What is Croydon like?

[Deleted User]

Croydon is very much on the up, a result of Londoners who can't afford London having to move there. It's got a bad rep but it's really no worse than Stratford or Shoreditch or any of the 'trendy' London places. If you've ever lived anywhere in London that isn't Westminster or Chelsea then it's basically the same as anywhere. It's being massively regenerated, there are bars and restuarants and they're opening a Boxpark. Property prices are rocketing, and in a few years when everything they're building has been built it'll be even more desirable.

East Croydon has excellent links into London, as well as other places such as Brighton and Gatwick. There is a brilliant bus service and the trams are good as well.

We are in the process of purchasing a 2 bedroom terrace house near East Croydon station for less than what you state your budget is, so I don't think you'll have much problem.

cashbackproblems

thanks for the suggestions I will of course check out the area in more detail. I am going to see a place in Beckenham which is 350k for 2 bed flat but its 0.7 miles away from the station. Penge is also somewhere I have looked into and prices for 2 bed flats are around the same.

I have seen this is South Croydon 325k, what do people think of the area etc?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55352996.html

cashbackproblems

deaston wrote: »

I think Croydon is hideous. Have you considered more SW London/Surrey? Surbiton for example?

I will consider anywhere as long as it is near the train ideally under 0.5 miles. South East London e.g. Sydenham to Croydon is probably more realistic

beckstar1975

That's really near me, nice residential road with big houses and new built flats, good schools nearby, station close and shops/restaurants within 5 mins walk.

I grew up in Richmond and whilst it's lovely I have the same community atmosphere here in S Croydon for my kids that I knew as a kid, where my mum and dad still are there's nothing of the sort as it's only City Bonus types who can afford to live there.

I would strongly recommend, I cannot believe what a bargain South Croydon still is for somewhere so green that is so easily commutable from.

densol_2

I had to go to Croydon once to attend to a case in the Employment Tribunal there. I thought it was the most oppressing hideous place ive even had the misfortune to go to ! Sorry peeps who live there the only other place that caused me such heebee jeebees was " Salem " in the USA ( Witch trials ) lol x

[Deleted User]

Like everywhere it's got nice bits and not nice bits. Where the above poster has described is isn't the nicest bit, but presumably OP isn't going to base a decision to where to buy a property off one person's singular visit.

When we went househunting there I had the same misconceptions and ideas about it from barely going there, but it's basically the same as some of the other places we were originally looking at but couldn't afford (Tooting, Streatham, etc).

Gouldy

It's not great...

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Croydon is ugly and untrendy, but has excellent transport links (Victoria and Blackfriars in 15 mins; trains throughout the night). I lived near East Croydon station for some years and never had any problems coming home alone drunk. Very good shopping and library too.

No need to go near West Croydon unless you're buying or selling drugs.

beckstar1975

^ ooh yes there is - fab asian food shops

and to PP to be fair the Employment Tribunals place is in about the worst stretch of the London Road, the flat linked to is in a totally different area of Croydon, the difference between West and South Croydon is vast

KayTM

How many people saying Croydon is bad actually live there or have lived there? And which areas? Saying that Croydon is bad is like saying London is bad. There's good and bad everywhere. Croydon is a BIG place.

Also, a nice little two bed terrace might have cost a couple of hundred grand a year or so back, and you'd now be looking at more than three hundred for that. Nice capital appreciation if you're on the ladder. Maybe it'll slow down - I don't know. I wish to heck I'd bought in Croydon a year ago.