The London Borough of Bromley, located in the south-east of London, is known for its picturesque villages and sprawling green spaces, given it is London’s largest borough in terms of land size. Some of its notable landmarks include the Crystal Palace Park, Chislehurst Caves, and Down House, where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution. This guide will provide you with all the information you need, whether you’re living, visiting or investing in Bromley. It includes the latest data from official government sources.
What’s it like to live in Bromley?
Living in Bromley can provide residents with a high standard of living, thanks to its peaceful neighbourhoods, excellent schools, and low crime rates. Compared to other London boroughs, Bromley can be relatively affordable given its position on the outskirts of London, bordering Kent, though its development is continually improving, with new housing and infrastructure projects in progress.
This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.
How much does it cost to buy a house in Bromley?
Properties in Bromley on average cost £505,297.00, ranking the borough as the 17 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry.
Buying a property in Bromley typically costs a similar amount to the London average.
How much does it cost to rent in Bromley?
Bromley is one of the most affordable areas to rent in London. According to data from the ONS:
- A studio costs on average £923 per month to rent which ranks 6 as the most affordable borough in London
- A one bedroom property costs on average £1,160 per month to rent which ranks 7 as the most affordable borough in London
- A two bedroom property costs on average £1,460 per month to rent which ranks 9 as the most affordable borough in London
- A three bedroom property costs on average £1,848 per month to rent which ranks 10 as the most affordable borough in London
- A three bedroom property costs on average £2,539 per month to rent which ranks 11 as the most affordable borough in London
How many people live in Bromley?
As the largest London borough in terms of land size, Bromley is also one of the most residentially populated boroughs in London according to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, as measured by number of dwellings. It has 140000 in total, ranking 5 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.
According to data from the ONS:
- 35.4% of households are owned outright
- 37.8% of households are being bought with a mortgage
- 12.8% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
- 12.8% of households are privately rented
Is Bromley a good place to live?
Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:
- Bromley ranks 15 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
- Bromley ranks 27 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
- Bromley ranks 19 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
- Bromley ranks 7 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)
What schools are there in Bromley and are they good?
In total Bromley has 122 schools, which are broken down into:
- 77 state primary schools
- 19 state secondary schools
- 19 independent schools
For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.
Is Bromley polluted?
According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:
- Bromley ranks 2 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
- Bromley ranks 2 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
- Bromley ranks 2 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration
What is the employment rate in Bromley?
The employment rate in Bromley is 81.8% which ranks 8 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.
Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.
Is Bromley a wealthy area?
The average income in Bromley is £54,500 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 15 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income).
Bromley is generally considered a middle to upper-middle-class area, with a relatively high standard of living and a relatively low crime rate. While there are certainly wealthier areas within London, some parts of Bromley are considered affluent, with upscale residential areas and independent schools.
Is Bromley a religious area?
Like the rest of London, Bromley is a diverse area with a mix of cultures and religions. However, it could be considered less diverse than many other boroughs when comparing reported religious beliefs. According to the ONS:
- 52.9% of the resident population identifies as Christian
- 3.4% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
- 1.7% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
- 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
- 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
- 3.4% of the resident population do not identify as religious
How large is Bromley?
Bromley is 150.1 km2, making it the 1th largest borough in London.
Its population is estimated as 342,548 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 9 as the most populous borough.
Its population per km2 is 2,282, ranking it 32 as the most populous per km2 borough.
Is Bromley safe?
According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:
- 18,097 total reported crimes and 52.83 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 8 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
- 940 total reported burglaries and 2.74 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 8 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
- 1,384 total reported cases of criminal damage and 4.04 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 13 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
- 585 total reported drug related crimes and 1.71 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 9 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
- 614 total reported robberies and 1.79 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 8 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
- 363 total reported sexual offences and 1.06 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 8 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
- 8,749 total reported thefts and 25.54 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 11 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
- 5,212 total reported violent crimes and 15.22 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Bromley as 8 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes
What public transport options does Bromley have?
Several rail links and bus routes serve the area, but notably, the underground network doesn’t stretch to Bromley. However, it is quick to travel to Central London, with many National Rail services passing through stations including Bromley South, Bromley North, and Hayes.
Additionally, Bromley has an extensive bus network, with several routes connecting the borough to other parts of London. This includes the 119, 138, 146, 208, 227, 246, 314, 320, 336, 352, 358, and 367, among others, making it relatively easy to travel into the city.
What places are in Bromley?
Some of the most well-known places in Bromley include:
- Bromley town centre: This is the main commercial and retail hub of the borough, and it includes a shopping centre, restaurants, and pubs.
- Beckenham: A residential area in the south of the borough
- Chislehurst: A leafy suburb with a village-like feel, known for its historic caves and Scadbury Park.
- Orpington: A suburban town in the west of the borough
- Penge: A diverse neighbourhood with a growing arts and culture scene
- Petts Wood: A residential area with plenty of green spaces
- Biggin Hill: A small town in the south of the borough
What is Bromley famous for?
As well as being London’s largest borough by land size, and often categorised as a part of Kent rather than London, Bromley is known for:
- The Crystal Palace: The iconic glass structure was originally built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, but it was moved to Sydenham Hill in Bromley in 1854. The Crystal Palace is now a public park with historic ruins and a museum.
- The Churchill Theatre: An important cultural venue in the borough, the Churchill Theatre in Bromley hosts a wide variety of shows, from West End musicals to comedy acts and drama productions.
- Biggin Hill Airport: A historic airfield in the south of the borough, Biggin Hill played a key role in World War II as a base for the Royal Air Force. Today, it is a popular destination for aviation enthusiasts and air shows.
- Charles Darwin: The famous naturalist and scientist lived in Downe, a village in the south of the borough, for 40 years. His home, Down House, is now a museum and a popular tourist attraction.
- Bromley FC: The local football team, Bromley FC, is a well-respected non-league team that has a loyal following of fans.
- The Glades: A large shopping centre in Bromley town centre, The Glades is one of the main retail destinations in the borough and attracts visitors from across South East London.
- Parks and green spaces: The borough of Bromley is known for its beautiful parks and green spaces, including Crystal Palace Park, Kelsey Park, and Jubilee Country Park.
- The Sundial: A historic landmark in the town of Chislehurst, the Sundial is a stone monument that marks the prime meridian, which divides the eastern and western hemispheres of the earth.
- The Priory: A historic building in Orpington, The Priory was originally a medieval manor house that was later converted into a school. Today, it is a popular wedding and events venue.
- Schools: The borough is home to many notable schools, including St. Olave’s Grammar School, Newstead Wood School, and Bromley High School.
What boroughs are next to Bromley?
Bromley is bordered by several other boroughs:
- To the north it is bordered by the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Bexley and Greenwich
- To the west, it is bordered by the London Borough of Croydon
Bromley shares a border with the county of Kent. However, historically, many parts of Bromley were actually a part of Kent prior to 1965 and many people still consider large portions of Bromley as part of the county.
