Editing Bromley

{{short description |Town of Greater London}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}

{{About|the town in south-east London|the town in east London|Bromley-by-Bow|the borough|London Borough of Bromley|other uses}}

{{Infobox UK place
| official_name            = Bromley
| country                  = England
| region                   = London
| london_borough           = Bromley
| static_image_name        = Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 4623007.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Bromley town high street 
| population          = 87,889
| population_ref   = <ref>Bromley is made up of 3 wards in the London Borough of Bromley: Bickley, Bromley Common and Keston, Bromley Town, Hayes and Coney Hall, Plaistow and Sundridge, and Shortlands. {{cite web|url= http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |title=2011 Census Ward Population Estimates &#124; London DataStore |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202755/http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |archive-date=22 February 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>
| os_grid_reference        = TQ405695
| post_town                = BROMLEY
| postcode_area            = BR
| postcode_district        = BR1, BR2
| dial_code                = 020
| constituency_westminster1 = 
[[Bromley and Biggin Hill (UK Parliament constituency)|Bromley and Biggin Hill]]
| charingX_distance_mi     = 9.3
| charingX_direction       = NW
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.4070|0.0210|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Bromley''' is a large town in [[Greater London]], England, within the [[London Borough of Bromley]]. It is {{convert|9+1/2|mi|km|abbr=off|0}} southeast of [[Charing Cross]], and had an estimated population of 88,000 as of 2023.<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web|url= http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |title=2011 Census Ward Population Estimates |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202755/http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |archive-date=22 February 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

Originally part of [[Kent]], Bromley became a [[market town]], chartered in 1158.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10103204 |title=Bromley CP/AP through time &#124; Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit |publisher=Visionofbritain.org.uk |access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref> Its location on a coaching route and the opening of a railway station in 1858 were key to its development and the shift from an agrarian village to an urban town. As part of the growth of London's conurbation in the 20th century, Bromley Town significantly increased in population and was [[Municipal Borough of Bromley|incorporated as a municipal borough]] in 1903 and became part of the [[London Borough of Bromley]] in 1965.<ref name=london_plan_amended/> Bromley today forms a major retail and commercial centre.<ref name="hidden-london.com">{{Cite web|url= https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/bromley/|title=Bromley|publisher= Hidden London}}</ref> It is identified in the [[London Plan]] as one of the 13 metropolitan centres of Greater London.<ref name="london_plan_amended">
{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/docs/londonplan08.pdf |author=Mayor of London |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |title=London Plan (Consolidated with Alterations since 2004) |date=February 2008 |access-date= 29 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100602000714/http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/docs/londonplan08.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2010 |df=dmy |author-link=Mayor of London }}</ref>

==History==
Bromley is first recorded in an [[Anglo-Saxon]] charter of 862 as ''Bromleag'' and means 'woodland clearing where [[Cytisus scoparius|broom]] grows'.<ref name="Willey">{{cite book |last1=Willey |first1=Russ |title=The London Gazzetteer |date=2006 |publisher=Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd |page=62}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bromley {{!}} Hidden London|url=https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/bromley/|access-date=2020-10-08|language=en-GB}}</ref> It shares this [[Old English]] etymology with [[Great Bromley]] in eastern Essex, but not with the [[Bromley-by-Bow|Bromley]] in the [[East End of London|East End]] of London.<ref>Mills, Anthony David (2001). ''Dictionary of London Place Names''. [[Oxford University Press]]. {{ISBN|0-19-280106-6}}</ref>

The history of Bromley is closely connected with the [[Episcopal see|See]] of Rochester. In AD 862 [[Ethelbert of Wessex|Ethelbert]], the King of Kent, granted land to form the Manor of Bromley. In 1185 [[Bromley Palace]] was built by [[Gilbert Glanvill]], [[Bishop of Rochester]].<ref name="Willey"/> Pilgrims came to the town to visit [[St. Blaise's Well]].<ref name="Willey"/> The Palace was held by the Bishops until 1845, when Coles Child, a wealthy local merchant and [[philanthropist]], purchased [[Bromley Palace]] and became lord of the manor. The town was an important coaching stop on the way to Hastings from London, and the now defunct Royal Bell Hotel (just off Market Square) is referred to in [[Jane Austen]]'s ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''. It was a quiet rural village until the arrival of the railway in 1858 in [[Shortlands]], which led to rapid growth, and outlying suburban districts such as [[Bickley]] (which later overflowed into [[Bromley Common]]) were developed to accommodate those wishing to live so conveniently close to [[London]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.britishlocalhistory.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=8770&ProductID=6225 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409001009/http://www.britishlocalhistory.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=8770&ProductID=6225 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2009-04-09 | title=Bromley | publisher=Mick Scott, Non such Publishing | year=2005 }}</ref><ref name="Willey"/>

Bromley, also known as ''Bromley St Peter and St Paul'', formed an ancient parish in the [[Bromley and Beckenham (hundred)|Bromley and Beckenham]] hundred and the [[Sutton-at-Hone]] lathe of Kent.<ref name=vision_parish>{{cite vob | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10103204 | name=Bromley parish | access-date=29 September 2009 }}</ref> In 1840 it became part of the expanded [[Metropolitan Police District]]. The parish adopted the [[Local Government Act 1858]] and a [[local board of health|local board]] was formed in 1867. The board was reconstituted as Bromley Urban District Council in 1894 and the parish became [[Municipal Borough of Bromley|Bromley Urban District]]. It formed part of the [[London Traffic Area]] from 1924 and the [[London Passenger Transport Board|London Passenger Transport Area]] from 1933.<ref name=robson_london>{{cite book |title=The Government and Mis-government of London |last=Robson |first=William |year=1939 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=London }}</ref> In 1934, as part of a [[Local Government Act 1929|county review order]], the borough was expanded by taking in {{convert|1894|acre|ha|abbr=off}} from the disbanded [[Bromley Rural District]]; an area including parts of the parishes of [[Farnborough, London|Farnborough]], [[Hayes, Bromley|Hayes]], [[Keston]] and [[West Wickham]]. Bromley became part of the newly created [[Greater London]] in 1965, in the new [[London Borough of Bromley]].

==Governance==
[[File:South Face of Bromley Palace (02).jpg|thumb|The Grade II listed [[Bromley Palace]]]]
Bromley forms part of the [[Bromley and Biggin Hill (UK Parliament constituency)|Bromley and Biggin Hill]] Parliament constituency. The current MP is [[Peter Fortune]]. [[Thomas Turrell]] is the [[London Assembly]] member for the [[Bexley and Bromley (London Assembly constituency)|Bexley and Bromley]] constituency, in which the town is located. This post was previously held by Fortune.

Bromley's most prominent MP was the former Conservative prime minister, [[Harold Macmillan]].

==Climate==
Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows.  The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is "[[Köppen climate classification#Group C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Cfb]]". (Marine West Coast Climate/[[Oceanic climate]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=591034&cityname=Bromley,+England,+United+Kingdom&units=|title=Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:High Street, Bromley, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 723428.jpg|thumb|High Street, Bromley]]
[[File:The Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley, Kent - geograph.org.uk - 669837.jpg|thumb|The Glades Shopping Centre opened in 1991<ref name="Willey"/>]]
Bromley is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the [[London Plan]].<ref name=london_plan_f08>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/docs/londonplan08.pdf |author=Mayor of London |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |title=London Plan (Consolidated with Alterations since 2004) |date=February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602000714/http://www.london.gov.uk/thelondonplan/docs/londonplan08.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2010 |df=dmy |author-link=Mayor of London }}</ref> Bromley had one of the highest gross disposable household incomes (GDHI) in the UK, at £27,169 in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/regionalaccounts/grossdisposablehouseholdincome/bulletins/regionalgrossdisposablehouseholdincomegdhi/1997to2016|title=Regional gross disposable household income, UK – Office for National Statistics|website=www.ons.gov.uk|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref>

Bromley was ranked fourth in Greater London by Retail Footprint in 2005, behind the [[West End of London|West End]], [[Croydon]] and [[Kingston upon Thames]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.caci.co.uk/msd.asp?url=lsp-retailfootprint.htm|publisher=CACI|title=Retail ranking by comparison expenditure|date=20 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020003313/http://www.caci.co.uk/msd.asp?url=lsp-retailfootprint.htm|archive-date=20 October 2007}}</ref> Bromley competes with both Croydon and the [[Bluewater (shopping centre)|Bluewater]] centre in [[Dartford]] as a shopping destination.<ref name="hidden-london.com"/>

=== Bromley High Street ===
The town has a large retail area, including a [[Pedestrian street|pedestrianised]] High Street and ''[[The Glades (Bromley)|The Glades]]'' centre, the main shopping mall, which has a catchment of 1.3 million people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lunson-mitchenall.co.uk/owners/intu-bromley-bromley/|title=The Glades, Bromley|website=Lunson Mitchenall|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref>  Development at the nearby St. Mark's Square has seen further restaurants and a cinema established.

Bromley High Street is also the location for the Bromley Charter Market, which runs on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. [[John, King of England|King John]] granted a charter for the Market to be held every Tuesday in 1205, with [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]] revising this charter to every Thursday in 1447.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bromley-borough-London|title=Bromley {{!}} borough, London, United Kingdom|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-03-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/200066/markets/259/bromley_charter_market/3|title=Bromley Charter Market|last=Admin|first=Bromley|website=www.bromley.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-03-19|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630024939/http://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/200066/markets/259/bromley_charter_market/3|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Market sells food and confectionery items, clothing and other goods like jewellery.

==Transport==
[[File:Southwest Face of Bromley North Railway Station (01).jpg|thumb|[[Bromley North railway station]], a Grade II listed structure]]
[[File:Bromley South stn building.JPG|thumb|right|Bromley South station.]]

===Rail===
Bromley is served by two main rail stations. [[Bromley South railway station|Bromley South]] provides [[National Rail]] services to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]] (non stop, semi fast via [[Denmark Hill railway station|Denmark Hill]] and stopping services via [[Herne Hill railway station|Herne Hill]]), [[Blackfriars railway station|London Blackfriars]] via [[Catford railway station|Catford]], [[Orpington railway station|Orpington]], [[Sevenoaks railway station|Sevenoaks]] via [[Swanley railway station|Swanley]], [[Ramsgate railway station|Ramsgate]] via [[Chatham railway station, Medway|Chatham]], [[Dover Priory railway station|Dover Priory]] via Chatham & [[Canterbury East railway station|Canterbury East]] and to [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford International]] via [[Maidstone East station|Maidstone East]]. 

[[Bromley North railway station|Bromley North]] provides shuttle services to [[Grove Park railway station|Grove Park]], where onward connections can be made for services to [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]] & [[Cannon Street railway station|London Cannon Street]] via [[Lewisham railway station|Lewisham]].

Finally, [[Shortlands railway station]] serves primarily residential areas immediately southwest of the town centre. Being one stop west of [[Bromley South railway station|Bromley South]], [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] and [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] services connect the station to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]] and [[Blackfriars railway station|London Blackfriars]].

===Buses===
Bromley is served by [[London Buses]] routes 61, 119, 126, 138, 146, 162, 208, 227, 246, 261, 269, 314, 320, 336, 352, 354, 358, 367, 638, N3, N199, SL3 and SL5. These connect it with areas including [[Beckenham]], [[Bexley]], [[Bexleyheath]], [[Biggin Hill]], [[Catford]], [[Chislehurst]], [[Croydon]], [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]], [[Downham, London|Downham]], [[Elmers End]], [[Eltham, London|Eltham]], [[Grove Park, Lewisham|Grove Park]], [[Hayes, Bromley|Hayes]], [[Lee Green]], [[Lewisham]], [[Locksbottom]], [[Mottingham]], [[New Addington]], [[Orpington]], [[Penge]], [[Petts Wood]], [[Sidcup]], [[West Wickham]] & [[Westerham]].

==Culture==
=== Festivals ===
Since May 1929, Bromley has had an annual festival of "dance, drama and comedy" in and around the town's venues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Festival History |url=http://www.bromleyfestival.org/festival%20history.html |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=www.bromleyfestival.org}}</ref> The [[South London Film Festival]] has been hosted annually in Bromley since 2022.

The large open spaces have lent themselves to outdoor concerts, festivals and outdoor screenings, as well in the venues such as Norman Park,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-10 |title=NOSTALGIA FEST |url=http://www.nostalgiafest.co.uk/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810183525/http://www.nostalgiafest.co.uk/ |archive-date=10 August 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Hayes Farm, Beckenham Place Park<ref>{{Cite web |title=Naked City Festival - Beckenham Place Park - Saturday 11th September 2021 |url=https://nakedcityfestival.com/ |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Naked City Festival - Beckenham Place Park - Saturday 11th September 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> and Croydon Road recreation ground.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Soultown Festival 2022 |url=http://www.soultownfestival.com/index.html |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=Soultown Festival 2022}}</ref>

===Theatres===
Bromley has a number of theatres in the borough, in the town centre there are three, a professional, the [[Churchill Theatre]], an amateur, the [[Bromley Little Theatre]] (close to Bromley North railway station) and an outdoor [[amphitheatre]] located in "Church House Gardens" behind the Churchill theatre.

The Churchill Theatre was opened on 19 July 1977 by the [[Charles III|Prince of Wales]], and seats 781.<ref>{{cite web|title=Churchill Theatre|url=http://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/2209-churchill|website=Theatres Trust|access-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> It is run on a contract currently held by HQ Theatres Ltd acting as both a receiving and [[producing house]], with productions transferring to the West End or touring nationally. An example being recent tours of ''Club Tropicana The Musical''.

=== Library ===
Bromley also has a central library in the same building as the Churchill Theatre with a large book stock, Internet and wifi access, reference library and local studies department. It functions as the central library of the broader [[Bromley Borough Libraries Service]].

=== Cinema ===
[[File:Bromley Picturehouse.jpg|thumb|upright|Bromley Picturehouse cinema]]
[[File:Southwest Face of the Star and Garter, Bromley (02).jpg|thumb|upright|The Star and Garter, a Grade II listed pub in Bromley]]
Bromley [[Picturehouse Cinemas|Picturehouse]] was opened in June 2019 in the previous Empire theatre. The cinema closed on 1 August 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://retailtechinnovationhub.com/home/2024/8/3/so-farewell-then-bromley-picturehouse-you-were-much-more-than-a-cinema-and-you-will-be-greatly-missed | title=So, farewell then Bromley Picturehouse. You were much more than a cinema and you will be missed }}</ref>

[[Vue Cinemas]] own a  nine-screen cinema, which is part of the Bromley South Central scheme at St Mark's Square, opened on 28 November 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ballinger|first=Chris|date=2018-12-03|title=First looks pictures inside new Vue cinema in Bromley|url=https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/first-pictures-inside-new-vue-2287697|access-date=2020-06-21|website=croydonadvertiser}}</ref>

=== Dance ===

Bromley has its own team of [[Morris dance]]rs, ''The Ravensbourne Morris Men'', founded in 1947 as a post-war revival team following an inaugural meeting at the then ''Jean's Café'', which was located opposite Bromley South Station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ravensbourne.org/about.htm |title=Ravensbourne Morris – Home side of the World Morris Dancing Record Holder Ben Dauncey |publisher=Ravensbourne.org |access-date=19 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122091323/http://www.ravensbourne.org/about.htm |archive-date=22 January 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== Civic Society ===

Bromley Civic Society is a [[civic society]] for the historic centre of Bromley.<ref>[https://www.londonforum.org.uk/newsforum/newsforum80.pdf Spotlight On Bromley Civic Society, Page 10, NewsForum Issue 80 Winter 2018]</ref> It is a founder member of [[Civic Voice]]. It seeks to educate the public about the community's history and to preserve historical sites.

===Popular culture===
[[File:Church of Saint John the Evangelist, Bromley (01).jpg|thumb|right|The Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Bromley, built in 1880 and now Grade II listed]]
In the famous [[Spam (Monty Python)|Monty Python "Spam" sketch]] Bromley was stated to be the location of the fictional Green Midget Café, where every item on the menu was composed of [[Spam (food)|spam]] in varying degrees.<ref name="Willey"/> In another ''Monty Python'' sketch, it was stated that all seven continents are visible from the top of the Kentish Times building in Bromley.

The [[Bromley Contingent]] was the name given to the entourage that followed the [[Sex Pistols]] and helped popularise the punk movement. It was so called because many of its members were from Bromley, some of whom later became famous as musicians in their own right, like [[Siouxsie Sioux]] and [[Billy Idol]].<ref name="Willey"/>

The 2018 humorous film, ''[[The Bromley Boys]]'' is set in Bromley and surroundings in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Based on a real-life memoir by Dave Roberts about following [[Bromley F.C.]], it includes many scenes filmed locally, although [[Crockenhill F.C.]] was used as a substitute for the Hayes Lane stadium.<ref name="bbpresskit">[http://www.thebromleyboys.com/pdf/The-Bromley-Boys-Press-Kit.pdf Bromley Boys Press Kit] Accessed 28 January 2020</ref>

Guitarist Billy Jenkins, born in Bromley, released an album titled "Sounds like Bromley" in 1982 and another in 1997 titled "Still Sounds Like Bromley". In a BBC Radio 3 interview he said that "if Kent is the Garden of England then Bromley is one of the compost heaps". He then moved to Lewisham.

===Media===
Local news is provided by the ''[[Bromley Times]]''.

==Sport and leisure==
===Football===
The town has three [[Non-League football]] clubs, and one [[EFL League Two|League Two]] club. [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley F.C]]. play their home games at the [[Hayes Lane]] Stadium; as did [[Cray Wanderers F.C.]] from 1998 until 2024. The latter club is claimed to be the oldest football club in what is today Greater London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cray-wanderers.com/history/ |website=cray-wanderers.com |title=The CWFC History |publisher=Cray Wanderers F.C. |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref> The other teams, [[Holmesdale F.C.]] and [[Greenwich Borough F.C.]], play at Oakley Road. Bromley F.C. are the only professional team in Bromley and play in League Two after being promoted from the [[National League (division)|National League]] in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bromleyfc.co.uk/the-club/club-history/ |website=bromleyfc.co.uk |title=Bromley F.C. History |publisher=Bromley F.C. |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref>

===Rugby===
Five [[rugby union|rugby]] clubs in Bromley are, [[Old Elthamians|Old Elthamians RFC]] (a National League 2 side),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldelthamians/ |website=pitchero.com |title=Old Elthamians RFC |publisher=Old Elthamians RFC |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref> Park House FC (established in 1883),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parkhouserugby.co.uk/about |website=parkhouserugby.co.uk |title=Park House FC History |publisher=Park House FC |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref> Bromley RFC (founded in 1886),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bromleyrfc.org/brfc-history/ |website=bromleyrfc.org |title=Bromley RFC |publisher=Bromley RFC |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref> [[Beckenham RFC]] (established in 1894),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.beckenhamrfc.com/ |website=beckenhamrfc.com |title=Beckenham RFC |publisher=Beckenham RFC |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref> and Beccehamians RFC (founded in 1933) which plays competitive rugby at Sparrows Den at the bottom of Corkscrew Hill in nearby West Wickham.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/beccehamianrfc/ |title=Beccehamian RFC Homepage |website=pitchero.com |publisher=Beccehamians RFC |accessdate=10 February 2024 }}</ref>

===Cricket===
[[Bromley Cricket Club]] was founded in 1820,<ref name="BCC">{{cite web |title=Bromley Cricket Club - About Us |url=https://bromley.play-cricket.com/Aboutus |website=bromley.play-cricket.com |publisher=Bromley CC |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> but evidence of cricket being played in Bromley dates to 1735.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bromley Cricket |url=https://bromleysportsclub.co.uk/cricket/ |website=bromleysportsclub.co.uk |publisher=Bromley Sports Club |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> Bromley CC has a significant success record, with 9 [[Kent Cricket League]] championship titles to their name.<ref name="KCL">{{cite web |title=Kent Cricket League |url=https://kcl.play-cricket.com/home |website=kcl.play-cricket.com |publisher=KCL |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> Bromley field four senior teams. Three compete in the [[Kent Cricket League]] (a designated [[ECB Premier League]]<ref name="KCL" />) and one plays in the British Tamil Cricket League.<ref>{{cite web |title=British Tamil Cricket League |url=https://btcl.play-cricket.com/home |website=btcl.play-cricket.com |publisher=BTCL |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref> They also have an established junior training section that play competitive cricket in the North Kent Junior League.<ref>{{cite web |title=North Kent Junior League |url=https://nkentjunior.play-cricket.com/home |website=nkentjunior.play-cricket.com |publisher=NKJL |access-date=10 February 2024}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Bromley War Memorial (Southwest View - 02).jpg|thumb|right|The Grade II listed war memorial in Bromley]]
{{See also|List of schools in Bromley}}
Bromley has numerous schools, and is home to [[Bromley College of Further & Higher Education]].
There are two specialist Media Arts Schools, [[Hayes School]] and The [[Ravensbourne School (Bromley)|Ravensbourne School]]. [[Bishop Justus Church of England School|Bishop Justus School]] is a specialist Music College. It also has the Ravens Wood and [[Darrick Wood School]]s. There are many independent schools within the London Borough of Bromley, including Eltham College (in the nearby area of Mottingham – within the borough of Bromley and near the London Borough of Lewisham) and Bromley High (situated in the nearby area of Bickley - also within the borough of Bromley).

==Demography==
Bromley town as a whole, including the surrounding area, its neighbourhoods and villages, is formed of six wards for the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]]:
* [[Bickley]] and [[Sundridge, London|Sundridge]] (17,766)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E09000006,E92000001|title= Bickley & Sundridge Ward, Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>
* [[Bromley Common]] and Holwood (18,781)
* Bromley Town (15,396)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E09000006,E92000001|title= Bromley Town Ward (as of 2022), Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>
* [[Hayes, Bromley|Hayes]] and [[Coney Hall]] (15,908)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.censusdata.uk/e05013998-hayes--coney-hall/ts015-year-of-arrival-in-uk |title= Hayes & Coney Hall Ward (as of 2022), Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>
* [[Plaistow, Bromley|Plaistow]] (13,478)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E09000006,E92000001|title= Plaistow Ward, Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>
* [[Shortlands]] and [[Park Langley]] (16,207)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E09000006,E92000001|title= Bromley Town Ward (as of 2022), Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>

The 2021 U.K. census reported the entire borough of Bromley overall had a population 329,991.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E09000006,E92000001|title= Bromley Town Ward (as of 2022), Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>

===Life expectancy===
The life expectancy in Bromley Town ward (which covers the town centre) was 79.3 years for males and 83.7 years for females, during 2009–2013. The highest in the town were in Shortlands: 86.1 years for males and 88.1 years for females. The lowest for both genders was in Plaistow and Sundridge: 77.5 and 82.1 years respectively.<ref name="data.london.gov.uk">{{Cite web|url=https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/ward-profiles-and-atlas|title=Ward Profiles and Atlas – London Datastore}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
{| class="wikitable float right" style="font-size:97%;"
|-
! colspan="5"|Bromley Town (ward only) 2021<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/customprofiles/build/ |title= Build a custom area profile Bromley Town | website=Office of National Statistics |date=2021|accessdate=15 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021/report?compare=E09000006,E92000001|title= Bromley Town Ward (as of 2022), Bromley Local Authority and England Country|website=nomisweb|date=2021|accessdate=8 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
! Ethnic group
! %
! Population
|-
| All usual residents ||100.0|| 15,396	 
|-
| [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]||70.1|| 10,802	
|-
| [[British Asian|Asian]]||12.8|| 1,969	
|-
| [[Black British|Black]] ||7.4||1,137	
|-
| Mixed, Multiple ||6.7|| 1,031	
|-
| Other ethnic group||3.0|| 457
|}

In Bromley Town, 18.5% of the population was of minority ethnicity. The highest in the town was 19.3% in Plaistow and Sundridge, and the lowest was 8.3% in Hayes and Coney Hall.<ref name="data.london.gov.uk"/>

===House prices===
The median house price in Bromley Town ward was £327,000 in 2014, compared to £295,444 in Plaistow and Sundridge, and £480,000 in Bickley. 37% of houses in Bickley were detached, more than other wards. In all wards, over 60% of houses were owned by households, peaking at 88.2% in Hayes and Coney Hall.<ref name="data.london.gov.uk"/> In 2020, the average cost of a house was £519,619.<ref>{{Cite web|title=House Prices in Bromley|url=https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/bromley.html|access-date=2021-02-10|website=www.rightmove.co.uk}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[File:St Peter and St Paul, Church Road, Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 1766695.jpg|thumb|250px|[[St Peter and St Paul, Bromley|St Peter and St Paul]]]]
The parish church of [[St Peter and St Paul, Bromley|St Peter and St Paul]] stands on Church Road. It was largely destroyed by German bombing on 16 April 1941 and rebuilt in the 1950s incorporating the medieval tower and reusing much of the flint and fragments of the original stone building.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bromleyparishchurch.org/history.php| title=St Peter and St Paul website| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205121230/http://bromleyparishchurch.org/history.php| archive-date=5 February 2009| df=dmy-all}}</ref> The most noteworthy historic building is [[Bromley & Sheppard’s Colleges|Bromley College]], London Road. The central public open spaces are; Queen's Gardens, Martin's Hill, Church House Gardens, Library Gardens and College Green.

[[File:St Mark, Westmoreland Road, Bromley - geograph.org.uk - 1766670.jpg|thumb|[[St Mark's Church, Bromley|St Mark's Church]] on Westmoreland Road]]
Another parish church in Bromley is [[St Mark's Church, Bromley|St Mark's]], which stands on Westmoreland Road. The present church is the third. The first was built as a temporary iron church in 1884 to cope with Bromley's growing population, on land slightly to the east of the present church, donated by a local man Eley Soames. The road name St Mark's Road preserves the rough location of the former site.<ref name="mark">{{cite web|url=http://www.stmarksbromley.co.uk/St%20Mark's%20History.pdf|title=St Mark's History|author=Robin Waldron|publisher=St Mark's Church Bromley|edition=2011|access-date=6 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713072109/http://stmarksbromley.co.uk/St%20Mark's%20History.pdf|archive-date=13 July 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The second church was built in brick and stone on the present site, and designed by [[Evelyn Hellicar]], son of the then vicar of St Peter and St Paul's. It was completed in 1898 in the [[Gothic Revival|Perpendicular Gothic]] style and consecrated by [[William Walsh (bishop of Dover)|William Walsh]], Bishop of Dover, on 22 October that year. The tower, though, was not completed until 1904. Like St Peter and St Paul's, St Mark's was heavily damaged in the [[The Blitz|London Blitz]] of 1941. Only the tower survived intact.<ref name="mark"/>

On 3 June 1952, the [[Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark|Duchess of Kent]] laid the foundation stone of the present church, which was designed by T W G Grant and built by [[David Evelyn Nye|David Nye]]. Besides the tower, other parts of the fabric of the original church were used in the rebuilding. Inside there are various monuments: to [[Samuel Ajayi Crowther]], [[John Patteson (bishop)|John Cole Patteson]] and [[Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah]], who were all bishops in the Commonwealth.<ref name="mark"/>

The [[East Street drill hall, Bromley|East Street drill hall]] was completed in 1872.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Kent/TownBromley.htm|title=Bromley|work=drillhalls.org|access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref>

==Notable residents==

=== [[H. G. Wells]] ===
Author [[H. G. Wells]] was born in Bromley on 21 September 1866, to Sarah and Joseph Wells; his father was the founder of the Bromley Cricket Club and the proprietor of a shop that sold [[cricket]] equipment.<ref>David C. Smith, ''H. G. Wells: Desperately Mortal: A Biography'' (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 4.</ref> Wells spent the first 13 years of his life in Bromley. From 1874 to 1879 he attended Tomas Morley's Bromley Academy, at 74 High Street.<ref>David C. Smith, ''H. G. Wells: Desperately Mortal: A Biography'' (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 6.</ref> There was a 'H. G. Wells Centre' in Masons Hill near the southern end of the High Street which housed the Bromley Labour Club (the building was demolished in 2017).{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} In August 2005, the wall honouring Wells in Market Square was repainted; the current wall painting features a rich green background with the same Wells reference and the evolutionary sequence of ''Homo sapiens'' featured in ''[[Origin of Species]]'' by [[Charles Darwin]], a former resident of nearby [[Downe]] Village.<ref>{{cite book|url= http://www.bromley.gov.uk/news/newsarchive2005/oct2005/Darwin+comes+to+Market+Square.htm|title= Darwin|publisher= www.bromley.gov.uk|access-date= 3 February 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090108133645/http://www.bromley.gov.uk/news/newsarchive2005/oct2005/Darwin+comes+to+Market+Square.htm|archive-date= 8 January 2009|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

Wells wrote about Bromley in an early unsigned article in the ''[[Pall Mall Gazette]]'' in which he expressed satisfaction that he had been born in an earlier, more rural Bromley.<ref>David C. Smith, ''H. G. Wells: Desperately Mortal: A Biography'' (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986), p. 5.</ref>  A [[blue plaque]] marks Wells' birthplace in Market Square, on the wall of what is now a [[Primark]] store.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://colemanzone.com/Time_Machine_Project/bromley.htm|title=The Time Machine Project-Bromley, Kent|website=colemanzone.com}}</ref> A marble plaque appears above the door of 8 South Street, the location of Mrs Knott's [[Dame school]] where "Bertie", as he was called as a child, learned to read and write.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMP6NR_H_G_Wells_South_Street_Bromley_London_UK|title=H G Wells - South Street, Bromley, London, UK - Blue Plaques on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref> H. G. Wells featured Bromley in two of his novels: ''[[The War in the Air]]'' (which refers to Bromley as Bunhill) and ''[[The New Machiavelli]]'' (in which Bromley is referred to as Bromstead).

However, H. G. Wells refused the offered freedom of the town, stating:

"Bromley has not been particularly gracious to me nor I to Bromley and I don't think I want to add the freedom of Bromley to the freedom of the City of London and the freedom of the City of Brussels – both of which I have."

He described Bromley in one of his novels as a "morbid sprawl of population".<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/war-of-the-words-how-h-g-wells-snubbed-bromley-2171116.html | title=War of the words: How H G Wells snubbed Bromley| website=[[Independent.co.uk]]| date=29 December 2010}}</ref>

===Other residents===
{{more citations needed section|date=December 2023}}
[[Owen Chadwick]] was born in Bromley in 1916. He was awarded the [[Order of Merit]], was Vice Chancellor of University of Cambridge, Master of Selwyn Cambridge, Regius Professor of Modern History, Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Chancellor of University of Anglia, President of the [[British Academy]], and was a Rugby Union International.

Other writers from Bromley include Captain [[W.E. Johns]] (author of the Biggles adventures), [[David Nobbs]] (author of ''[[The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin]]'' and writer for [[Les Dawson]] and ''[[The Two Ronnies]]''), and [[Enid Blyton]] who wrote children's fiction. A blue historical plaque can be found on the external wall of her former home on Shortlands Road, Bromley.

Other notable people who lived in Bromley include [[David Bowie]]; [[Raymond Raikes]], [[Talbot Rothwell]], screenwriter of twenty ''[[Carry On (franchise)|Carry On]]'' films; actress [[Justine Lord]]; [[Peter Howitt]]; [[Richmal Crompton]]; [[Pixie Lott]]; [[Matt Terry]]; [[Christopher Tennant]];  [[Hanif Kureishi]]; [[Peter Frampton]]; [[Aleister Crowley]]; [[Fatboy Slim]]; [[Jack Dee]]; [[Tom Allen (comedian)|Tom Allen]]; [[D. Bernard Amos]]; [[Rob Beckett]]; [[Alexander Molony]];<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/23399580.bromley-boy-starring-peter-pan-disneys-live-action-remake/ | title= The Bromley boy starring as Peter Pan in Disney's live action remake | date= 25 March 2023 | work=NewsShopper }}</ref> [[Gary Rhodes]]; [[Pete Sears]]; singer [[Poly Styrene]]; [[Billy Idol]]; [[Brian Poole]] (of [[The Tremoloes]]); [[Billy Jenkins (musician)|Billy Jenkins]]; [[Alex Clare]]; cricketer [[Jill Cruwys]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/53754.html | title=Jill Cruwys | work=Cricinfo }}</ref> the anarchist [[Peter Kropotkin]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/5032/prince_pyotr_peter_alekseyevich_kropotkin_1842-1921|title=Peter Kropotkin|publisher=Bromley Council|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112113608/http://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/5032/prince_pyotr_peter_alekseyevich_kropotkin_1842-1921|archive-date=12 November 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the former Clash drummer [[Topper Headon]]; illustrator [[Charles Keeping]], children's writer [[Andrew Murray (children's writer)|Andrew Murray]]; tenor [[Roland Cunningham]]; actor [[Michael York (actor)|Michael York]], who attended Bromley Grammar School for Boys;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwwk.co.uk/people/actors/profiles/xyz/york-michael.htm|title=Michael York|work=When We Were Kids|access-date=8 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409085916/http://www.wwwk.co.uk/people/actors/profiles/xyz/york-michael.htm|archive-date=9 April 2009|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and clarinetist [[Chris Craker]]. The musical conducting brothers [[Stephen Cleobury|Stephen]] and [[Nicholas Cleobury]] were born in Bromley. Actor [[Jerome Flynn]], who starred in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' as [[Bronn (character)|Bronn]], was born in Bromley. Gus Lobban and Jamie Bulled of the band [[Kero Kero Bonito]] grew up in Bromley.

[[Deborah Linsley]], the victim of one of Britain's most high-profile unsolved murders in 1988, grew up in Bromley.

[[Richard Reid]], also known as the "Shoe Bomber", was born and lived in Bromley. He was convicted of the [[2001 shoe bomb attempt]].

In the 20th century, the Parish Church of [[St Peter]] and [[St Paul]] produced, in quick succession, three [[Church of England]] Bishops: [[Henry David Halsey]] – [[Bishop of Carlisle]], [[Philip Goodrich]] – [[Bishop of Worcester]], [[David Bartleet]] – [[Bishop of Tonbridge]]. Sculptor Nicholas Cornwell and [[Maisy James]] the Big Brother 12 housemate.  Sometime before 1881 the engineer and industrialist [[Aveling and Porter#Richard Thomas Porter|Richard Porter]] moved to Beckenham where he remained until his death in 1913. [[Hanif Kureishi]], the writer and filmmaker was born here, and spent a significant part of his youth, here.<ref name="Willey"/> His first novel ''[[The Buddha of Suburbia (novel)|The Buddha of Suburbia]]'' was loosely based on his life here and the people he lived and met here.<ref name="Willey"/>

Comedian [[Frankie Boyle]] claims to be a former resident and has described Bromley as a 'lobotomy made out of bricks'.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/frankie-boyle-bromley-is-like-lobotomy-made-out-of-bricks-8543482.html|  title=Frankie Boyle | work=The Evening Standard | location=London | date=21 March 2012}}</ref> The comedian [[Chris Addison]]<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/26/middle-class-stress-chris-addison|  title=Chris Addison | work=The Guardian | location=London | date=26 April 2010}}</ref> currently lives in Bromley, as does tennis player [[Emma Raducanu]].

Scottish education secretary [[Michael Russell MSP]] was born and spent the early years of his life in Bromley.

==See also==
* [[Bromley Civic Society]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Citation |publisher = John Murray |location = London |title = Handbook to the Environs of London |author = James Thorne |date = 1876 |chapter= Bromley |hdl = 2027/mdp.39015063815669?urlappend=%3Bseq=72 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Bromley (town)}}

{{Geographic location
|title = Neighbouring areas of Bromley
|Centre = Bromley
|North = [[Downham, London|Downham]]
|Northeast = [[Sundridge, London|Sundridge]]
|East = [[Bickley]]
|Southeast = [[Bromley Common]]
|South = [[Hayes, Bromley|Hayes]]
|Southwest = [[Park Langley]]
|West = [[Shortlands]]
|Northwest = Shortlands
}}
{{LB Bromley}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Market towns in London]]
[[Category:Metropolitan centres of London]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Bromley]]