Life in the 'very friendly' Kent border town where 'everyone knows everyone' named one of best to live

A town near Kent has been named the best place to live and the people living there aren't surprised to hear it. Bromley took the crown, according to a poll of MyLondon readers, so we decided to head down to speak to more residents and find out what they love about the area.

Many people are positive about the area, praising the clean air and green spaces nearby. But the decline of the high street has had an impact on other locals, with shop fronts still boarded up and empty.

Michaela, 37, says the high street 'feels a bit flat', as some of the shops which have closed have not been replaced. She highlighted both the Disney store and Topshop as two examples where the units remain empty. She says: "Bromley has always been nice but it's lost a bit of its charm. We're missing the high street shopping experience - no more clothes, just going in for food and the post office."

Michaela used to come to Bromley a lot as a child and a teenager, before moving away for a while and then returning recently. "It's changed a lot," she says. But she has mixed feelings, saying the energy of the high street is still good, with some nice restaurants.

Other residents have also noticed a decline in the number of shops on the high street. Pete, 57, says: "What I've noticed now is there's a lot of vape shops now. And there are more of those shops around Bromley than there are anything else. And it's disappointing because you do want a choice."

He adds that there are some big-name shops on the high street, including a large Apple shop which is 'always busy'.

'We think of it as Kent'

But for Pete, the biggest selling point about Bromley is that it's so close to the countryside, just a short drive away. Another resident, Ayo, says the 'clean atmosphere' was one of the best things about the area.

She says it feels so different to London that she feels like she lives in Kent, not the city. "When we first came here it was Kent, so we still think of it as Kent," she says.

The community is also far more friendly than you might associate with Londoners. Ayo adds: "The number one thing about Bromley is the people. It's incredible, the moment you start living in Bromley, it's like everyone knows everybody. People say hello, how are you, which is very good. That community spirit is there."

'It's a rich area'

For Geoff Baker, 77, who has lived in Bromley for more than 30 years, the houses are one of the borough's best features. "The property is spectacular - depending on your budget," he says.

Houses in Bromley sold on average for around £573,831 last year, according to Rightmove. However, many of the homes, especially near the high street, are on the market for well over a million pounds. Pete says: "It's a rich area. I don't own a house, I rent a flat, and even that's extortionate."

Big changes

There have been big changes in Bromley over the years as well. Geoff says he's seen 'massive changes' in the area since he first moved. The biggest change was building the Kentish Way road, which wraps around the back of the high street. Geoff says. "It did take a little while for people to get used to it, but then they realised that actually this was a good thing."

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