Croydon is a district in South London and has been home to many people for centuries. In the past, it was known as being “a place of great natural beauty” with its green spaces and hills that overlook the city. It is now considered an important part of Greater London, despite not being officially recognised as a borough. Croydon has changed over time but still remains unique among other places in England because of its culture and diversity.
What is Croydon Like?
The borough is best known for the facelift and famous Kate Moss hairstyle. It’s also famous for being one of London’s only two Ikea stores. It was once an industrial powerhouse but became one of Britain’s most popular areas. Now it’s a cultural renaissance as Croydon’s regeneration scheme and a population to rival some of the largest cities in the UK makes for a truly great place for development.
The borough has petitioned for a move to Zone 4 to become even more popular with buyers. It has been described as ‘authentic’ by Peep Show fans who think it has a cool by association factor with Stormzy and Brit School alumni Adele.
It has been through countless incarnations, but it could just be its time has come. The town is one of London’s bywords of suburban ennui. Stormzy recently praised it as ‘the birthplace of dubstep’ and it’s the centre of the universe. The case against continuing reinvention is tiring, and not always for the better, but who cares about trolls?
Now to quickly look at what you can do there:
Museum of Croydon tells the stories of the lives of town residents from the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons through to the present day. Wandle Park is a wonderful place to walk your dog, enjoy a picnic or a family break. Fairfield Halls, home to the largest arts centre in South London, is the only venue to host free lunchtime concerts on the city’s free and evening activities. Croham Woods and Addington Hills are the most popular parks, with plenty of green space for family-friendly activities and walking the dog and exploring the river through the banks of the river Wandle. Local art and culture include music, theatre, and arts exhibitions.
What’s there to hate?
Is Croydon Safe to Live?
Yes. While it used to have a bad reputation at some point, Croydon is now considered a safe area to live. It has improved in the last few years as there are more police patrols, which helps make residents feel safer.
Is Croydon a Wealthy Area?
The Croydon area has been regenerated in the last decade and is the beneficiary of £5.25 billion in investment. The borough has a reputation as a drab concrete suburb famed for brutalist architecture. New developments include a new shopping centre, a pop-up street food venue and a thriving new town.
The area is just 20 minutes away from central London and is popular with young families. The new Westfield shopping centre is set to become London’s most popular shopping destination in the area. Westfield will be a major new addition to the area with a forthcoming £1.4bn shopping centre.
The district has also been transformed to become a destination for young families and city workers with increased police activity to get rid of the bad rep Croydon got over the years.
How Many People Live in Croydon?
According to the 2011 census, Croydon had a population of 363,378, making it the most populated borough in Greater London. The estimated population in 2017 is around 384,800, 186,900 were males and 197,900 females.
The density for that year (2011) was about 4400 people per km². As for the age, 248200 residents of Croydon were between age 16 and 64; there are 187000 men living there as well who make up 49% of total population/residents.
Croydon’s Schools
BRIT School is a prominent performing arts school in the UK. Most of the Croydon’s primary schools have achieved a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted. The BRIT school is the only FE college to have received Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Coloma Convent girls’ school is one of the best in the region, with an ‘outstanding’ rating.
The area has a wide variety of schools including state, independent, religiously-affiliated, and special schools. The region is home to many of the most successful primary schools in the world, including St John’s CofE Primary School and Park Hill Infant School.
Travelling in Croydon
East Croydon Station
Located in Zone 5 at just over 10 miles from London Bridge, the East Croydon Station is a hub for trains and trams. Trains from London Bridge leave in every direction, while there are also a number of services to Gatwick Airport or Brighton.
West Croydon Station
Also in Zone 5, West Croydon is a combined railway, bus station and tram stop. In 2010, the East London line, part of the London Overground was extended to West Croydon. Trams run from here to Wimbledon via Crystal Palace or Beckenham Junction and New Addington on Tramlink’s Croydon branch.
It is served by National Rail, London Overground, Tramlink and London Buses services. Both East and West Croydon Stations are a walking distance for borough’s residents.
South Croydon Station
The South Croydon Station is located in the London Borough of Croydon and managed by Southern. It serves as a hub for trains to East Grinstead, Uckfield, Epsom Downs (Oxted Line), Caterham Valley or Tattenham Corner on the Brighton Main Line section serving West Sussex at its junction with Oxted line from High Speed One station.
A quick, dependable tram service operates throughout central Croydon. The system connects with neighboring Wimbledon, Beckenham, Elmers End and New Addington in addition to numerous other regions. There are also a variety of links on the ground including roads and buses.
Is Croydon a Part of London?
While it is on the outskirts of London, it still is a part of the city. Historically, it belonged to the county of Surrey.
Famous People who Live in Croydon
There are a number of celebrities who call Croydon their home, including the singer Adele (she went to BRIT School), rapper Stormzy (South Norwood), model Kate Moss (Addiscombe), actors Alan Curtis (Coulsdon) and Peter Cushing (Purley and Kenley), footballer Wilfried Zaha (Thornton Heath), and many more.
Cost of Living in Croydon
Croydon is not a wealthy area, but the cost of living rates are lower than London. The average house price for sale in Croydon is just £359,336 and you’ll need to budget around £1400 per month for rent for a 3-bedroom apartment.
The average Croydon salary is £34,899. Salaries in Croydon have gone up 8.5% year-on-year while the national annual change is -2.0%. Most live job ads in Croydon are for Teaching Jobs and Sales Jobs. The top companies hiring in Croydon are The Gym Group, Bidvine and AO.com. Currently there are 2,110 live job ads in Croydon, out of 1,190,593 jobs nationally. From this we see that most people working in Croydon are doing teaching jobs or sales jobs, with around 2 thousand postings available to apply for in the area as of now.
Things to do in Croydon
Croydon is a treasure trove of museums for those looking for a bit of culture (or just to while away a rainy afternoon). Our favourites are:
RISE Gallery
This modern building on St George’s Walk is home to some incredible contemporary, urban and post-war pop art. Dedicated to the local community, RISE is involved in some pioneering art projects and, features work by emerging and established artists. The museum is free to visit and is open from 10.30 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10.30 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. The museum also hosts the occasional evening event, details of which can be found on its website.
Where is it? 7-9 St George’s Walk, Croydon, CR0 1YH
The Museum of Croydon
Located within the Croydon Clocktower, the Museum of Croydon is host to many exhibitions; including the full skeleton of an Anglo-Saxon man found in Purley (this exhibition finishes at the end of 2019). Other exhibits and curiosities include ceramics in the Riesco Gallery, fashion and transport exhibitions and free activities for families. This fascinating venue is free to visit and is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10.30 am and 5 pm.
Where is it? Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street Croydon, CR9 1ET
Croydon Airport Visitor Centre Museum
Although no longer operating, Croydon Airport was once the country’s major airport and, the only place offering flights in and out of Great Britain. The airport itself closed in 1959 but, in 2019, visitors can learn about its history during peace and wartime at this incredible museum. The visitor centre is only open on the first Sunday of every month and is free to visit between 11 am and 4 pm.
Where is it? Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon, CR0 0XZ.
Historical Buildings
When it comes to historic buildings, Croydon gives London a run for its money. Here are just two of the best landmarks to visit for free in Croydon.
Croydon Minster
Built in AD 809 as a parish church, Croydon Minster is the burial place for six Archbishops and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. An impressive medieval structure which is dedicated to John The Baptist, the Minster holds a number of events throughout the year, including tours and musical concerts. The Minster is free to visit Monday to Wednesday between 10 am, and 4 pm and, between 10.30 am and 1 pm on Saturdays. During June’s Heritage Open Weekend, the Minster organises tours which allow visitors to explore the 125-foot tower, bell room and clock.
Where is it? Church Street, Croydon, CR0 1RN
Shirley Windmill
One of only four windmills still open to the public in Greater London, Shirley Windmill is an impressive site to check out and visitors can explore the inside of the structure – including some of the original machinery – on special open days. Guided tours of the mill are available on the first Sunday of the month (June to October) and, on National Mills Day (May) and Open House London Day (September).
Where is it? Postmill Close, Shirley, CR0 5DY.
Parks and Outdoor Space in Croydon
Now’s the perfect time to take advantage of those sunny Summer days before the big freeze descends and, Croydon is home to a number of outdoor venues and activities. Here are some of the best:
Coombe Wood
A protected Green Flag site, Coombe Wood features ornamental gardens, a pond and waterfall and, its piece de resistance, a giant staircase. Perfect for a walk on a dry, sunny day, Coombe Wood is free to enter and, visitors can visit the on-site tea-room or bring a picnic with them.
Where is it? Coombe Lane, Croydon, CR0 5RE
Lloyd Park
This 114-acre park, just a stone’s throw from Croydon city centre, offers tons of activities as well as open space for walking or relaxing. The park is famous for its Disc Golf (not strictly a freebie as it the price is £2 for discs with an £8 returnable deposit) and, an orienteering course – a geocaching course using specially drawn maps and a compass.
Where is it? Coombe Road, Croydon, CR0 5SP
The Wandle Park
Created for walkers and cyclists, The 12 mile Wandle Trail makes its way through Waddon Ponds through to the River Thames and is mostly traffic-free. Starting at East Croydon station, walkers can follow the trail, stopping to admire the scenery (and enjoy a cup of tea) along the way.
Where is it? East Croydon Station, Station Approach, Croydon, CR0 1LF
South Norwood Country Park
A 47-hectare green space, South Norwood Park provides some area for outdoor activities as well. Historically, it was a forest which was subsequently cut out due to the turbulent history of the place. Nowadays it has a large playground and an abundance of wildlife. Because it’s a local nature reserve with a multitude of habitats, it’s a great spot for observing the fauna
Where is it? 193 Albert Rd, London SE25 4NE, United Kingdom
Street Art
The area has a wide variety of schools including state, independent, religiously-affiliated, and special schools. The region is home to many of the most successful primary schools in the world, including St John’s CofE Primary School and Park Hill Infant School.
As well as its thriving town centre, Croydon is known for some of the best street art in Britain, thanks partly to the Croydon Mural Project launched in 2015. From Croydon town centre, take a walk through the streets – paying particular attention to the areas around Surrey Street and St George’s Walk where you can spot original artwork on walls, fences shutters and roofs. Surrey Street is also home to infamous artist, Banksy’s, shop, ‘Gross Domestic Product’.
Where is it? Surrey Street, Croydon, CR0 1RJ
Surrey Street Market
Surrey Street Market’s records date back to the 13th century, making it one of the oldest markets in London. Just because it’s a street market doesn’t mean that it can’t be paid a visit even if you’re not going to buy anything. It’s still a pretty interesting place to see when strolling by, admiring the nearby works of street art.
Where is it? Surrey St, Croydon CR0 1RG, United Kingdom
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