Living in Croydon – A Guide to Life in South London

Are you thinking of living in Croydon?

The south London town has seen a huge growth in popularity in recent years!

Living in Croydon provides excellent transport links and a surprisingly central location to the heart of the capital.

The area sits just 11 miles from London Charing Cross, meaning the centre of the capital is within arms distance!

The regions excellent commuter links to London coupled with more moderately priced properties than other locations in the capital means that living in Croydon as a great option.

Relocating to a new area is never simple.

Before you start your move, it is important to gather as much knowledge about an area as you can.

If you are thinking of living in Croydon, this is the perfect blog for you!

We aim to provide you with all the top tips for those considering living in Croydon.

Exploring everything from house prices to the best schools in the Croydon area, we aim to provide you with a complete guide to living in Croydon.

If you are considering living in Croydon, this is a guide to life in South London.

House Prices

With a diverse property portfolio of around 3000 properties, including new-build developments such as Saffron Tower and Surrey House, as well as Victorian houses, Croydon certainly attracts a wide variety of buyers.

One of the first things to point out is that Croydon has one of the most affordable property markets of all the London boroughs offering great value for money across the board.

Although an average of £386,408 may sound high it certainly is not for London.

In fact, it is possible to own your first home for quite a bit less than this as one-bedroom flats sell for as little as £246,923.

However, dominating the market are the boroughs two-bedroom properties which sell for between £343,000 – £379,000.

Croydon’s reputation has attracted all sorts of buyers who find the area both very well connected and ideal for raising a family. As a result, the towns larger homes have become highly sought after.  You will pay in excess of £441,000 for a three-bedroom property.

Newbuild developments continue to flourish throughout the borough with 18 currently either just completed or in the middle of construction. Find out more by visiting Zoopla.

Renting in Croydon

When you are unable to purchase a home for whatever reason, times are changing, and renting has become universally more acceptable and definitely has its advantages.

If you are seriously considering a move to Croydon, leasing to start with might be the best decision you ever make.

Checking out local neighbourhoods before you buy can save you making a costly mistake in the long run.

Croydon’s rental market is as busy as its sales with as many as 1300 homes ready to rent.

The average cost is £1154pcm, compared to London’s £2620pcm, an undeniably attractive monthly saving of £1466.

It is Croydon’s one- and two-bedroom homes which are the most common making up almost three quarters of available stock.

One thing is for sure, for choice and affordability it is a worthwhile exercise to rent.  Buying a home is the biggest purchase we make in life and it makes sense to ensure you find the best area to suit your needs before you commit.

Cost of Living

Struggling to make ends meet is a common issue which so many people have to deal with from time to time.

Finding ways to save money here and there can mean all the difference. There is no greater incentive than having a goal.

You may be expecting a new baby, looking forward to having a nice holiday or buying a new car.

By sorting your finances and adopting a sensible approach all things are possible.

The immediate advantage of living in Croydon rather than the centre of London or any city for that matter is that expenses such as shopping, dining out and getting around generally usually work out cheaper.

With regard to entertainment, you can save quite a bit by staying local.

When compared to London you can save on:

• Eating out in a mid-range restaurant in Croydon 25%
• Bottle of imported beer 20%
• A bottle of Pepsi/coke 31%
• A bottle of water 11%
• Transportation (monthly pass) 41%
• Visit to the local cinema £25

Saving Money

Croydon Minster is interesting. Steeped in history it is both a working church and a visitor attraction. Totally free to enter during Heritage Open Weekend in June the church organises tours which will take you up the 125-foot tower to the bell room and clock.

South Norwood Country Park is the ideal spot for a picnic and to get back to nature whilst allowing children to enjoy an active day costing nothing. Don’t forget to take along your stale bread as there are plenty of ducks to feed.

Wandle Park has a stake boarding area, kiddie’s playground, cycling tracks and ornamental gardens so all ages can enjoy this outdoor space free of charge which means you have got more money to treat everyone to a drink, snack and even an ice cream.

A really unusual but entertaining thing to do is to go Geocaching. A technological treasure hunt where you use GPS on your smartphone, tablet or a GPS device to find hidden containers called geocaches hidden across Croydon. To find out more you can download an app to see a map of geocaches at www.geocaching.com.

No need to shell out on expensive gym memberships. Croydon Council have ensured that everyone can keep fit by installing a number of outdoor gyms where you can do your workout outside without spending a penny.

Duppas Hill, Lloyd Park, Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, Sanderstead Recreation Ground and Coulsdon Memorial Ground, Goldcrest Way in New Addington, Purley Way Playing Fields and Grange Wood Park all have public gym equipment.

With some forethought, planning and plenty of energy everyone can have an enjoyable day and you won’t have to break the bank.

Transport

Having plenty of transport options can make all the difference. You may want to drive yourself, the main M25 and M23 are nearby.

It may be more convenient to catch a train, or a local bus or in the case of Croydon a tram, but which ever you decide upon, nowhere in London is too far from Croydon.

Although a little further out than some locations, in Zone 5, Croydon enjoys great connectivity.

Whilst there is no tube station in Croydon, you can arrive at London Bridge within 15 minutes or Victoria in 20 via the City Thameslink service.

Croydon is also part of London’s premier tram network. A unique way to explore the area as a visitor. Connecting to Wimbledon, Beckenham and Merton, as many as 30 million people use the tram every year.

The added bonus is that travellers are spoilt for choice when it comes to airports too.

London City Airport sits 17 miles away and London Gatwick 18 miles. Heathrow is a bit further at 34 miles. All have regular departures across the UK, Europe, and worldwide.

Whether you are visiting, planning a trip away or commuting for work, you can be sure you will get to your destination quickly and efficiently if you live in Croydon.

Schools

Living in Croydon provides families with some excellent schools!

Parents in the region can find a varied choice when it comes to education.

Ranging from state, independent, religiously affiliated, and special schools, Croydon ticks all the boxes.

Croydon is renowned for its Further Education provision.

Croydon College is the only FE college to have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The famous BRIT School is a prominent Performing & Creative Arts school in the UK, making it a very sought after institution.

Alumni include Leona Lewis, Jessie J, Amy Winehouse, and Adele!

Most of the Croydon’s primary schools have achieved a “good” by Ofsted, with St John’s CofE Primary School and Park Hill Infant School having been rated as “outstanding”.

There are various secondaries in the region.

Coloma Convent Girls’ School is among one of the best.

This comprehensive school sits on the outskirts of town, with Ofsted awarding it with an “outstanding” rating.

Things to do

Living in Croydon means you are never short of something to do.

Croydon is well known for its restaurants and cocktail bars!

There are a variety of pubs and clubs located in the town centre.

These attracted many residents from across the region.

Living in Croydon has a real buzz!

Residents also have access to some excellent outdoors locations.

South Norwood Country Park is a 50 hectare stretch of countryside and parkland.

The park provides a great range of wildlife habitats.

These include grassland, scrub and a sizeable lake.

Wildlife lovers are in for a treat!

These habitats attract a range of different birds, making it one of the most prevalent sites in south London.

Living in Croydon also means you are residing in an area with a rich history.

In fact, Croydon minster it is the resting place for six Archbishops of Canterbury!

Clearly, living in Croydon has many excellent things to do.

And with London on your doorstep, there will never be a dull moment!

Ready to Start Living in Croydon?

Are you thinking of living in Croydon?

Whether you want to make the most of the commuter links, make the most of the great school or a looking for a job in the area, Croydon is sure to have for you.

With a variety of fantastic properties available in the area, there is surely a home for you when living in Croydon!

GoodMove will make your move to Croydon an easy and stress-free process.

We take great joy in ensuring everything runs smoothly and flawlessly, helping you to settle into your new home right away.

As well as our competitively priced removals package, we can also offer extra services such as temporary or long-term storage facilities should you need them.

GoodMove cover all areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and our friendly estimators can call round at a convenient time for you and strategically plan your move to perfection.

During these unprecedented times, GoodMove are also offering a new video survey service.

Using our new technology, we can gather all the information required to assist with your move, from the comfort of your home!

Video surveys will help you save valuable time and preserve the best safety levels.

To find out more about how we could get your dream move to Croydon or any other location underway do not hesitate to call us on the number listed above.

Alternatively, fill out a quick quote form or click on our live bot in the bottom right and a member of our customer services team will be in touch shortly.