Any thoughts on Penge

[jennyh]

Hi all

Looked at a lovely house near Penge east station but no idea what the area is like for amenities, primary schools, safety, feel etc. we've got a toddler and due another one this winter so trying to get clued up on how happy we would be in various areas around Dulwich. Any ideas let me know!

Thanks

[chrismar]

Penge isn't particularly glamorous (yet) but the location is great. Victoria, Herne Hill and Brixton are under 17 mins away by train and you still have the overground from Penge West. Crystal Palace Park is on your doorstep. The high street is a bit rundown but it has everything you need, including a Sainsbury's. There are two decent cafes in Maple Road and you're very near Crystal Palace for more variety. Try to visit the Alexandra nurseries in Parish Lane to get a sense of the community developing in the area- amazing coffee and cake! Two or three of the schools have been taken over and will reopen in Sept under new management so I think they will quicky improve. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions!

[srisky]

Reviving this thread as we are outgrowing our home. Hubby is put off by the name(!) but the transport links are fab. I'll drive there at some point to look around but would value the views of anyone living there with young kids.

[SE22mum]

i have to go to Penge a lot for work, and must admit i find it a bit depressing as it is run-down - but that is probably also because i have to go to drug and alcohol abuse centres....

however, it does have great transport, you are close to Crystal Palace, still close to ED etc...and there are a lot of arty types around as it is cheap. probably not unlike ED about 20 years ago....

it comes down to if you need things to be nice, or if you can appreciate the energy of somewhere a bit more gritty...

[ladywotlunches]

The standard did a homes and property article on penge a couple of weeks ago. Quick google should come up with it and it gave some insight on what you get each side of penge.

Good luck!

[johnhinton]

Always amuses me that Penge is the Danish word for "money" - surely some connection

[JulieW]

We have just put an offer on a house not far from Penge East and it has been accepted! We have a 10 month-old and a 3 year-old and have seen some good nurseries and outstanding primary school (Alexandra infant). I think the area is changing for the best, there is even a Blue Mountain Cafe on Maple Road! We live in ED at the moment and of course we know that Penge is not as nice but houses are more affordable and Beckenham and Crystal Palace are very close.

A few very nice mums who live there have told me a lot of positive things about the area.

[srisky]

Thanks for all the info. From googling, streetview etc I agree Penge is not a beauty yet and the range of shops are not that dissimilar to Rye Lane (KFC, MacD, 99p store etc) but housing-wise there is more bang for your buck.

JulieW, our children are the same age so I am guessing we are looking for similar things in an area - would you be able to elaborate on the positive things you have heard about the Penge? Good luck on the offer!

Ladywotlunches - I found the article, thanks very much.

[Bovine Juice]

I live in Penge and have done so for 17 years. It's changed a lot in that time, most of it over the last few years and 90% of it for the better. The High Street is so-so but covers most of the essentials with Sainsburys, Lidl, Tescos, Superdrug, Boots, Homebase and Wilkinsons all there. There's not too many good indies but ones worth a mention are the Penge Food Centre (a brill Turkish supermarket), Murray Brothers Butchers, a good drapers, guitar shop and a couple of decent cafes just off the High Street on Maple Road (Bluebell Cafe and Blue Mountain).

It's shocking for eateries, with only an Italian (Friends of Flavours) of any merit, though there is a great Spanish tapas place in Kent House nearby and loads of restaurants in Beckenham and CP.

Pubs are so-so but one gastropub has opened (it also has a theatre and does comedy) and there's an above average Wetherspoons (11 ales on usually and loads of private booths). Things will improve though as there's also one more good pub opening in about 6 months (run by the Penge folk who run the Beer Rebellion in Gipsy Hill) and rumours that another will take over the Goldsmiths soon.

The real gem is the Alexandra Nurseries - a small garden centre, cafe and vintage bric a brac place in the Alexandra Cottages conservation area.

There are some lovely period houses down here and they cost significantly less than many other places.

Schools are numerous and vary though the Alexandra Infants is outstanding and many others are good.

Transport is superb. Penge East to Victoria takes 17 minutes. Penge West is on the ginger line Overground and can get you to Shoreditch in 28 mins. New Beckenham or Clock House can also be close depending on which bit of Penge you live in and will take you to London Bridge, Cannon Street or Charing Cross in about 22-28 mins. And trams from Beckenham Road will take you to Croydon in 20 mins. Plus loads and loads of buses including the 176 to ED.

Parks: well there's lots of nice little ones but Crystal Palace Park (or Penge Common as it was before the huge glass building appeared) borders Penge High Street and is enormous.

Basically, in summary, it appeared in that Standard Spotlight On feature for a reason: it's very very good value and improving very fast. I've seen so much for the better happen in the last five years and can't see any reason why it will not get even better.

[cashewnut]

Does anyone know what the best local internet forum is for Penge?

[Bovine Juice]

The only one dedicated to Penge is a shockingly bad facebook page but Virtual Norwood and Crystal Palace Life both cover the area too. These pages/threads may be useful:

http://crystalpalacelife.com/index.php/kunena/cp-general-chat/420-penge-breaking-news-and-current-affairs

http://www.virtualnorwood.com/forum/forum/1-news-and-local-issues/

[srisky]

You are selling it well, Bovine Juice! What is it like in terms of crime and the intangible 'feeling safe'? Is it generally OK walking back from Penge East/Kent House/Clock House at e.g 9pm? I appreciate nowhere in London will be devoid of crime and I know ED certainly isn't.

[SE22mum]

Having walked around at all times of the day for work, personally I don't find the high street and main streets feel particularly unsafe. In fact, although it does have high crime statistics, I don't find it has an aggressive vibe at all.

For me its downside would be more that it does feel depressed, but as I said before my line of work tends to take me to places where depressed people are....

[Bovine Juice]

You can check the Crime Stats on the Met Police site but in 17 years of travelling up town for work or socialising and returning late via train stations I've had no problems. I live 6 mins walk from Kent House, 8 mins walk from Penge East, 15 mins from Penge West and 10 mins from New Beckenham. I've used all stations but mainly Kent House (which is on the edge of Beckenham and very nice area) and they're all safe. I've also drunk in the Wetherspoons many many times and witnessed no trouble, though there are certainly plenty of lairy geezers effing and jeffing in there. There are certainly dodgy parts of Penge but no worse than most inner city areas and in all likelihood you'd not find yourself in those roads (they tend to be in or around various roads that have the name Grove and are tributaries of Maple Road).

Ultimately if you want to buy a three bed Victorian house for a lot less than the price of a one bed flat in ED then it's all good. But be quick, the prices are rising. Zoopla thinks my house is now worth 16% more than 12 months ago and with the Crystal Palace being re-built and people finding Penge on the ginger line, it's going to get worse for buying.

[Bovine Juice]

I agree with SE22mum to a degree, clearly compared to ED it's not got that carefree middle class frapuccino and vintage shop on every corner vibe. However like I said it's changing fast. 5 years ago it was a shabby kind of place but since then Blue Mountain, one gastropub (and two more on way), two specialist fishmongers, the brilliant Alexandra Nurseries, a micro brewery who do pop-ups, a retro shop... even a bloody cupcake place has turned up. It's definitely improving (though I could do without cupcakes)

[Gunore]

This is a forum for Penge:

http://www.penge.towntalk.co.uk/forum/

[Otta]

I've just moved to Penge this week. We were renting a 30 bed semi detatched in Sydenham, and have moved in to an ex council flat in Queen Adelaide Court (estate just by Penge East). It does feel a bit "poorer", but it doesn't feel unsafe or anything like that, and you do get the impression that changes are afoot. And lets not forget, teenagers have been stabbed to death in ED, we live in London, crime happens.

The Sainsbury's is quite big, and it's great that there's a Lidl. The High Street could be better, but equally I hope the KFC stays even if lots of little indie places open!

I've yet to sample the pubs, but popped in to the weatherspoons for a quick bite yesterday (kitchen still in chaos at home), and would agree that as wetherspoons go, this is a nice one.

I'm feeling quite unsettled at the moment because I hate moving and was happy in Sydenham, but I think I will be happy in Penge once we've got the flat sorted.

[Otta]

Er, make that a 3 bed semi in Sydenham. I think a 30 bed semi would feel a bit to big for my little family.

[Otta]

Could someone who's been in Penge a while recommend a good GP to register with?

[shoe.lane]

Really interested in this discussion - thanks to all. We've also had an offer accepted on a place in Penge. It's near Winsford Gardens, which seems to be a nice little community-maintained park. I'm excited to move there - think the high street will be very useable and I'm hoping the groups I've so far met on Facebook (SE20 mums and dads etc) will translate to a friendly feel about the place.

We've lived in Herne Hill for ten years, and my sister for five years before that, and I've been amazed at how during the time I've known it it's gone from essentially a junction to a place with that much-sought-after 'villagey feel'. Penge at the moment is of course not like ED or HH, but personally I found it recognisable and I think it'll be exciting to be there as it continues changing over the next few years.

[Oily Telly Tyke]

I've commented on Penge threads here before and my thoughts remain the same - it's great! BJ has sold it very well and accurately but he's right prices are flying up. O

[verds]

One thing you will notice if you move over that way is how handy the high street is. The Lidl is excellent and there are loads of shops selling things you actually need!

[JulieW]

We have had our mortgage application accepted so getting very excited about moving to Penge too! The challenge is to find a nursery, waiting lists are very long unfortunately. Would be great to organise a meet up in Spring time with people new to the area!!!

[srisky]

Oily Telly Tyke Wrote:

---------------------------------------------------

> I've commented on Penge threads here before and my

> thoughts remain the same - it's great! BJ has sold

> it very well and accurately but he's right prices

> are flying up.

This is probably a silly question but on another thread you said Penge has a massive park - which one is it?

[shoe.lane]

Our survey is happening this week so still have fingers crossed but if all goes to plan, JulieW, would love to meet up!