Moving to Croydon, where would you recommend.

[HarrowToCroydon]

We are thinking of locating to Croydon from Harrow. At first glance Croydon seems more affordable than Harrow. Our budget is around 500k to 575k and happy to do up a house but space is key. The train connections to London from East Croydon are part of the consideration and Croydon feels greener than Harrow. Are there areas you can recommend and areas we should steer clear of?

Sanderstead has good train connections (2 train stations on different lines which is useful) and is pretty green - also easy to get out of Croydon!

Avoid central/east/west... pretty much anything other than south really.

I’ve just moved to South Norwood, round the corner from Norwood Junction station. I LOVE it! It’s the borough of Croydon rather than Croydon town itself but the fast train to London from NJ is 12 mins, also goes to Victoria and the overground passes through, really good bus and train links to elephant and castle, Brixton, Balham, and other places where you can pick up the tube. It’s really well connected but also nice and quiet with some beautiful parks, my road is a lovely wide tree-lined road of Victorian semis. Not sure how many bedrooms you need but I’m sure you could find a 2/3 bed in that budget here

The fast train to London Bridge, I meant to say.

If you have approaching teenage kids I would avoid Croydon. Well tbh I'd avoid it full stop!

I live a couple of miles away and barely go anymore. It was meant to have a westfield so everything got very run down but I don't think that is now going ahead.

I only occasionally allow my daughter to go to meet a specific friend who lives the other side of it and I want her home by 4ish!

Coulsdon? Right on the Downs.

@Newnormal99
Harrow where we live is a dump. We had drug alley next to our house which we vacated short while ago.
Is Croydon that bad?

[quote HarrowToCroydon]@Newnormal99
Harrow where we live is a dump. We had drug alley next to our house which we vacated short while ago.
Is Croydon that bad?[/quote]
For me it's more the safety aspect. It's not really a place I want my daughter going out and defiantly not in the evening. South Croydon is quite leafy as an area. The other sides are far more built up and Londoney!

I do think it's very run down at the moment though there are a lot of new flats gone up in last few years so whether this will slowly have an effect.

It cannot be denied it's great for commuting though. Trains are very frequent and very quick.

My friend lives in purley. She has a lovely house on a lovely road. The house prices are very good so we had a look round there too.

I hated it. There isn't a good high street in easy reach for her and Croydon itself is a bit of a dump.

What about Bromley instead ? What size and type of property do you need? Bromley is more expensive.

I really don't think Croydon is a good move.

Is Croydon that bad?

Yes and no...

Most high streets are run down theses days. Croydon has suffered more in that respect because of the failed Westfield project. My DC used to go to Bromley or up to London instead. I've raised 2 teens here and have one remaining and it really hasn't been a problem. I never really wanted them out in Croydon at night but that probably applies to many places. When they've been there at night (the older two) they never go into the very centre and skirt the edge. I don't actually think it is that dangerous if you are not in that culture and stick to the safer areas.

@TedMullins

Will look at South Norwood. We would need a 3 bed, but would need 2 large reception rooms.

@MrsTerryPratchett

We looked at Coulsdon, friend lives there, trains are not that great we felt.

@neverknowme

We need a 3 bed with 2 large reception rooms.

@SoupDragon

I agree, most "town centers" are run down, Harrow included.

Carshalton Village could be an option. About 3 miles from Croydon. Trains are not as fast as East Croydon . But not too bad. Lines into Victoria , London Bridge and Thameslink. Also 20 ish minutes on bus to end of northern line.

£585 should get you 3 bed 30's semi.

Lots of parks and green space plus leisure centre.

Look at Beckenham, maybe.

And Norbury, which is part in Lambeth, part Borough of Croydon. Very affordable, increasing numbers of young professionals who can’t afford to buy in Brixton or Streatham Hill. Good transport, trains to Victoria, London Bridge, or Balham for the tube.

Also Streatham Vale: not v green though.

What train line did you look at in coulsdon? Coulsdon town is a slow track but coulsdon south is very quick to Victoria and London Bridge.

Have a look at Shirley, Monks Orchard, it's quite nice and leafy

Warlingham has a couple of lovely pubs and a few restaurants around a central green. Down the bottom of the hill has 3 stations on 2 different lines into East Croydon. Would get a 3/4 bed semi for your budget

I agree on Shirley, it's a very leafy pleasant area on the Bromley side of Croydon. Selsdon is a bit further out than Shirley and also pleasant.

Croydon town centre is awful. South Croydon is nice though.

You might find something Bromley or surrounding areas then and it would be nicer than Croydon. It won't be detached, most likely a semi would be the best solution. Mid terrace I don't like personally space wise.

You can live in the borough of Croydon and not ever use Croydon Town Centre for shopping, going out etc.

As it happens CTC is a perfectly handy shopping centre. People love the food Box Park, too.

@Bathshebahardy

I agree on Shirley, it's a very leafy pleasant area on the Bromley side of Croydon. Selsdon is a bit further out than Shirley and also pleasant.

The downside of both those is that you'd need to get the bus into East Croydon for trains.

I don't think the budget is enough for 3 beds in Beckenham. It's really sad that a family home is 900 k in the sort of area. I've moved away to Hampshire, because of the prices. Very lovely here in North Hampshire I'd recommend it.