Hayes.

A short history

Hayes was first recorded in 1177; the name means a settlement in open land overgrown with shrubs. In the 18th century William Pitt the Elder lived at Hayes Place, and his son, William Pitt the Younger, was born there. Hayes Place was demolished in 1933 and the land redeveloped; Chatham Avenue and Pittsmead Avenue remember the family.

The railway arrived in 1882, and the station was rebuilt in 1935 for the growing number of commuters, with Station Approach becoming the main shopping parade.

The homes

Largely 1930s semi-detached and detached houses, with some older cottages in the village and larger homes near the common. Hayes suits families looking for space, good schools and countryside on the doorstep.

Getting about

Hayes is the terminus of the Hayes line, with trains to London Charing Cross. Starting at the end of the line usually means a seat in the morning. Off-peak there are four trains an hour, two of them running fast between Ladywell and London Bridge, and the quickest reach London Bridge in a little over half an hour. Since December 2022 every train goes to Charing Cross, not Cannon Street. The station car park has 117 spaces, and buses 119, 138, 246, 314 and 353 stop at Station Approach.

Schools and green space

Hayes School is a mixed secondary academy, and Hayes Primary School serves the village. Hayes Common, around 79 hectares of heath and woodland, borders the area to the east and south and protects it from further building. The Knoll, with its lakes and specimen trees, is another local favourite. Hayes School is rated Outstanding (2022), Hayes Primary School remains Good (2023), and Pickhurst Academy, just over the border in West Wickham, is rated Outstanding. Baston House on Baston Road is an independent special school. See how far away families got places on my school catchment map, and always check current admissions criteria with Bromley Council.

The numbers

• £647,426Average sold price, last 12 months
• £697,065Average semi-detached
• £532,700Average terraced
• £343,964Average flat
• £2,140.04Council tax, Band D, 2026/27 (Bromley)

HM Land Registry sold prices for the year to August 2026, via Rightmove (updated 22 October 2026). Prices were similar to the previous year and 4% below the 2023 peak. Council tax from Bromley Council's 2026/27 guide.

What's new in Hayes

• Southeastern plans a bigger Metro timetable change in December 2026. Details for the Hayes line are still to be confirmed.
• Hayes Common and Keston Common are a Site of Special Scientific Interest in part, and protect the village edge from building.
• Hayes Lane is home to Bromley FC and London City Lionesses, and Hayes Village Hall (1927) hosts amateur theatre.

If you're selling in Hayes

Buyers here compare carefully, and they know what nearby homes have sold for. A realistic price, good photographs and proper preparation (paperwork, certificates and a clear story about the home) make the difference between a quick sale and a stale one. If you're on one of these roads and want a clear, honest answer, book a free market appraisal, or see if we already have a buyer waiting.

Facts checked 28 October 2026. Sources: Rightmove sold prices, Ofsted: Hayes School, Southeastern: Hayes station, TfL: buses at Hayes, Bromley council tax guide.