Auction House London’s Area Guide to Croydon
Auction House London’s Area Guide to Croydon
Auction House London has a number of interesting properties listed for auction throughout the City and surrounding areas. Our property auction experts are knowledgeable about the different areas of London such as Croydon, and are sharing a series of London area guides to help investors make more informed decisions.
This latest addition to the Auction House London series takes us to the large town of Croydon in South London, within the wider London Borough of Croydon. The area is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, which includes an extensive shopping district and an arts centre. There are also multiple apartment developments, and plenty of other residential properties that make for plenty of interesting investment opportunities for investors.
Where is Croydon?
Croydon lies over 9 miles south of Charing Cross and is bordered by Thornton Heath and Beckenham to the north, South Croydon and Purley to the south, West Wickham and Addington to the east, and Wallington to the west.
Croydon has a number of rail connections, including East Croydon, South Croydon and West Croydon railway stations, which are served by both Southern and Thameslink services. London Overground also serves East Croydon and West Croydon stations, and the Tramlink system operates two lines through the area. Multiple bus routes are available, with most passing through West Croydon bus station.
The history of Croydon
While still somewhat disputed, it is generally accepted that the name Croydon derives from the Old English words ‘croh’ and ‘denu’, which mean ‘crocus’ (or ‘saffron’) and ‘valley’ respectively. This indicates the area was originally a hub for the cultivation of saffron. There is evidence of Roman settlements in the area, and the modern town of Croydon lies on the old Roman road leading from London to Portslade.
In the 13th century, Croydon was established as a market area, which began its urbanisation. There are a few surviving buildings from Croydon’s early development, such as those from Croydon Palace. The area became a leisure destination in the 19th century, before evolving into an important transport hub for London and the surrounding areas.
Now Croydon is a huge commercial centre in London, with multiple shopping centres including the Whitgift Centre, first built in 1968, and the more recent Centrale which opened in 2004.
What does the architecture and property look like in Croydon?
Along with the many older buildings that give Croydon a special charm, there have been a lot of modern developments during the last 60 years or so. The town has quite a few tall modern buildings and residential areas, making it quite the mixed barrel when it comes to architecture.
Recent property investment opportunities in Croydon include this four-bedroom mid terrace house on Grenville Court, as well as this five-bedroom detached house on Shirley Hills Road. There can also be plots of land available such as this 12,736 square metre plot at Peacock Gardens.
What are the amenities like in Croydon?
Croydon boasts all the amenities you could need and a whole lot more. There are supermarkets, mini-markets, restaurants, fast food and pubs, as to be expected, but Croydon’s shopping centre hubs provide even more shopping options for locals and visitors alike. There are also plans to develop the area around Fairfield Halls arts centre into a cultural quarter, so the future is looking bright for things to do around Croydon.
Open spaces in Croydon
The wider borough around Croydon town features lots of woods for exploring nature, with Lloyd Park and Croham Hurst two of the most notable outdoor spaces to enjoy. There are also several normal parks in the area featuring childrens’ playgrounds and sports facilities, as well as the cultivated Queens Gardens near the town hall.
What are the schools like in Croydon?
The London Borough of Croydon is one of the most populated boroughs for educational facilities in the whole of London. It is the home of Croydon College for further education, as well as many primary schools such as Broadmead Primary School, Chestnut Park Primary School, and Krishna Avanti Primary School. Secondary schools include Ark Blake Academy, St Mary’s RC High School, The Quest Academy, and the Harris Invictus Academy. Special schools include Chaffinch Brook School and Saffron Valley Collegiate, among others.