Orpington is a commuter suburb of London. In the 1960s, the 'Orpington man' was the term for a typical lower-middle-class British voter. If the new-build mansions in the area are anything to go by, some things may have changed in the intervening decades - however, Orpington remains a nice suburb of London. For commuters, there are great rail and road links to Central London and beyond. For families, there are spacious period and modern family homes and great schools. And for everyone else, there are good parks, local shops, and restaurants.
Orpington has staying power, especially with families who have children attending the local grammar schools, and people do tend to trade up and down within the area. There are good local amenities, including independent businesses and community events.
The 2014/2015 crime rate and violence against the person rate in this area were both similar t, but very slightly higher than, the rates for London as a whole. For the period between June 2016 and May 2017, the most common crime types in Orpington were anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences, and other theft.
Parking is generally not too much of an issue in this area. Road links - including the A21 to the M25 - are good. the rate of car ownership in this area is high for London, at more than one car per household.
There's a wide range of restaurants and a few bars and pubs in the area. Transport links into Central London and other nightlife areas are fairly good.
This is an excellent place to look for a family home, with a very large selection of sizeable semi-detached and detached Twenties, Thirties, and modern homes with gardens to choose from. Orpington is very green, and has excellent access to parks and playing fields, including Priory Gardens, Goddington Park, Poverest Park, and High Elms Country Park. Schools in this area are generally very good, with outstanding state primary schools, competitive grammar schools and good state comprehensives, and private schools to choose from. Just slightly below the London rate of 20% of residents are children aged 0-15.
Orpington has a wide selection of homes that would be suitable for pets, including many large semi-detached and detached houses with gardens. There is also very good access to green and open space in this area, including Priory Gardens, Goddington Park, Poverest Park, and High Elms Country Park.
Orpington has its own rail station, which is located in Zone 6 and has Thameslink and Southern services - trains to London Bridge and Cannon Street that take about half an hour, and trains to Charing Cross, Victoria, and Blackfriars take a little longer. There are also stations at Petts Wood and Chelsfield. The area is well-served by local buses, and road links - including the A21 to the M25 - are good. The M25 also makes a good connection to the London airports.