Is Croydon a nice place to live?

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worldwanderer007

I have lived in Croydon for 10 years. Most people who have offered their 'views' I suspect have either never lived in Croydon and in most cases visited very few times or maybe not at all. Like any London Borough though, Croydon has its good and bad areas. Good would include much of the south (South Croydon with a great resturant strip stretching towards the centre), Purley which has one of the most exclusive estates in the country, Sanderstead, and then there are other nice districts scattered around the rest of the borough. There are also less nice areas like New Addington, Thornton Heath and West Croydon as well as several in between districts like Waddon, Woodside and Shirley which have good and bad parts. You need to ask someone who has lived in any of these places for a real low down.
For me, Croydon has its problems, crime is higher than in some parts of London but not as out of control as in many inner suberbs and generally avoidable with common sense.
However, it has benefits too, lower than average house prices, very good transport links includoing quick trains to central London and a good tram link with other districts to the south. We will be connected to the tube her in 2010 so things will get even better on that score.
Shopping (which I am not into) is also good in Croydon and people come from miles around for the choice available. I think the nightlife (aside from eating) is pretty awful but you are near London so what the hell. Also Croydon has some lovely parks and is within a short distance of some lovely countryside areas.
If you have money you can find nicer districts in some of the neighbouring boroughs like Bromley and Sutton though these too have a mix of good and bad areas and good and bad points.
On balance, I would say wherever you pick rent for 6 months and get a feel for the area and other areas before you decide where to settle longer term. If you decide to go for Croydon and want more advice on particular areas you can contact me if you like. I doubt anything can beat your beautiful country but you could od much worse too.
Shame on all who condemn this part of South London outright.

BUNGLE!!

absolute faeces hole....it aint in london and trust me there are other suburbs you should look at before moving to this place.

tiny knickers

There's a reason they call it the "Croydon facelift" lol it's known for it's chavs - pass it up!

MK <><

Naw...It's not really nice there...try other places in the suburbs...

It really depends on what you want. It's not London, but London connections are good. The road system is a bit of a nightmare as the local authority are always experimenting with new inventions of traffic control and roundabouts. It has a high-street shopping centre and a few interesting, independent shops. You need a car to get around the suburbs, but they punish you for parking left right and centre.
It has a nice arts centre at the central library with good exhibitions and a cinema.

Jenny

Croydon is only full of chavs.

PuppyPrince

It's a concrete nightmare, a long way out of London, and it's good for shops and absolutely nothing else. The town centre has a lot of yob trouble around nightclubs and other areas. Get yourself closer to London if you can ... at least on a Tube line.

LONDONER Â©

I don't like it there to be honest I wouldn't recommend it

friendofb

it's in a book as one of britians worst towns crime is very high, not a nice place at all

mjsw17

I am sorry to tell you that I personally find Croydon the most depressing place I have ever visited on the planet.

luddite

No, it's the pits. Chav central and full of Crystal Palace supporters. Avoid.

pjthefarmer

I've visited it 3 times, staying with my mate and his father. I don't like the area itself, seems rough and I wouldn't go out alone (day or night). However some housing estates are nice. The one my friend's dad lived in seemed very nice. Was quiet and was right next to a cricket field.

i live in croydon. so that says it all. the trams good theo

it's not supposed to be London. it's croydon. otherwise it would be called London??????????

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