Nestled in South East London is a popular spot for families and commuters, find out why in our Penge Area Guide.
About Penge
So then, welcome to Penge, a vibrant and often underrated corner of South London. This area might not be on every tourist’s radar, but it’s got its own unique charm and a sense of community that’s hard to beat.
Part of the reason why I think this area is underrated is its name. This could just be me but it’s one of those words which just doesn’t sound appealing.
A bit like Grimsby or Bognor.
I just can’t imagine many people flogging to brag about moving to Penge which is a shame.
So, let me perhaps change your mind by explaining all about the area.
Penge Area Guide – Transport Links
The area undoubtedly has a good transport network, with both rail and bus services available.
There are two railway stations in Penge: Penge East and Penge West, both are in Zone 4.
Penge East is on the Southeastern Railway line to London Bridge, while Penge West is on the London Overground line to Shoreditch High Street.
Penge has good transport links
Like Sydenham there is a bit of an absence of tube station is noteworthy but the support of two stations makes up for that shortfall.
Penge East will get you into London Victoria in 19 minutes and costs £6.40 off peak.
There are also a number of bus routes that serve Penge, including the 176, 354, and 63.
These buses connect Penge to a variety of nearby towns and cities, including Bromley, Croydon, and Lewisham.
Crime – Is Penge A Safe Area?
In terms of an overall crime rate, the rate per 1,000 residents in Penge is 125.1.
This is above the London average of 95 crimes per 1,000 residents and also above neighbouring Sydenham’s rate of 116.
The most common offences according to the Met Police are Violence and Anti Social Behaviour.
If that all sounds pretty bleak I can provide you with a little bit of reassurance. Crime has been steadily falling this year, dropping month on month for the last 6.
Now as promising as that is it’s not over a long enough period to read too much into things but it’s a start.
What are the demographics in Penge?
I don’t think there are any areas of London which aren’t diverse to a degree but Penge is on the less diverse end of the scale.
According to the 2021 Census the ethnic breakdown is as follows;
White: 76.5%
Black: 6.6%
Asian: 9.6%
Mixed: 4.5%
Other: 2.8%
In terms of religion that is broken down as follows;
Christian: 44.3%
Muslim: 10.4%
No religion: 39.3%
Other: 6%
That no religion stat of nearly 40% is what jumps out here in that is relatively high.
It must be said however that after walking around Penge there are still plenty of places of worship available.
The average weekly earning in Penge is £600, that is noticeably less than the London average of £1000.
In Penge the percentage of households earning less than £30,000 per year is 23.1% which is quite high.
Penge Area Guide – House Prices
In terms of house prices, properties in Penge had an overall average price of £467,586 over the last year.
That is lower than the London average and also much lower than Sydenham which has an average over £520,000.
Flats last year sold for an average of £355,065. Terraced properties sold for an average of £582,769.
Interestingly in contrast to affluent areas such as South Kensington, sold prices in Penge over the last year were 5% up on the previous year.
This goes to show that a lot of people are still banking on Penge as a good investment.
Verdict – Is Penge A Nice Area To Live?
As I mentioned at the start of this area guide I do think that as an area it is somewhat underrated.
Lets take for example the fact that you can pick up a family home for around £450,000 and be just 19 minutes from London Victoria.
The fact that the area has Penge East and Penge West stations on different lines is extremely convenient. It’s not like they are miles apart either, being just 500m (according to a sign) or a 7 minute walk.
If you lived between the two you are spoilt for choice in terms of getting into central London and can get into Kent easily also.
Crime rates are higher than the average for London but having spent a few days in Penge it never felt dodgy.
I never for example felt like I needed to look over my shoulder or take my watch off.
It just feels like suburban London.
Something which was noticeable was the width of the streets. I know that sounds odd but driving through London with on street parking can be painfull if the roads are narrow.
In Penge I found that two cars can pass by each other comfortably even if there were vehicles parked either side.
Ultimately, whether or not Penge is a good place to live depends on your individual circumstances and preferences.
If you are looking for an interesting and affordable place to live with good transport links to London, then Penge may be a good option for you.
