Buying or selling a house in
Orpington
Orpington is a large suburb in the London Borough of Bromley, in Greater London since 1965 and before that in Kent. It grew as a London suburb after the station was enlarged in 1904, with building peaking in the 1920s and 1930s around an older village core at Church Hill. Its station is a Zone 6 interchange with eight platforms. Vine Estates handles a small number of sales here personally.
What it’s actually like
Orpington gives you twenty-five minutes to Charing Cross from inside Zone 6, which is a serious advantage. There's an eleventh-century church, a Roman villa beside the station, both of the borough's grammar schools, and streets of generous inter-war houses. It's a comfortable, well-connected place that people are very often surprised by. Both St Olave's and Newstead Wood are here, which matters a great deal to families.
“Twenty-five minutes to Charing Cross, and a Roman villa beside the station. Orpington is full of surprises.”
David Johnston
The houses
Orpington's growth followed the enlargement of the station in 1904 and peaked in the 1920s and 1930s, so the bulk of the stock is inter-war and post-war suburban. Older fabric survives around Church Hill and the High Street, where 231, 316 and 318 High Street and the group at Kent Road are Grade II listed. The best-protected stock is in the two conservation areas, The Priory of 1985 and Broomhill of 1989.
Getting to London
Orpington is a Zone 6 interchange on the South Eastern Main Line with eight platforms, including bays for services that start and terminate here. Southeastern run direct to London Charing Cross in about 25 minutes, Cannon Street in about 35 and Victoria in about 43.
Schools
Both of Bromley's state grammar schools are in Orpington: St Olave's and St Saviour's for boys on Goddington Lane, and Newstead Wood for girls on Avebury Road. Darrick Wood School and Harris Academy Orpington are the non-selective secondaries.
Common questions
How fast is the train from Orpington to London?
About 25 minutes direct to London Charing Cross, with two fast direct trains an hour off-peak. Cannon Street takes about 35 minutes and London Victoria about 43, with four direct trains an hour. Thameslink services also run through towards Kentish Town and Luton.
How old is the church at Orpington?
The Church of All Saints on Church Hill is Grade II\* listed. Its nave is eleventh-century in origin, with an early thirteenth-century chancel and north-east tower and a porch of about 1370. It holds an Anglo-Saxon sundial and a late twelfth-century font, and was extended dramatically in 1957–58 by Geddes Hyslop.
Where does the Orpington chicken come from?
From here. The poultry breeder William Cook introduced the Black Orpington in the 1880s, crossing Minorcas, Langshans and Plymouth Rocks, and chose black because it would not show the soot and grime of London. He bred the Orpington duck as well.
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You don't need to have decided anything to call. Most of the useful conversations I have start with someone who isn't sure yet and just wants to understand their options.