives.

Quality of life

Another great reason to live in Bromley is how safe it feels. It’s among the safest boroughs in South London and, as of 2021, the sixth safest in the whole of London.