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.

Not many independent restaurants

Au contraire! Croydon has the "Restaurant Quarter" and there are loads of restaurants. You'd never go hungry in Croydon.

I lived in Croydon for a good few years, it was a while ago though. I wouldn't go back to anywhere near West Croydon, too close to Thornton Heath and not nice anyway.

East Croydon was better and South Croydon OK too, however I believe that crime has increased a lot. I wouldn't move back to either. Neither would I move back to Addiscombe.

I don't know Sutton too well but wasn't impressed when I was there recently and had stayed there in the past and not liked it then either.

I would suggest looking on the Police and local crime maps for areas you are interested in, if you find a property you like, check the road out on the maps too, you can go back a few years to see how it has changed.

Although to be fair it is shit for shopping now, Bromley well with the journey (or town/Westfield on train). Really hope Westfield does happen.

I bought a car in Croydon (I live the opposite side of the M25 in the SE) and the car dealer guy told me not to leave money in the little dash tray as in Croydon people would smash the windows in for £1

I live in a low crime area but it didn’t strike me as any worse than North London Which I am much more familiar with

I live in Purley and I love it! Green, leafy and I can get into London quicker than when I lived in Crystal Palace thanks to the fast trains. Yes the middle with the Tesco's and roundabout is a bit grim, but get away from there and it is very attractive! If you go to Sanderstead there's even a Waitrose! I have a lovely big house with a large garden for the same price as a London flat. In fact, I want people to stay away so the house prices don't go up even more...

Because they are grim. I grew up in that area of Surrey, in one of the nicer places mentioned up thread, and now live in another. The only thing to be said for Sutton is a fast train to Victoria although if someone money went into the high street, it could be a great locality, there are some beautiful properties there and good schools.

I wasn't allowed to go in to Croydon as a child/young adult and I've only "been there" once as an adult, changing between the stations. I don't feel I missed out, tbh. Spots like Sanderstead, Warlingham & Whyteleafe are nice though, and Selsey is ok, I used to enjoy the spa day deal at one of the hotels there!

Yes its looking a bit grimy in the centre while they run down the leases for Westfield, if it ever happens. But there is a thriving restaurant scene, Boxpark, a great local street art scene and good schools. Plus a lot of incoming investment. Combined with fantastic transport links, I personaly have a lot of time for Croydon.

Sutton is a lot blander in comparison.

@calpop even as kid I found Sutton grey!

We have a family member who lives in Sutton. We openly joke we’ll be wearing our stab vests when we visit.

Well LB of Croydon - there are nice places also the train link is good into Victoria ( E Croydon - not so much West Croydon Station ) - I do not get the utter hatred - presumably @Dobdebdop is capable of finding a house which suits her and / or family - yes Purley I would not count as Croydon as are other places Pps have suggested. It isn't central London , but can be very convenient and there are places in the environs which are nice if not Kensington. But then - ( & I am sure 1000s of people will turn up & disagree ) who of us can afford to live in central Kensington.

A friend of mine has a nice flat south of Croydon central - lived there for years . Not a family home but very nice , peaceful and safe ( IMHO when I have visited )

Good Luck Dobdebdop - either there or elsewhere - with your house hunt

are the people you talk to living somewhere posh

Richmond area is where we live now and most of our friends live here too.

OP Richmond is gorgeous!

okay, that's going to be a change....but going mortgage free must be v exciting.

Interesting that, according to this thread, the more ethnically diverse parts of the borough are "grim" but the more homogenous and affluent parts (Purley, Kenley, etc) are acceptable.

Purley is very much in Croydon by the way

okay, that's going to be a change....but going mortgage free must be v exciting.

It will be a big relief and hopefully lets us go on more holidays

Oh God, I grew up between Sutton and Kingston, went to school in Cheam and college in Selhurst.

Sutton/Croydon are utter holes. Cheam is beautiful, decent schools but jaysus, save your money and look elsewhere!

Where does everyone live in Sutton to have this bad impression? Lived here for ages now and I don't see these kids like animals? Or rough areas? Our crime rate is quite low compared to most boroughs in London. And the town centre isn't all that great but we've just had a few new shops open that's actually been needed it's taken a whilst but retailers are coming back to our high street. The traffic isn't all that bad at all and it's NOTHING like Croydon. Weird

Dobdebdop happy if you want to PM me, my mum, dad and sister are still in Richmond and I'm over here so I know both Worlds. Day to day living here is fine but you will miss having such good shops in your doorstep, really don't compare at all. Schools very good here though, and what I look at with his far money here can stretch compared with in Richmond it is a no brainer. And don't miss Richmond Park at all when we have deer in gardens here. I do miss the shops, the prettiness of things (although with all the art and architecture Croydon is ace, but not 'pretty' like Richmond).

And can get to seaside in under and hour and get to ferry/Channel tunnel in under hour and a half

Sutton really isn't that bad. I don't really get the hate for it and I grew up there! not bad for shopping (Croydon is better) good transport links and some decent schools, yes there is trouble sometimes and I wouldn't walk down the high street (well anywhere) alone at midnight but on the whole not bad!

Why is Croydon a hole but Cheam beautiful?

@anitagreen I agree Sutton is NOTHING like Croydon!

I live in Sutton (near the centre) and love it. Yes the High Street has suffered but most of them have. There are a lot of amenities, you're not far from greenery, transport links are excellent, the schools are good. I could go on. I also read somewhere not so long ago that it was the safest of the London boroughs. Its all relative though, I love convenience and I'm not as bothered as some people might be by appearance. I grew up somewhere that is quite rural where the transport links weren't great, everyone knew each other, the town has only recently got a WHSmith and a Costa, so its convenience every time for me.

Born and brought up in Epsom, that's a bit tatty now. Lived in South Norwood renting, thought it was ok but that was over 30 years ago. West Londoners I was working with were quite snooty about that area. Bought first house in Selsdon again thought it was alright, happy not to be renting. Moved to Hampton Wick/Teddington quite a while ago. I haven't been to Croydon in a long while because Kingston is so much nearer, occasionally go to Sutton, find it quite run down. When I was growing up I do remember it as a nice town, Croydon as well, was taken to The Fairfield Halls as a child for concerts and the ballet even! Well that was my perception of those places then.

Carshalton Beeches is very nice and leafy Furble you should have no worries, Banstead High Street is just up the road with a lovely Waitrose and quite a few coffee shops and places to eat.

I am not sure where you are hearing that Sutton has some deranged crime Alconleigh, it is typically considered one of the safest London Boroughs

I’m Croydon born and bred, moved to a village on the south coast when I was 13 because it was so grim, it’s unsafe during the day let alone at night.
All of my very large family have slowly moved out to the south east and south west coasts. My parents and I go back to visit two very elderly relatives every couple of months and often take them to appointments at St Heliers Hospital in Sutton, it’s beyond depressing there. The hospital is filthy with horrendously long waiting times.
Schools are rough, I was lucky, I went to Old Palace by Reeves Corner.
I wouldn’t ever live there by choice.