How do students get from Bromley into central London?

Bromley South, Orpington, Beckenham and other stations have frequent trains into the centre, and some areas are also served by Overground and tram links.

Does it cost anything for Bromley families to register?

No. Registration on HostFamily.uk is free, with no subscription or placement fees.

Which parts of Bromley work best for hosting?

Homes within walking distance of a station or a good bus route are easiest for students. That covers much of Beckenham, Bromley, Orpington, Petts Wood and Chislehurst.

What do students enjoy about staying in Bromley?

Parks and open spaces, Crystal Palace Park's famous dinosaur sculptures, local high streets and easy trips into central London.

Become a Host Family in Bromley

Why Bromley needs host families

Bromley mixes busy town centres with parks, commons and some of London's greenest suburbs. Students can spend a day at Crystal Palace Park, visit Charles Darwin's home at Down House or browse the shops on Bromley High Street, then hop on a quick train into central London.

Students hosted in Bromley usually travel into central London or to other parts of the city for their lessons, so living near one of the borough's many stations is a real advantage. Schools look at journey times when matching, and Bromley's rail links serve them well.

If your family has a spare room, hosting lets you share suburban London life with someone from abroad. Many students are surprised by how green outer London is, and they often enjoy a quieter neighbourhood after a busy day in the centre. You set your own availability, decide which students to accept and deal with schools directly.

Host family sharing a meal with an international student in Bromley

Who you could host in Bromley

You choose the ages, lengths of stay and dates that suit your household.

Commuting adult learners

Adults studying in London often like returning to a quieter suburban home, and Bromley's trains make the daily journey straightforward.

Holiday courses for young people

School holidays bring younger students to London on short courses. Schools explain any requirements for hosting under-18s.

Long-term students

Students on longer courses or preparing for university sometimes want a settled family home for several months.

Where you could host

Schools look for homes within easy reach of their classes. These are some of the areas in and around Bromley.

Bromley town centre

Beckenham

Orpington

Chislehurst

Petts Wood

Hayes

Shortlands

West Wickham

Bickley

Penge

Biggin Hill

How it works

1. Register for free

Create your host profile in a few minutes. There are no fees or subscriptions.

2. Get found by schools

Language schools that place students in and around Bromley search for hosts by location, rooms and availability.

3. Welcome your student

A school contacts you directly to arrange a placement. You decide which students you accept.

Earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free

Under the government's Rent a Room scheme, income from hosting students in your Bromley home is tax-free up to £7,500 a year.

Applies whether you own or rent (with your landlord's permission)
Claim it with a single tick box on your tax return

General guidance only. Read more on GOV.UK

Hosting in Bromley: common questions

Ready to host in Bromley?

Registration is free and takes just a few minutes. Language schools can find you as soon as your profile is live.

Host families are also needed near Bromley