Is South Croydon good for young family?

[CharlotteMax]

We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers and is looking for a vibrant city with things to do ( e.g. Swimming / park / shops / cafes) and reasonable commute time to London.

Yet, safety is our first priority and we keep on hearing voice saying "Croydon" is not good in terms of safety.

However, I saw some ppl saying "South Croydon" is different from "Croydon". Any mums can help?

Oh god no - Croydon is awful!! Do you WANT your teenagers getting into knives /gangs/drugs etc?
Literally pick anywhere else in the uk!

If you are looking for affordable and commutable but things to do look at woking, Basingstoke, Guildford etc

South Croydon is really just a residential area of Croydon. Your default town centre for socialising teens would be Croydon and TBH I wouldn't want that for my ten daughter.

I live a couple of miles outside Croydon just far enough that her default is another town.

Plus I personally think it's pretty run down at moment - there was meant to be a Westfield built so I think a lot of shops closed in preparation of that so I don't find shopping great. There is a small leisure centre at Waddon but not sure there is one nearer South Croydon unless you go to the private chains.

I would also beware as Croydon Council was made bankrupt last year and so I imagine there have been / will be cutbacks in council services.

They are building large quantities of flats though.

I will give it commuting! It's great from East Croydon / very quick and loads of trains.

Purley is ok - but purley is not south Croydon.

I live there with a young family and know plenty of people who live with young children who are very happy to live here. It has plenty of parks and things to do nearby and as much as I hate the phrase there is a sense of community about it. Nowhere is perfect but I like living here despite the image Croydon has.

Jesus, no. I would sell my soul to move my children out of Croydon before they were teenagers. I can't think of few worse places to live with teenagers.

Why have you said 'young family' in your title when you're talking about teenagers? That means toddler age.

@Mumbot345635

Oh god no - Croydon is awful!! Do you WANT your teenagers getting into knives /gangs/drugs etc? Literally pick anywhere else in the uk!

This.

You’ll get people coming along shortly to tell you it’s changed / changing and is fine etc like any other city type area - it’s really isn’t. I lived and worked there for 26 years and it’s a complete shit hole. In the end we moved to South Norfolk after I got mugged in broad daylight. (Followed off the train and crept up behind me). I’ve been flashed at in parks, had various friends experienced crimes / muggings etc. Honestly just go elsewhere.

We are considering Purley too, is it much better in terms of safety?

Why purley? Honestly what could it offer you that Woking or Basingstoke couldn’t?

Purley is a pocket of niceness but like others said your kids would be going to Croydon as the nearest big place

I lived in Kenley next to Purley for about 5 years, my ds was 5 at the time and I really liked it. Croydon itself- not one bit and the one time I had to venture into the town centre was one time too many. I really wouldn’t want a teenager to be going there as it has an awful but deserving reputation.

Basingstoke isn’t exactly great either (very near there now) and I remember reading I think on pistonheads that it was chavvy, but they were shouty, spitty chavs and not stabby shooty ones Thought that was quite funny, and probably pretty accurate.

Purley it self seems a ok area but the main secondary there - Harris- has a big intake from Croydon. So your kids would just default there whether you liked it or not!

Other local areas maybe somewhere like cheam village or carshalton. Great schools loads of green space, large leisure centres. Carshalton now has independent arts venue However they don't really hit the vibrant city aspect! Shops would be sutton which has a decent selection of chain shops (but is nothing thrilling)

Reigate seems quite nice when I visit it. Lots of cafes and restaurants. More independent shops.

Purley / Kenley / Sanderstead / Carshalton - fine. Actual South Croydon, no.

Depends what school your kids would get into though. I went to school in Croydon and travelled in from Surrey but we didn't go to the state schools and I was never allowed out in Croydon as an elder teen.

Really

The area is an utter dive.

Hideous

😆 I agree with that definition of Basingstoke! However the op is willing to move to Croydon (!) so I thought I’d suggest Basingstoke as a step up and still have a short commute/city centre. I wouldn’t class it as ‘nice’ either.

Firstly, what's your budget?
Second, where do you need to commute to in London?
Third, what do you think would be a 'reasonable commute time' into London?

All of those things are key factors!