Why do Sutton and Croydon get so much negativity?

[Youwouldntlastandh0ur]

This is coming from an outside perspective - so bear with me. I lived in Wandsworth/Merton area. and when I was younger I used to hear so many people talk about Sutton and Croydon (and areas around there) and how bad it is. What's wrong with it? As far as I've known, I've pointed out differences:

Sutton

Primary aged kids, families with younger children, Christians, big open spaces, and feels like a village.

Croydon:

Younger people, young adults, big nightlife, lots of shops, chavvy, secondary aged kids and lots of cultures.

Places like Camden are complete dumps imo but many people think Camden is great. been there many times & always feel like the whole borough needs a good hose down.

I lived in Croydon for 30 years before moving to the leafier parts of Sutton

I lived in west Croydon, Thornton heath and the more suburb like Shirley

I have never been a victim of crime, never been accosted and not found it to be unsafe but u know it has changed a lot

I used to work in the town centre when big businesses used to be there before they all disappeared and all the shops had compulsory purchase orders. The centre used to be wonderful! Markets at Christmas, loads of lights and late night shopping.

I went into the town centre last year and it was unrecognisable. Empty lots, lots youths hurling abuse and the shopping centre was deserted.

I'm told Westfield is still supposed to happen but I can't see how they will turn it back to what it was. They've moved to mire retail park shopping and changed up purley way to be more destination shopping now

I spent some time living in Kent at by comparison was mugged twice!

You're not. The areas mentioned here as rough are true dumps. Unfortunately I'm the area regularly (I don't live there) and count down the time until I can leave. I was raised in a rough area and am street wise but I absolutely abhor Croydon (parts of).

That's sad. I grew up in Croydon and quite liked the rep. The shock and horror you get when you say where you're from, people expect you to be rough as a badger's arse.

I think reputation is becoming reality. Which is very sad. I'll be back for a visit in the summer so I'll see then!

Croydon Hospital used to be called Mayday and everyone used to refer to it as May-Die because it was so awful. 🙈🤣

I find Sutton and Bromley fairly similar people wise. Hmm, actually, Bromley a bit rougher/wankier youths. Sutton high street is uninspired but I find the surrounding area and people quite nice. Bromley had much more choice for shopping.
Croydon has a nasty feel to it, like everyone on edge or looking for trouble. Also, lots of religious spouting (with microphones in case you couldn't quite hear the preaching🙄).
I just keep my head down, bag clutched to my body and get on with what I have to do while being very aware of my surroundings. Damn shame.

I am somewhat familiar with both area - I don't particularly like either. I don't think they are bad area. I prefer living in north London

The Cronx as it's referred to locally. It's a shit hole, mostly. I went to school in Shirley many years ago, got mugged at EC station twice in a few months on my way home from school, got caught in a mass brawl in the Walkabout, the area down to Purey Way is awful.

Good memories of the Orchid though 😂

Ha, DH and I had our Covid second jab in Croydon shopping centre. We left feeling we might have caught something far worse than covid. It wasn't pleasant.

Oh my goodness the Orchid! ❤️🤣😁 I used to love it there. Me and my friends used to pile in there, all underage of course.

The majority of people from Croydon still call the hospital Mayday/Maydie.

I've lived in Croydon. As a teen in the leafier outskirts and in my early/mid twenties either side of Holmesdale road (nightmare on match day, even for this palace fan!)

West Croydon/Thornton Heath/shrublands/monks hill/addo were always a bit grotty, the latter 3 areas were more family orientated though.

West Croydon/T.Heath were no go areas on the early 90s! Apart from the sticky carpet of Cinatras....

Croydon town centre used to be great for shopping and nightlife, it started getting sketchy in the early 2000s. There was a football riot one night, 2004 I think and it really did seem to snowball after that.

Then there were the 2011 riots. Reeves corner razed to the ground.

Despite this there is still so much development going on, the Boxpark is probably the only good thing about the Cronx these days.

Sutton (centre) was always seen as Croydons chavvier neighbour.
Used to have a few fun places for nights out there too. Again the shops/nightlife/restaurants have dwindled making it rather dull and nondescript.

I wouldn't choose to live in either borough, although I work in both!

Ah the blue Skoolkid 🤣

And Cinderella's/Jazz.

I was in Jazz the night of a big drugs raid!!

Croydon town centre itself is utterly shit at the moment. Mostly empty shops and a nasty feel to it a lot of the time.

Other parts of the borough of Croydon are OK though, especially to the south (where we live).

I still can't wait until both my DC have finished school and we can move away, though. 2 years to go...

"Reeves corner razed to the ground."

I find East Croydon really awful but that area is particularly sinister. I didn't recall that bit of the riots when I was there but omg the vibe there is basically - run!

I also moved in Wandsworth and Merton for years whilst working in the Sutton and Croydon areas. Sutton was ok but Croydon was rough. I didn’t like it there at all!

The whole tram journey from Wimbledon to Croydon town centre is so depressing. It's a tour of where not to live in London stop by stop.

In the noughties I did a professional qualification at Croydon College. I was there from 1.30pm until 8.30pm. It was an easy train journey. I used public transport twice. Going home was uncomfortable from East Croydon. If I hadn't had £12 for parking, I don't think I'd have stuck the course out.

Nowadays I sometimes go to the employment tribunal at West Croydon. The area feels very dodgy.

I have heard the Whitgift Centre called the Shitgift Centre.

The paradox is that it should be tons better because the transport links are so good.

One thing I've noticed is there are lots more 'white working class' families in Sutton croydon than there are in inner London these days - the scaffolders. Hairdressers, tradies etc . Different demographic than zone 2. Sutton was only London brexit borough I think!

I agree. I saw a gigantic cat size black rat there

I have only visited that hospital once. They saved my life and the care and attention was exemplary - unlike the employee at the Croydon hotel where I was taken ill, who told me to call my own taxi.

Croydon is a very mixed bag at the momemt and has been absolutely run into the ground by corrupt (and now bankrupt) local government. There are some lovely green spaces though and some nice restaurants. Great transport links. South Croydon and surrounding suburbs is absolutely fine. Town centre has been left to rot and is dodgy now. It still has a lot of potential if properly managed. Lot of development going on around East Croydon and starbucks etc appearing

Sutton seems grey, dull and boring to me. Whereas Croydon is quite edgy but you can still have a good night out.

Ive never had any issues in Croydon btw, its mainly stupid gang on gang nonsense. My kids have been hassled on the bus a bit and get 'gang checked' but nothing serious. I went to Southend recently and I felt unsafer there tbh. Someondy atttempted to mug me in Crawley recently, which is much more of a shithole than Croydon imo. Maybe its what you know. I like Purley Way shopping :)

I really wish I had positive things to say about it. I nearly died after 67 hours in labour with dd during which time they made a complete cascade of increasingly awful mistakes. I made a formal complaint and developed such severe pnd afterwards I was on a dose of antidepressants they don’t even prescribe anymore.

Ah but the joy when you see the ikea towers!

IKEA is a happy place just before Croydon on that route.

Exactly! I love a mooch round that ikea and free tea in the cafe. The other shops in there are good too and its easy to park. In fact the whole of the areas surrounding central Croydon are perfectly fine bits of outer London. Its just central shopping area and west croydon/thornton heath which are dodgy. I live south of Croydon and have never been to Mayday, sorry Croydon University Hospital, but I know people who have had both horrendous and great experiences there, probably like all big London hospitals. I had an experience similar to above poster at St Thomas' for example giving birth.

Croydon has its issues, for sure, like much of outer London, but I think there's some hype too.