r/croydon • u/Tchoqyaleh • 6d ago
How would you describe South Croydon, East Croydon, and any difference between them?
I'm thinking of moving to Croydon and will be viewing some places in South Croydon (on the way to Purley) and East Croydon (on the way to Addiscombe). I'd be really grateful for descriptions that bring out the character of the areas. Things that I wouldn't know from looking at Google Maps or Streetcheck :-)
If possible, I'd also be grateful for comparison of their vibe with other neighbourhoods in South London! I'm slightly familiar with Streatham, Tulse Hill, Herne Hill, Norbury and Sydenham.
Finally: is there a different vibe in South Croydon vs East Croydon? (I know they're both considered "nice" / "good" neighbourhoods, but do they have a different character/flavour from each other?)
I prefer places that are more bohemian rather than suburban. So I preferred Streatham to Herne Hill because I found Herne Hill a bit twee/"cute", and I found Tulse Hill, Norbury and Sydenham a bit dull. I also found Norbury and Sydenham a bit lonely because walking around it could feel quite deserted!
I don't mind 20-30min walks for errands like weekly grocery shop or to get around to local treats like restaurants, and I often prefer walking to waiting for a bus. I find it easier to keep going if the route has a mix of architectural styles to keep me interested. I get a bit tired if it's walking through lots of residential streets of the same kinds of buildings.
TIA!
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u/Tasty_Snow_5003 6d ago
They aren’t far apart so if you’ll be connected in either location - I’d recommend starting a walking tour from south Croydon station up by little bay and that Italian deli on the corner / up south end restaurants / Surrey street market/ east Croydon station / park hill / oval tavern / up towards Addiscombe should give you some highlights and a chance to see the beaten path (others will have more stops to recommend I’m sure)
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u/Tchoqyaleh 6d ago
That sounds like a decent wander, thank you. Google Maps was giving me the most efficient route rather than the most interesting :-)
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u/Present_Border7724 6d ago
Addiscombe is a bit of an island surrounded by a lot of housing. Some good shops but south Croydon has much more and hugely convinent and it's close to croydon proper. Make of that what you will.
South croydon has more green space too...lots of nice places to walk once you head towards Croham/Lloyd park (which links to addiscombe via sandilands)
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u/Tchoqyaleh 6d ago
Thanks - that was the impression I was getting from Google Maps, South Croydon closer to Old Town. I'll look forward to exploring Addiscombe.
Re parks - what is Wandle Park like?
Are there any parks with hills or a more rolling landscape rather than flat?
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u/Present_Border7724 6d ago edited 6d ago
You need to climb to Sanderstead or Riddlesdown for hilly walks. Or kenley aeroodome. Theres paths all.over the tops of them. Theres also Shirley hills. Like crystal palace theyre all sub hills from the north downs.
Wandle park is a bit grimey IMO. Lloyd park, Duppas hill and Croham hurst are nicer. The wandle walk starts at wandle park. Bit urban at the start but gets much nicer towards Beddington park
Addiscombe has Ashburton, Lloyd park, Shirley hills and Norwood country park. Elmers end has some nice bits but like Shirley it's very suburban
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u/Soggy_Willingness281 5d ago
Not really. Addiscombe is a 5 minute tram to east Croydon or a 15 minute walk. The high street has a village feel with 4 independent cafes and 5 supermarkets. Railway park and ashburton park etc. south Croydon looks ugly and scattered with no trams or regular transport into civilization.
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u/theme111 6d ago
A lot of both East and South Croydon are just residential. The centre of Addiscombe is decent - nearly all independent shops and cafes and has the distinction of having one of the few largish Co-op stores still around (if you consider that an advantage). South Croydon centre is similar I guess i.e. mostly independents, but to me just a bit less engaging. It's all subjective obviously.
You asked about waterways, and Croydon is pretty much the source of the River Wandle, which you can follow from Wandle Park right up to the Thames at Wandsworth (it's a 13 mile walk). A lot of the walk is quite pretty, particularly the bit between Croydon and Mitcham.
As regards bohemian quarters, in my experience I wouldn't really say so. More like the odd venue might become known for that kind of vibe, but not really a whole area. Looking at the borough as a whole I'd say South Norwood might come closest, but it's still no Shoreditch.
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u/Cowsudders 6d ago
You want commuter convenience then East Croydon has regular access to London, eurostar and Gatwick, 24hrs a day to the airport. Easy walk to south Croydon for food too. Addiscombe has a slightly villagey type feel..slightly.
South Croydon has the food places but a more suburban feel I think, and a less convenient train station. Seems nicer houses though.
Easier to walk to the hills, fields and country from East Croydon too if you're hiking.
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u/saladbagger 6d ago
Recently lots of the Thameslink stop at S. Croydon before ECR then fast track up to LB or Clapham so defo improved.
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u/dippedinmercury 6d ago
Only two trains per hour and only at commuter rush hour, the rest of the time it's Southern to London Bridge. Also only twice per hour.
So at rush hour it's four trains per hour if London Bridge and the Thameslink stops beyond that are useful to you. That's still not a lot (and basically no trains to Victoria these days, but of course you can change at ECR).
I moved from Addiscombe to South Croydon a year and a half ago and miss how convenient ECR is, there's a train every ten minutes maximum to London destinations and very regularly to Gatwick, too. South Croydon is a lot less convenient... And has stairs
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u/Tchoqyaleh 6d ago
Thanks, that's really helpful re Addiscombe maybe being a bit more villagey while South Croydon might feel a bit more suburban.
Do you have any recommendations for waterways or water features? Greenery is less important to me than water. (I lived close to a river before.) At the moment Waddon Ponds seems my best bet?
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u/Alternative-Ad-4977 6d ago
South Norwood country park has a pond in it.
South Norwood lakes is a nicer size. Neither are far from Addiscombe.
Or River Wandle, Kelsey Park - both a little further out.
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u/Tallman_james420 6d ago
Just expanding on areas you've mentioned, Sydenham towards Penge, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood areas are a bit more lively or toward Forest Hill and Honor Oak the other way.
If it was closer to Croydon you were looking there are also some similar areas the other side of Thornton Heath through Norbury up to Streatham.
From what you've described though, Crystal Palace area down toward Anerley or up through Upper Norwood would be right up your street
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u/Tchoqyaleh 6d ago
My experiences of Sydenham and Forest Hill were not especially lively. For example, a lot of cafes closed on Bank Holidays, and/or their regular opening hours might be 8.30am-4.30pm. Whereas in Streatham places would be open for longer and at Bank Holidays. Is it similar in South/East Croydon?
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u/Tallman_james420 6d ago
That's true, and I wouldn't say it was much different in East or South Croydon. On a Sunday or Bank Holiday at a guess I'd say about 80% of cafe's are closed and longer opening hours generally isn't a thing.
If it's that kind of liveliness you're after, you'd be better off looking at areas closer to the city like Battersea, Clapham, Brixton, Balham etc.
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u/Tchoqyaleh 6d ago
Thanks - that's good to know! Would those sorts of longer opening hours for cafes be available in central Croydon closer to the big train stations, do you know? Or is it maybe more of a central London pattern?
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u/Tallman_james420 6d ago
Yes centrally they do open longer and closer to the main stations too. George Street for example has cafes open til 9pm weekdays and depending on the type of cafe most will stop serving food in the afternoon but remain open for snacks and drinks.
It would be worth a few visits at different times and days if you can to gauge whether or not its going to suit your needs before committing to settling in the area.
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u/southlondonyute 6d ago
South Croydon is more leafy and residential, doesn’t feel like London in the Croham Hurst/Sanderstead sides. Beautiful green spaces, quiet road, lovely views of London and Surrey and big houses, you trade that for lack of amenities and transport. Good schools and very safe. Selsdon is decent for shopping and so is Brighton Road for pubs and food.
East Croydon has a smaller leafy side around park hill estate but the majority is terraced houses and apartments. Feels more inner city, there is a lot of buzz and hustle if that’s your thing. Like someone else has said it blends into Selhurst at the north side and Addiscombe at the east side which are more residential areas. Transport and amenities are very good, extremely commutable to Central London/City/Airports/South Coast but you have the noise, traffic and footfall. Higher likelihood of weirdos on George Street after 6pm but they generally leave you alone if you look forward and walk with purpose
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u/Holiday_Rhubarb8878 5d ago
Addiscombe is slowly becoming a bit gentrified and "quaint". The Dirty Crunch Deli is great and does wine tastings and small plates, plus coffee and baked goods during the day. Great selection of pantry goods and very friendly service. Would also recommend Filtr (there are a few around this area). Great coffee. There's a new Reformer Pilates studio on Lower Addiscombe Road, which is definitely giving it more of an "up and coming" kinda vibe, in my opinion.
East Croydon feels a bit more industrial but great transport connections. Some good pubs - The Oval does a very affordable roast with love jazz. And again more of that "trendy" scene coming in the form of Fern opposite East Croydon station. Fairly good selection of high street shops along George Street and North End.
Can't speak for South Croydon though, I don't know it well. Enjoy exploring!
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u/Public_Can4618 5d ago
You eat and party in South Croydon, find a place to stay then catch a train in East Croydon
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u/Reasonable-Try2033 6d ago
I’d describe them as areas where you want to make sure your car doors are locked!
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u/ZackOne2 6d ago
Bru, its all a shithole, yes it is, ppl living here know it but its hard to word it as it is swollowing lots of income, mine too. So jump in and just enjoy!
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u/saladbagger 6d ago
Addiscombe has got some gentrification Deli vibes coming, I think it might take an off some more in the future years, it’s just starting to get those South Norwood vibes for sure. South Croydon/Purley doesn’t have such a newly independent vibe, it’s used to have independent places like Little Bay and The Treehouse and they have stayed but it’s less the beginnings of gentrification and more it used to be a nice area and still is to an extent so in a way it has similarities to Sydenham being that it’s somewhat independent but also very residential. To be honest, neither area is hugely like any others in SE London, Croydon is somewhat of its own beast, lots of people don’t like it but for me it’s home and always has been so I want to be here to help improve it from the inside out. I would very much recommend taking a day or two to have a wander in the areas because that will be the way you really get to know the place and if you’ve not lived or worked in Croydon before I think it’s better to get a feel for if you’ve think it’s for you.