To wonder why Croydon/Sutton get so much negativity

[Dobdebdop]

Me and dh are looking to move from our current house and our currently house hunting in these two boroughs. We are seeking to be able to go mortgage free so I can start a business.

When we brought this up to family and friends, many sounded absolutely horrified at the idea.

When viewing properties we found most of these areas to be pleasant and absolutely fine. The high streets in both are a bit shabby but Central London is less than 30 mins for shopping so we can just go there.

I dont understand why there is so much negativity to this part of South London, I don't know much about this area but my impression is that it was an absolutely fine place to live.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

It’s going next to TK Max and replacing the giant pound shop that went bust last year. So now we’ll be able to stock up not only on Primark and H&M but also Gucci or Fendi locally.

Chartreuser isn't Rutherford opposite Old Palace, in Melville Ave? I used to be taken to the summer fetes there as a child as well. My mum used to support loads of local good causes (and I have carried on the tradition )

@DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops

All but one comps in Sutton achieve above the national average (and most considerably above). And the primaries are top notch too.

Yes, sorry. The Cedars it's a(Catholic I think) boys secondary in Lloyd Park.

I'd forgotten that St Philomena's (probably the highest performing non-grammar Catholic state school in the country) is in Carshalton Beeches.

Do they still wear the ghastly brown and turquoise blazers?

@JoJoSM2- is that going to be in Times Square? Be interesting to see what that actually entails. Sounds really good!

To a lot of people the "good schools" are still the grammars though, I think. Think the point pps have tried to make is that they're the first schools a lot of people will think of or have heard of due to them having had good reputations for a long time.

IGottaSeeJane This is the St Philomena uniform. It used to be turquoise cardi and plain brown skirt when i lived there

@IGottaSeeJane- they have brown with yellowy embroidery now, brown and yellowy faun check skirts, faun blouses and hideous creamy puffy wool socks. They're not "St Philomingers" without good reason . It's an amazing school though!

What is with the wrinkly socks? I remember them having those years ago.

I've only just realised how much turquoise thread there still is in the uniform, tbh. Whenever I seem the girls around, my first impression is still BROWN. Then I always check for the ever fascinating socks. Used to be really jealous of Sutton High in their lovely purple!

I think that uniform was introduced in about the late 80s when there were still nuns at St P's. Maybe they designed it to try and deter boys as much as possible

@Aventurine my auntie by marriage was at St. Phils when the socks came in I think! She always goes "eugh" when they're mentioned.

We always heard that the nuns chose it to deter teenage boys full of hormones! The grounds are beautiful. Someone in my year had an interview there for VI form and came back furious because her mum had reversed onto the sacred lawn by accident!

Because it's currently fashionable to criticise areas within the vicinity of London whilst pretending Cornwall and Yorkshire are just cutesy villages with friendly communities (instead of the reality of deprivation, xenophobia, poor health and poor education).

Croydon and Sutton are no worse than many areas (and have a more educated and affluent population than many, many parts of the country) but they're close to london so must be reviled.

I'm a bit further out. but Purley, Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Sanderstead, Caterham, Warlingham are all nice.

If you're after nice coffee shops etc have you looked in Oxted?

Will be a longer commute but very Surrey.

I refused to go to St Phil’s because of the uniform. #priorities

Is the Old Palace uniform still brown?

fancyNancyClancy that's not the first time I've heard that!

Tapas it's green and purple with white

vimeo.com/169231442

Somebody liked the uniform!

@fancynancyclancy I've known people turn it down on those grounds, too! Had no idea they were in a Travis video, that was a great watch!

Where did you go instead?

Have lived in Sutton for a long time and in the south in particular the streets are quiet, safe and pretty green. Nice parks, good schools but admittedly the High Street could be more varied and look nicer (there are good transport links to Croydon, Kingston and London if you need a bit more though). Supermarket wise we have a good sized Morrisons, Sainsburies and Asda on the High Street, Tescos nearby - all with good bus links for those without cars.

Property still cheaper than most of the rest of London, increasing number of places to eat and drink and crime lower than many places. Good links to London (trains to Victoria, London Bridge, Kings Cross - or head off to the tube in Morden).

Some nice local events each year as well - Environmental Fair in Carshalton in August and a small fair in December, farmers market in Wallington, fair in Cheam. Good evening classes locally in anything from languages to painting to pilates. Admittedly biased as was born locally and then moved back.

I’ve lived in Croydon, and Carshalton - if you’re moving from Richmond and still want good London connections and the villagy feel, my advice would be steer clear and look out to the Kent borders - Sevenoaks way maybe. You possibly won’t get as much of a bargain but it won’t be as much of a culture shock, still good restaurants/schools etc, and still only 45 mins into London Bridge.

Or oxted, as PP has mentioned.

Don't forget the music festival in Wallington! Whole day of local bands / singers playing at venues throughout Wallington. Open air during the day - pubs and restaurants in the evening.

I thought of this thread when I drove past Carshalton Ponds today, I was too distracted by the beautiful heron and the posters for Carshalton artists open studios to look out for gang-related crime and decapitations but I'm sure they were right there next to 17th Century Honeywood House and Museum if I looked hard enough.

Sometimes MN outdoes itself.