I'm at the Penge end of Beckenham which is more London/less Tory. Crystal Palace 5mins up the road with a few decent places to eat/drink, also a short hop (15mins again) to Herne Hill/Brixton for some decent food and drink.
Once you get the other side of Palace, rent/buying wise gets very spendy.
Yep, have been in Beckenham for the past ten years.
As @Currid says, lots of good cycling opportunities with HHV and Palace, plus you’re in the lanes in 15 mins.
Public transport is great, with lines into Victoria and London Bridge/Charing Cross plus trams to Croydon and the Overground at Penge.
It is very family oriented I think, lots of young families around with all that entails. Is not everyone’s cup of tea.