West Wickham

Description:

West Wickham is a town which grew predominately in the 1930's, the majority of the housing is detached and semi detached and therefore the town is a haven for young families, young professional and the retired. It is a town well served by local shops restaurants and pubs.

It is surrounded by Beckenham, Hayes and has a border with the London Borough of Croydon. The south of the town is very much Kent countryside and is part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.

In past times, West Wickham was a major shopping centre, but it has long been overtaken by huge developments at Bromley and Croydon. West Wickham still has a High Street which has major chain stores mixed in with a high percentage of independent retailers.

 

There are a wide range of restaurants and pubs in West Wickham with plenty of variation in cuisines covered, including Indian and Italian restaurants. West Wickham's most famous pubs, The Railway Hotel near the station; and The Swan in the High Street both serve food as well.

 

West Wickham swimming pool offers excellent leisure facilities which include a pool and a fully equipped gym as well as fitness classes. The building also houses an old curiosity of West Wickham, a plaque containing the original bark of the Stock Tree. A famous tree in West Wickham so called because it was located behind the stocks.

 

West Wickham is also the home to a significant local rugby team, Beccehamians RFC, which plays in Kent's Men's Premier League.

West Wickham is a popular town amongst commuters due to its middle of town station supplying regular services to London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross. Local buses also provide links to nearby Bromley and Croydon and also the large retail and leisure outlets at Purley Way.

 

West Wickham has plenty of open spaces, including West Wickham Common, which can boast a Green Flag - this is an annual prize presented to the best parks and outdoor spaces in England and Wales. Other areas include Blake Recreation Ground, a partly wooded area of over ten hectares which also has interesting horticultural features. Nearer to Hayes you can find the large Pickhurst Green, which boasts everything from wild wooded areas with a pond to recreation spaces.

The Prime Meridien line passes through West Wickham.