South Keston is comprised of Keston village in the north, Nash hamlet in the east, and Leaves Green in the south. It is possible to get a view of the valley stretching out to the south from the top of Hayes Common, the public open land around Croydon Road. Keston sits in between the two wooded hills of Hayes Common and Keston Common and is known for its public houses, its warm community and its saturated cultural heritage. The Keston Village Residents Association has a strong conservationist ethos and holds bi-monthly meetings to tend to issues concerning the village and the beautiful surrounding area. Volunteers can get involved in the upkeep of the diverse natural environment with Friends of Keston Common. The source of the River Ravensbourne is situated in this woodland and runs out of Caesar’s Well before flowing through Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich. East of the river lies Keston Park housing estate. The Keston Church of England Primary School is tucked away in the corner of the village with the Keston Ponds as part of its grounds.

The two commons were home to tribes of the early Bronze Age, with the remains of tools as well as excavations of Roman Villas found in the valley below Keston Village. The ancient ‘Wilberforce Oak’ of symbolic importance, which has since been replaced by a new one, stands proudly below in the fields. It takes its name from William Wilberforce who, in 1788, discussed with the prime minister of the time, William Pitt the Younger, the abolition of the slave trade in Britain. Back then, the surrounding land belonged to Holwood House, a grandiose grade I listed building in Greek-Revival style. The three ponds which currently occupy Keston Common were originally constructed at the turn of the 19th century to provide water supply to Holwood House. If the scene wasn’t picturesque enough, three windmills once stood at Keston, although only one remains to be admired today.

The Britishness of Keston can be felt driving through the narrow winding country lanes. Indeed, a neo-Georgian style mansion stands in Keston Park which was once home to the late Margaret Thatcher and her family. The same building housed Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones and former English footballer Kenny Sansom.

But to get a feel for the spirit of the simpler English life, there would be no parallel to the spectacle of the Morris folk dance group, The Ravensbourne Morris Men who once a year on 1st May at sunrise “dance the summer in” at Caesar’s Well.

Whilst most residents of Keston choose to live here for its unrivalled access to nature and tranquillity, those looking for convenient links to shopping and retail will find the locale less promising. West Wickham is the closest town with larger supermarkets, still only a 5-minute drive. Larger shopping centres are located in Bromley, 15 minutes by car. The area also lacks a railway station, the nearest one being located in Hayes, a 20-minute walk from the locale.

Largely due to the presence of Green Belt land in the area, there is not much projected development in the neighbourhood. Conversions of older buildings and restorations of interiors are more common in Keston. One example is Water’s Edge - Millgate Homes’ recent (Autumn, 2017) conversion of a large Tudor manor into a set of thirteen one and two bedroom luxury apartments in the heart of the Kentish countryside.