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Original poster

Anyone know South Croydon?

82 replies

IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 13:32

We are thinking of moving there in maybe 18 months time. It looks quite nice and oddly underpriced - unless there's something I'm missing.

Anyone have any experience of living there or advice on schools etc?

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Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 14:46

Yes I see. But not so suburban that you feel as though you have been pickled alive? [hopeful emoticon]

Must be nice to be so close to the country and the city at the same time?

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Seeline · 26/08/2008 14:55

IMO there's no real centre as S Croydon covers such a huge area. Really you centre on either school activities, church activities or small local social groups. Whilst it's useful being close to shops etc of central Croydon, I think you wouldn't want to stay there too long. Senior schools really are a problem if you can't afford private and your children aren't brilliant.

Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 14:58

The duckpond is starting to sound like the best thing about the whole place.

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Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 15:07

So I'm thinking we could probably move somewhere like here. Seems to have a good primary nearby (St Peters), a park, and is close to South Croydon railway station. Surely it's a good idea?

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serenity · 26/08/2008 15:29

Selsdon Road is quite busy, it's one of the 'local' ways to get out of Croydon - in the mornings it's solid with commuters. However you're within walking distance of the main/shopping bit of Croydon. However, if it's a toss up between Tooting and South Croydon, I'd go for South Croydon anyday (but I'll admit I probably only know the grotty bits of Tooting!)

serenity · 26/08/2008 15:29

Too many howevers there sorry - got distracted halfway through!

Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 15:34

Thank you, serenity - that's more or less exactly what I wanted to hear, apart from the traffic issue. We live in the grotty bit of Tooting. Well not the really grotty bit near Mitcham, but bad enough. And we really couldn't afford to buy anywhere around here, which is why I'm so surprised by South Croydon prices.

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stitch · 26/08/2008 16:33

oops, yes, i sort of know that croydon doesnt have grammars, but the grammars in sutton, excessive number of them there, dont actually have catchment areas ata ll. all they ask is that you get their in time for the bell. wilsons used to have a boy commute in from brighton everyday.( i did a teacing practice there too )
i would also choose south croydon over tooting any time. no, i dont live in croydon, but nearby.

Dropdeadfred · 26/08/2008 16:39

what are primary schools like in sutton?

stitch · 26/08/2008 16:43

some are excellent, some are not so excellent. but i think that even the bad schools in sutton are better than the good schools where i used to live iyswim

JamieAndHerMagicTorch · 26/08/2008 16:48

I would say the primaries in Sutton are very good - the ones closest to the town centre itself are some of the better ones (like Robin Hood Infants & Junious, Manor Park etc)

SoupDragon · 26/08/2008 16:52

Hmmm... the park on the map given for that house is, I think, actually Whitgift School!

Selsdon Rd is indeed very busy and fairly narrow so gets clogged up easily. It is near a pub or 3 though!

stitch · 26/08/2008 17:03

lol, yes, that park is the school. how cheeky of them. to pretend there is such a massive park nearby, just tosell the property.
on th eplus side, whitgifit is an excellent school.

Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 17:04

No swings then. It's a private school though, isn't it?

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QueenMeabhOfConnaught · 26/08/2008 17:10

Yes, Whitgift is private.

Fair point that others have made re secondary schools. Riddlesdown takes 300 a year!!! There is a big shake up of secondary schools going on at the moment with 4 closing.

QueenMeabhOfConnaught · 26/08/2008 17:14

Thinking about it, another option is to move to Shirley, near the boundary with Bromley. You could get yourself in the catchment for Oak Lodge primary and Langley Park secondary - both fantastic schools.

serenity · 26/08/2008 17:16

Park Hill Rec is (was, maybe haven't been for a couple of years) a really, really nice park and is walkable from the house you linked to. It's not that there aren't any parks, you just have to know where they are

Seeline · 26/08/2008 17:16

What attracyed you so S Croydon IB? Just the prices or something else as well?

serenity · 26/08/2008 17:19

If I moved out to South Croydon I'd be tempted to stick them on the train to Oxted (about 15 minutes) and send them to Oxted County school - good school ime (my brother and sister both went there)

Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 17:24

The prices, yes. But also the fact that it's quite quick both to get into London and out to where my inlaws live. And it's a bit less horrible than West Croydon.

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QueenMeabhOfConnaught · 26/08/2008 17:28

How would you get into Oxted County from Croydon? Surely it's miles outside the catchment area?

QueenMeabhOfConnaught · 26/08/2008 17:31

How does this house grab you? In catchment for both of the schools I mentioned.

house

Dropdeadfred · 26/08/2008 17:31

Oxted is soooooooo over subscribed you are lucky to get in if you live on the door step these days...

Original poster
IorekByrnison · 26/08/2008 17:31

Would extreme hothousing help? (must get those flashcards done...)

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serenity · 26/08/2008 17:33

Badly thought out idea actually, sorry It's one of those mad 'OMG the secondary schools are so crap' panic attacks that I've been getting since looking at schools for DS1 (I wouldn't do it, but I could cheat and use my Mums address)

Just ignore me, please, brain's currently not engaged.