David Bowie's old stomping grounds offer a family friendly, village-like atmosphere.
Bromley has an average violent crime rate and an average property crime rate for London.
Beckenham is a leafy, family friendly neighborhood in south London with rock'n'roll credentials. The late, great David Bowie lived here for several years and started his "Arts Lab" in a local pub which became a hub of creativity for musicians, artists, dance, and poetry. And Peter Frampton, one of the best classic rock guitarists, was born here.
The old Arts Lab pub still exists under a different name, but the rock'n'roll soul is gone. Today this is an upscale, peaceful place to live. At its center is a bustling village with a vibrant High Street that offers a number of shopping and dining options. For families, there are a number of good primary and secondary schools in the area.
Another great feature are the parks here. Kelsey Park is a green sliver of a park with a pond that's good for evening strolls. Beckenham Place Park is much bigger and features large, open grass fields perfect for sports and picnics, and woodlands that are popular with dog walkers.
You're not going to find any starter homes here. Family-sized housing starts with Edwardian terraces at the "low end" and increases in size and cost to mansions on large properties.
Beckenham has excellent transport options, including trains, trams, and buses.
Beckenham is bordered on the north by Sydenham, on the east by Bromley, on the south by West Wickham, and on the west by Penge.
Commute:
The City: 9.5 miles / 40-80 minutes by car / 35-45 minutes by transit
Canary Wharf: 11 miles / 40-75 minutes by car / 45-55 minutes by transit
Southwark: 8.9 miles / 35-75 minutes by car / 40 minutes by transit
Westminster: 9.8 miles / 40-80 minutes by car / 35-45 minutes by transit
Shoreditch: 11 miles / 50-100 minutes by car / 45-55 minutes by transit
Beckenham LOCAL schools
Beckenham Local Flavor 
Serving great coffee in North London.
Villagers are purveyors of the largest selection of homemade English & Continental sausages in the South of England!
Come and experience the best pizza in London.
Photo Credits: Thanks to @carlyshacks, @oicaah, @mimieorange, @kebubs, @alistairgibaud, @hollyferns, @bokkistar, @jakeyuhinfan, @sunset_sunrise6794, @sofia.mazza, @mrcoulthurst, @thewhiterussian, @enriketta91, @isabelacbandeira, @sil_loh, @insiderarea, @iam_still_beautiful, @araqnid, and @arekpiorun for your great photos of this neighborhood!
