What’s Thornton Heath like?

[KazzaNige]

We're currently in the process of buying our first home in Thornton Heath after renting in Streatham for 8 years.

I believe Croydon Council is bankrupt but has apparently secured the Westfield development as of the last week despite it being in the works for like 10 years or something.

As for Thornton Heath itself, I have seen a regeneration plan however it wasn't going to be funded by the Croydon Council, so I wasn’t sure if anything has actually been happening. It was published in 2021, does anyone know if much has happened in that time? Has there been any investment in the area?

I appreciate it's still a bit rough and ready looking, but so was Streatham when I first moved there. I know these things take time, especially when the country's close to recession. We have some friend’s that have moved to the area though a little more in either the Crystal Palace side or Selhurst side.

We’re more concerned about whether it’s safe & if there’s a sense of community. We’re dog owners & planning for a family so all of these things matter. We really liked the look of our street & the house we’re buying. The seller had lived in the area for 25 years & raised a family & said good things but it would be good to get a non biased view of someone with lived experience in the area.

Anyway, looking forward to moving to the area & if anyone also has tips on nice places for dog walks or places to eat etc. do let us know.

Norbury is definitely nicer than Thornton Heath.

Norbury is where I used to live. I would say it’s marginally nicer than TH but in all honesty they’re next door to each other. I used to walk to work in Thornton Heath from Norbury.

Hey! Just wondering if you ever moved to TH? And if so, what has your experience been live? Looking to also buy there as you can get more for you money

Hey! Yes, yes, yes… we moved just before the first ‘lock-down’. We’re north of the station, within walking distance from Grangewood Park and Crystal Palace triangle. Have to say, it’s the friendliest community I’ve experienced in my 19 years in London. Every day people say hello in passing. Fly-tips are rife, but community groups are working hard to tackle the issue & once reported, they are cleared up in a matter of hours. We don’t have gastropubs etc, but CP has plenty. More venues are opening up though & there are a lot of interesting/fun things going on in the area. Just check out the We Are Thornton Heath app ~ it’s a community app for all things TH. You can find local news, transport, loads of cool events, local deals, a handy info directory, a street art trail…
Anyway, yes, I recommend TH. I’ve met so many wonderful, supportive, interesting people. Be happy to chat if you ever have a particular area of the Heath in mind. Some areas are probably a touch nicer than others. ☺️ x

Hey! Just wondering if you ever moved to TH? And if so, what has your experience been like? Looking to also buy there as you can get more for you money

Thanks so much for your in-depth reply, super super helpful! We're looking to buy north of TH station, by the traffic light crossroads. We were looking in CP due to the amenities it offers and overall feel of the area which we're not sure TH offers - but like you said it is close! We want to start a family in TH, I've seen a mixture of schools. If you have kids, what's your personal experience been like bringing children up there?

Easy Croydon, south Croydon, Shirley, addiscombe, beckenham, Bromley, Norwood, South Norwood, Selhurst, south Croydon, Selsdon all fine.

Thornton Heath/west Croydon generally not so much. Also avoid New Addington