I have posted this elsewhere, but would like to say a good word about South Norwood, really hoping that is up and coming.
I have lived here for 5 years and bough a nice Victorian house 3 years ago.
Lots of positives has been said already, which we enjoy every day, i.e.:
- excellent commuting Norwood Junction-City, 11 mins on the train, and rarely a major delay,
- lovely Country park nearby for playground, walking, cycling and blackberries,
- Croydon by tram for shopping, must emphasize tram because it?s more comfy than buses,
- Crystal Palace & Beckenham just 10 mins by bus/tram,
- South Norwood leisure centre & swimming pool (I would never go swimming if it wasn?t that close),
- excellent links with airports (even First Capital Connect line from East Croydon Gatwick-Luton),
- never experienced any problem/crime (touch wood),
- childcare more affordable than elsewhere, £4-5/hour,
- lots of lovely people and villagey feel. I especially love walking around Harrington road area & country park, where I feel like in a countryside.
- East London Line worth mentioning, which I don?t use personally.
I would like to mention schools as a separate topic. I have two children, 4.5 and 2, and this is very important to me. Well, surprisingly, quite few improvements here.
- St. Thomas Becket RC and Cypress ? outstanding primaries
- St. Chad?s RC, Ryelands, Monks Orchard ? good primaries
- South Norwood Primary, Heavers Farm ? fast improving with very good SATS results in recent year
Secondaries are known to be not so good in Croydon, however:
- Harris Crystal Palace, Harris South Norwood ? both outstanding academies,
- BRIT school in Selhurst is very valued,
- St Joseph?s in Upper Norwood quite OK,
- choice of Sutton/Bromley grammars,
- a new secondary will open in Sandown road from 2013. I really look forward to hear what school it will be, because it might mean South Norwood can become a very desirable area!
Sorry for long post!