Written by the Sydenham Mini Cabs team. Last updated .
Penge High Street and Maple Road by cab
Penge High Street is the spine of SE20. It is part of the A234 and runs from the Pawleyne Arms junction down to the railway bridges. There are supermarkets, banks, a post office, chemists and plenty of places to eat.
It is a busy road with bus lanes and limited stopping. If you want collecting from the High Street, the driver will usually pull into a side road. Maple Road, Green Lane and Croydon Road are the common ones. Tell us which shop you are near, and we will say where the car can stop.
Maple Road has its own character, with a street market and independent shops. It is narrower and often lined with stalls, so pickups work better at the Croydon Road end.
Three stations, three different lines
Penge is well served by rail, though the stations are scattered and none is central.
Penge West
Penge West is on Anerley Park, at the top of the High Street. Overground and Southern trains run north through Sydenham and Forest Hill. The entrance is small and set back, so drivers wait on the road outside.
Penge East
Penge East is on Station Road, off the lower High Street. Trains go to Victoria in one direction and towards Bromley South and Kent in the other. There is a footbridge with steps, which is awkward with a pushchair or cases.
Kent House
Kent House is on Barnmead Road, on the border with Beckenham. It is quiet, residential and a fair walk from the shops.
Tell us which station you are arriving at. They are far enough apart that going to the wrong one costs ten minutes.
Everyday journeys our Penge customers book
Most trips in SE20 are short and practical.
- Home from the supermarkets on the High Street with the weekly shop
- To doctors' surgeries and the clinics around Oakfield Road
- To the leisure centre and pool in Crystal Palace Park
- To Bell Green Retail Park in Lower Sydenham
- To friends and family in Anerley, Beckenham and Sydenham
For regular appointments, we can set up a repeating booking. One call and the car comes each week.
Parks and green space
Penge has more green space than people expect. Alexandra Recreation Ground, Penge Recreation Ground, Royston Field and Betts Park are all within the postcode. The Thicket Road gate into Crystal Palace Park is at the top of the High Street and leads straight to the dinosaurs.
Dog owners heading further, to Beckenham Place Park or South Norwood Country Park, often want a lift there and a lift back with a muddy dog. Our pet friendly taxi page explains how to book a driver who welcomes animals.
Getting to hospital from Penge
Penge sits in the borough of Bromley, so residents are often referred to the Princess Royal University Hospital at Farnborough. That is a long way by bus. Others attend Beckenham Beacon on Croydon Road, King's College Hospital or Lewisham.
Typical drive times from Penge High Street
| Destination | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Beckenham Beacon | 6 to 10 minutes |
| University Hospital Lewisham | 20 to 30 minutes |
| King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Princess Royal University Hospital | 25 to 35 minutes |
| Croydon University Hospital | 20 to 30 minutes |
These are typical times outside the rush hour. Tell us the clinic or ward and we will stop at the nearest entrance. If walking is difficult, the driver will give you all the time you need.
Roads our drivers know in SE20
Local detail matters in Penge. The low railway bridges on the High Street and at Penge East slow traffic to a crawl at busy times. Croydon Road queues at the Elmers End end. Parish Lane and Kent House Road are the calmer routes across to Beckenham and Sydenham.
Many residential streets, such as those around Maple Road and the Groves, are narrow with parking on both sides. Our drivers use them daily and know where a car can wait without blocking the road.
The Watermen's Square almshouses, the old police station and St John's Church are landmarks everyone recognises. Mention one if your address is hard to spot.
Older residents and accessible travel
Penge has a long history of housing for older people, from the Watermen's almshouses to the sheltered schemes around the High Street. Many of our regular customers here are in their seventies and eighties.
Drivers are used to taking their time. They will come to the door, help with a frame or a trolley and see you safely inside at the other end. If you book for a parent or neighbour, give us their phone number as well as yours. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available on request.
Evenings out and getting home
Penge has a growing number of pubs and restaurants along the High Street and Maple Road, and Crystal Palace Triangle is five minutes up the hill. Beckenham High Street is ten minutes the other way.
Trains thin out late in the evening. A booked car is the reliable way home. Private hire cannot be flagged down in the street, so call 020 8778 8888 before you leave or earlier in the evening to reserve a time.
Out with a crowd? One 7 seater taxi costs less than two cars and keeps the group together.
School and nursery runs
There are primary schools on Oakfield Road, Tremaine Road and Royston Road, and families also travel to secondaries in Beckenham, Anerley and Sydenham. Traffic on the High Street is heaviest between 8.15am and 9am.
If you need a car at the same time every school day, our school run taxi page explains how a standing booking works.
Longer trips from Penge
Penge is well placed for journeys south. The road through Elmers End leads directly towards Croydon and the A23, which is why our minicab from Sydenham to Gatwick Airport route often passes right through SE20. If you live here, you are a few minutes closer than our Sydenham customers.
For international departures from the west, see the Sydenham to Heathrow Airport taxi page.
For rail, Penge East has trains to Victoria. With luggage, a car to the terminal is easier, and our Sydenham to Victoria Station taxi page has the details. For trains to Kent and Thameslink services, see the Sydenham to London Bridge Station taxi page.
Vehicles available in Penge
Saloon cars take up to four passengers. Estates add boot room for pushchairs and cases. MPVs seat six or seven. For the largest groups we have an 8 seater minibus.
Ask for a child seat when you book if you need one. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available on request.
Nearby areas
Penge runs straight into its neighbours. South along Croydon Road is Anerley, covered on our Anerley taxi page. East is Beckenham, on the Beckenham taxi page. Up the hill is Crystal Palace, on the Crystal Palace taxi page.
The full list is on our areas we cover page.
How to book a Penge minicab
Call 020 8778 8888 any time of day or night. You can also use the online form at the top of this page. Give us the pickup point, the destination and the time, and we will tell you the fare.
You can pay by card or cash.
Penge taxi questions
How far is your office from Penge?
Our office is on Sydenham Road in Lower Sydenham, about five minutes from Penge High Street by car.
Which Penge station do you collect from?
All of them. Penge West, Penge East and Kent House are in different places, so tell us which one when you book.
Can the driver stop on Penge High Street?
Stopping is restricted on parts of the High Street. Drivers usually collect from a side road close by, and they will tell you where when they call.
Can you take me to the Princess Royal University Hospital?
Yes. It typically takes 25 to 35 minutes from Penge. Tell us the department so we can drop you at the right entrance.
Is the fare fixed before I travel?
Yes. We give you a price when you book.
Do you run late at night in Penge?
Yes. The office is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Can I book a taxi with a child seat?
Child seats are available on request. Tell us your child's age when you book so the correct seat is fitted.