A guide to living in Croydon

Croydon in south London has been subject to considerable growth in popularity of late, mostly down to substantial investment in infrastructure, transport, culture and housing. With its enviable commuter links into central London, an array of attractively priced properties and wide variety of leisure facilities, it is no surprise that living in Croydon has become such a popular choice.

Whilst working from home became a way of life during the pandemic, in hindsight, many workers championed the benefits of office life and of being able to work alongside colleagues in the flesh rather than virtually. However, the convenience of not having to commute did register as a major advantage, which is why swathes of people in pursuit of an improved work-life balance are seeking to work closer to home, looking for opportunities out of town.

One such suburban location of London where this is happening in Croydon, where considerable infrastructure investment and housing development has made this town a very attractive place to live. Here we explore some of the top reasons why living in Croydon has become so popular.

1. Plentiful green space

If the pandemic did one thing, it taught us all the benefits of spending time outdoors, appreciating the restorative benefits of nature and green space.

Croydon is positively brimming with green spaces. South Norwood Country Park is a 125-acre space boasting beautiful wildflower meadows, lakes and wetlands. There’s also a cycle path, a visitor centre, a children’s playground and pitch and putt. Lloyd Park spans 114 acres of lush parkland, punctuated by mature trees and woodland and serving the public with a café, a children’s playground, an outdoor gym, a bowling green and tennis courts.

There’s also the extensive Happy Valley Park, comprising 250 acres of woodland, meadows, nature trails and horse riders, and Farthing Downs, where avid nature watchers living in Croydon can revel in an array of birds, butterflies and wildflowers, whilst drinking in spectacular panoramic views of the London skyline.

2. First-rate educational facilities

As well as an extensive list of primary and secondary schools, many of them rated outstanding or good, Croydon is also home to numerous colleges, including Croydon College which has invested £60 million into ensuring it can offer the most exceptional facilities in the borough.

Croydon College offers excellent physical and online resources, opening up opportunities for students to develop a variety of vocational and academic skills.

3. Enviable transport links

Croydon is one of London’s most well-connected metropolitan hubs. Served by four rail stations, those being East Croydon, West Croydon and South Croydon in Zone 5, and Norwood Junction in Zone 4, the town is located on the A23 corridor which links London with the south coast.

Less than 10 miles from the M25 and just 15 minutes from central London and Gatwick Airport, Croydon is perfectly situated for regional, national and international travel.

4. Fantastic leisure opportunities

Living in Croydon presents an abundance of restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as a buzzing shopping scene. Furthermore, with the £1.4 billion Croydon Partnership project underway, the town is poised to become one of the UK’s top ten shopping destinations.

Nestled into Croydon’s restaurant quarter is an eclectic range of eateries, including a Michelin-rated restaurant together with a tempting assortment of global cuisine covering everything from Italian, French, Spanish and Greek to Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Mexican and Persian, and of course, not forgetting British fayre.

Box Park Croydon is a fascinating pop-up mall, bringing together modern street food with local and global brands. The result is an exclusive dining and shopping experience that draws visitors from all over London and Surrey.

Purley Way is Croydon’s renowned out-of-town shopping experience. Here you’ll find a variety of retail parks, including Valley Retail and Leisure which is home to various high street stores and restaurants.

5. Ongoing investment, improvement and development

Growth in Croydon is 3.7 per cent above London’s average, and the area is alsoreported reported to have the second fastest expanding local economy in the UK, with a 9.3 per cent growth rate.

Thousands of new homes, transport upgrades and public space development projects are all underway or in the pipeline throughout the borough of Croydon.

Essex House, British Rail former headquarters, is being redeveloped to create over 500 homes, with offices and shops below. Two rooftop gardens will provide residents living in Croydon, London with their own valuable private outdoor space, as will an enclosed winter garden.

The Taberner House development will also create 500 homes, with more 40 per cent of them classed as affordable. £500 million has also been pledged to redevelop St George’s Walk, a project which will incorporate new shops and hundreds of residences around a large public square.

The multi-million pound Carolyn House development tops off the list of housing development schemes in Croydon, with 182 apartments plus retail space in the pipeline.

6. Cultural enrichment

Following a multi-million pound makeover, the notorious Fairfield Halls were formally re-opened in 2019 by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, with veteran actress Dame Judi Dench opening the doors to the Ashcroft Playhouse. The freshly refurbished venue has successfully delivered a re-energised programme of culture, events, entertainment and arts to Croydon and beyond.

Croydon has also been awarded the title of London Borough of Culture 2023, banking over £1 million worth of funding for exciting cultural events.

With living in Croydon so popular, could this prove the ideal place to locate a business?

For any business looking to locate in the suburbs and attract local talent, Croydon makes the ideal choice. Located just outside of London, this town is one of the fastest growing economies in the capital. And better still, it is home to Corinthian House, a landmark building situated in the centre of Croydon, right opposite Boxpark.

Boasting a range of modern amenities including showers, locker rooms, a communal kitchen, meeting rooms and high speed internet, the premises offer both flexible and traditional lease options.

Ready to discover how Corinthian House could satisfy your suburban office rental requirements? Talk to our helpful team today.