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.

Am I the only one on this thread who went to the Blue Orchid?

Thanks for the tips @SoupDragon and @LBOCS2! Noted for next visit!

I went to the blue orchid !!

Also Did anyone go to cinderellas in purley in the 80's ??

Plenty of much nicer areas-the thought of living in Croydon gives me a rash! Purley, Coulsdon, Caterham Warlingham much much nicer

Didiplanthis Not under that name but I think under a different one, I was born in the 80s.

I live in Sanderstead in south Croydon and it’s lovely.
Spent a long time living in Croydon (central) for years, even decades and honestly I can hand on heart say that it isn’t as bad as everyone makes out.

It’s really changing up and lots of plans of regeneration and fixing up the not so nice parts.
I work in Liverpool Street and can get from home to work within 25 mins. Door to door ! It’s fantastic

Plenty of places to shop and plenty of things to do for young and older people.

Lots of green space.

I would say the further out you go, the nicer though. In sanderstead its much nicer, peaceful and picturesque compared to when I was living in central Croydon which I remember being noisy sometimes.

No @fancynancyclancy - we went to the Black Sheep instead 😁

Oh LBOCS2 you were one of the alternative crew!

I think cinderellas rebranded several times to try and escape it's reputation !!

I went used to go to the Blue School-Kid Orchid too! 😂

@fancynancyclancy

No blue orchid for me - I was a cinatras girl in my youth! Then graduated to the ship and black sheep bar. They were good times. And of course roosters (?) chicken!

@Rostbif So did I

Sutton (and Croydon, I believe, but less personal experience here) are big boroughs. The high street in Sutton isn't great, though there is a Waterstones, but towards West Sutton there are some nice leafy streets and Cheam and Carshalton (both within London borough of Sutton) are nice. Independent cafes, shops, museums, parks- it's great. There is quite a difference in generations I suspect- quite a few older people who have lived in the area for years and see it as part of Surrey, and then loads of young families who have moved out from places like Tooting/Streatham/Clapham etc in the past decade or so... These people tend to view Sutton's identity more as a London borough.
Worth noting Sutton is the only leave voting London borough. Went off it a bit after that.

But there is lots to do, there's a great sense of community, many lovely people, many excellent schools, you get benefits of great parks/green space/access to countryside and coast, whilst still having a fast and relatively cheap (well it's all relative!) commute to central London.

I grew up the the 'nicer' areas of Croydon - sanderstead, Purley, Riddlesdown, Warlingham... And my brother lives in Caterham. The ONLY good thing about growing up in these areas were the quick trains into London. I had to visit my mum this morning (currently selling her sanderstead home) and toom over an hour to drive the last 2 miles due to traffic.

As soon as I could afford it I changed my London hospital job for a Surrey hospital and moved outside of the M25.
All but one of my friends have done the same and the one that stayed is in a council flat and has no chance of moving yet.

These areas are good for a London commute and Croydon is 'supposed' to be up and coming due to the possible up grade of the shopping centre which was supposed to be finished by 2020 ( not yet started) but I was determined not to bring my child up there.

Ironically the majority of people ive met who have expressed how much they hate Croydon - are people who have never lived in Croydon and/ or rarely visit but have heard it’s reputation and have a biased view on the area.

Oh yes school kid!!
Isn't a fake id and underage clubbing a rite of passage?

We liked living in Sutton. Lovely victoriana house, great bus routes, fast train into London ans a fantastic Mexican restaurant. I never once felt unsafe. We got married there too- happy days!

Black sheep & Hero's too!!!

Nothing like Black Sheep till late then a visit to the pigeon shop across the road @bollocksitshappenedagain - great times. DH and I were in the Ship last weekend, it's still going strong.

Black sheep here too

@rainydayseveryday 👊🏻🍻

Sutton was one of the few London boroughs where the majority voted to leave the EU.
That should be enough to put off 95% of Mumsnetters

@LBOCS2 oh the sheep!!! All my Timehop memories are cringey selfies there. So much fun. Then a fun trip home on the N213, we were devastated when they cancelled the night bus!

Who remembers joe bananas or water town, god that was a shithole