Croydon
Situated just 10 miles south of London at the head of the river Wandle, Croydon was originally an ancient settlement dating back to Roman times. However, its name derives from the Anglo Saxon 'Crogedene' meaning saffron valley, after the saffron once grown in the area and used for dyeing and medicinal purposes.
Croydon is a large town and major commercial centre and the principal settlement of the London Borough of Croydon. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan and is located on the natural transport corridor between London and the South coast just to the north of a gap in the North Downs. Although road traffic is now diverted away from the town centre, its railway station is still a major hub in the railway transport system.
The development of Brighton as a fashionable resort in the 1780s increased Croydon's role as a significant stop-over for stage coaches on the road south of London. With the arrival of new forms of transport such as the canals and railways in the 19th century, its development was hastened even further. Croydon became the terminus of two pioneering commercial transport links with London. The first, was the horse-drawn Surrey Iron Railway from Wandsworth opened in 1803, the second, opened in 1809, was the Croydon Canal, which came from the Grand Surrey Canal at Deptford. An atmospheric and steam-powered railway, the London and Croydon Railway opened between London Bridge and West Croydon in 1839, using much of the route of the canal, which had closed in 1836.
The area today has much to offer in the way of shopping, dining out, cultural pursuits and sports and leisure facilities. The pedestrianised North End has two shopping centres, Whitgift and Drummond. There is also a market at Surrey Street with more specialist outlets in Church Street. The town offers many restaurants, wine bars, cafes, pubs and night clubs. The Clocktower arts complex, a conversion of an original Victorian building, houses a cinema, exhibition gallery, a theatre and a library. There are also plans for a large new shopping centre, Park Place, along with the redevelopment of the Croydon Gateway site and extensions of the Tramlink to Purley, Streatham and Crystal Palace.
Croydon is primarily attractive to families and commuters and offers everything from conversion flats and purpose built apartments to Victorian and 1930s terraces and semis, as well as larger detached and semi-detached houses. The most sought-after and expensive areas are South Croydon and East Croydon.
Transport facilities include stations at East Croydon and West Croydon providing links to London, Gatwick Airport and the south coast. The new Tramlink links Croydon to Wimbledon with talk of a tube station been built.
‘Croydon Vision 2020’ is a regeneration programme by the London Borough of Croydon. With £3.5bn currently committed to the project the aim is to highlight Croydon's bid to become 'London's Third City' and so be the hub of living, retailing, culture and business in South London and South-East England.
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