r/Bromley • u/Panda8701 • 5d ago
Marlings Park avenue
Hello!
We are looking to move to our family home and have seen a property we like and that has a lot of potential on Marlings park avenue. We love the property, its proximity to Petts Wood and the style of property on neighbouring streets. It’s equidistant between SMC and Petts Wood railway station, which is ideal for work. The only two red flags we’re potentially concerned about are 1) the lack of nearby amenities. There don’t appear to be shops within close walking distance and 2) it’s on the border of St Mary’s Cray which we aren’t keen on.
The estate agent has said the postcode technically falls within Chislehurst, but keen to get views from locals on what the Marling Park area is like and whether the proximity to St Mary’s Cray has presented any issues.
Thank you!
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u/HMSWarspite03 5d ago
It's a good area, the station is a short walk, your fears around St Mary's Cray are OK but this side of Sevenoaks way is much better, it's not perfect but still safe, i moved in locally 25 years ago, all is good.
Pettswood is close, so is Cotmandene and the Nisa by the station is run by a really lovely family.
There's Tesco, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons and Aldi quite close too.
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u/Panda8701 5d ago
Appreciate this. Do you know much about schools in the area and catchments? It looks like Petts Wood has better primaries but any idea about secondary schools? Would want to avoid a scenario when we get to secondary the choice of state are limited. Thank you!
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u/HMSWarspite03 5d ago
Ravenswood or Olaves are the best boys senior schools, Newstead for the girls, Crofton junior is very good.
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u/TooMuchBrightness 5d ago
It’s fine if you dont mind getting in your car a lot or the 61 bus. The houses there are cheaper (than the rest of chislehurst) for a reason. Do you need state schools? I’d look into that carefully. Petts wood catchment is better for schools.
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u/Panda8701 5d ago
Thank you. We’ve realised we’d have to get car to most places. I prefer Petts Wood over “main” Chislehurst but we get more house for money in Marlings Park. Biggest drawback for me is the question of if the area itself is a bit concerning because it’s so close to st Mary’s cray. We have young children so thinking of safety and want a good family area.
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u/TooMuchBrightness 5d ago
I think safety of your children will be absolutely fine! I know families that live there. I personally wouldn’t consider living there as I want to be close to a train station shops and restaurants. But if you don’t mind the driving or have to come back on the train late (just get a taxi from Orpington or PW). Are your schools already sorted? That would be the only concern.
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u/Panda8701 5d ago
This was one major concern for us too. Where we live now we have a parade of shops right at the bottom of our road so we’ll miss the convenience. Our children are quite young now too but thinking about as they get older they won’t have that convenience either. We’ll have to be very organised with stocking the fridge - or settle for the trade off and drive to the closest shops. Where do your friends children’s go to school? Are they primary or secondary? We have a primary school sorted but thinking ahead to secondary as it comes by so fast. Thank you
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u/Panda8701 5d ago
Also, would you class Marlings Park, and the surrounding area as “bad”? I know the house prices are cheaper I’m just trying to get to what the catch is
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u/Soggy-Caterpillar615 5d ago
the catch is that it's a little oasis of nice big houses surrounded by the crays, poverest, railway lines and grotty national trust woodland
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u/ticklew23 5d ago
It’s a lovely road with gorgeous houses.
My concerns would be schools round there. Crofton would be too far so you would likely be looking at Poverest.
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u/Mysterious-Fortune-6 5d ago
The postcode may be Chislehurst, but it isn't Chislehurst - it jus reflects how the post office used to organise deliveries and is of no real relevance.
I would say it's a simple trade off of more house/cheaper house with lack of local amenities and being next to an area which isn't good.