What's Petts Wood actually like to live in? (St Johns Road area)
Hi all — my wife and I are looking at houses around St Johns Road and a couple of nearby streets in Petts Wood. We have two young children, so I'd love some honest local takes before we go further.
A few things on my mind:
- Commute: How reliable is Petts Wood station into town at peak times (London Bridge / Cannon St / Charing Cross)? Any regular cancellations or overcrowding issues I should know about?
- Day-to-day life: What's the area actually like to live in — shops, pubs, food options, community feel? I've heard "villagey but sleepy" — is the sleepy part a problem or a plus?
- GPs: How easy is it to get registered and actually seen? Any practices to aim for or avoid around there?
- Parks: What are the green spaces like for young kids — playgrounds, decent walks, or do you end up driving elsewhere?
- Crime: Any issues with car theft or break-ins around that part of Petts Wood?
- Safety at night: How safe does it feel walking around after dark — both the residential streets and the walk back from the station? Well-lit, or quite deserted?
- St Mary Cray proximity: The streets we're looking at (around St Johns Road, Towncourt Lane and nearby) aren't far from St Mary Cray — do the two areas feel quite separate, or does it spill over at all?
- Anything else a buyer should know — good or bad — before committing to the area?
Thanks in advance!