Croydon 2012 – The Place To Be!

The festivities of Christmas are over and the New Year reflections focus on the past year’s events in and around Croydon.

 As a result of the U.K’s (and World’s) economic difficulties 2011 was a year of few ups and many downs within the city of Croydon.  For example the Annual Croydon Summer Festival was not able to go ahead, as planned, due to the cut backs that Croydon Council had to make in order to adhere to the Government Spending Review. This hugely popular annual festival is usually held over two days with four sound stages featuring world, acoustic, and dance music with a community stage for local talent to showcase their skills. The event also usually provides a global market, funfair, kids area, outdoor performances, and a fully licensed bar ensuring the entire family are entertained. However, sadly in 2011, this was not to be!

Another unfortunate occurrence was in the Summer of 2011 when Croydon Town Centre (like many other towns and cities across the UK) was rocked by violent antisocial rioting. The community was in shock at the turn of events and the mindless damage caused. Businesses that had survived during World War II, crumbled during the outbreak of unprecedented violence by antisocial youths, against Croydon and its people.

As we start a New Year the good news is the Phoenix of Croydon is rising from the riot torn embers once again! The rich diverse community of Croydon can work together with local businesses and Croydon Council towards a brighter future. Already there are plans for the rejuvenation of Croydon and its surrounding areas breaking ground in 2012.

The London Borough of Croydon already has so much to celebrate as it is a diverse and exciting city in which to live, work and play! It has something for everyone: shopping, entertainment (for kids and adults alike), restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, heritage, parks and open spaces. The town is a perfect base for exploring London and South East England having excellent public transport links and road links into and out of London.

History

Croydon is a dynamic modern city but it is proud of its rich heritage. A major part of Croydon’s history is its airport. Croydon Airport was home to the world’s first international terminal, from the earliest days of air transportation until it closed in 1959. Another interesting point to note is that it was from here that Amy Johnson made her first solo flight to Darwin, Australia in 1930. Her incredible achievement was recognised and celebrated on her return to Croydon when thousands of people lined Purley Way to welcome her back.

The airport also impressively has its place in British history as it played a vital role during World War II. It was closed to civil flying and became the Fighter Command base for the RAF during the Battle of Britain.

Croydon airport is also responsible for a number of major technical innovations, such as early aerial direction finding by radio, runway marker lines, and through baggage hall.  It is currently open as a visitor centre for aviation.

Retail Therapy

Croydon is one of the largest shopping areas outside of Central London with over 2.5 million sq. ft of retail space.  It has two shopping malls, the Whitgift Centre and Centrale. which between them provide a first class shopping experience; catering for all fashion and retail needs.  The area between the two main centres is completely pedestrianised and the large variety of well-known retailers include:

       Allders

       Boots

       Debenhams

       House of Fraser

       Marks and Spencer

       Next

Centrale Shopping Centre claims to offer a little piece of paradise for those with children, providing a whole raft of facilities, services and experiences to keep both parents and children happy and having fun.

Parent and child facilities are available on each mall level and within Debenhams and House of Fraser.

Centrale itself has wide areas for buggies and lifts throughout the centre making for a peaceful and anxiety-free shopping trip.

Parent and child parking bays are available on all levels within the Centrale car park.

Centrale welcomes even the youngest of customers, so Debenhams have created a VIP Baby service to provide everything babies and their parents need.

• Baby food available to purchase
• Baby food and bottle warming facilities
• Highchairs
• Baby wipes

A FREE, Child-Safe scheme is in operation in many of the stores around the centre.

Croydon is also home to a thriving street market every day except Sundays in Surrey Street selling a wide selection of vegetables, fresh fruit, flowers and general goods.

Complimenting the two shopping centres, but slightly out of town, is the ‘Purley Way/Valley Park’ shopping area, along the A23, which has a range of businesses, stores and superstores to meet everyone’s needs, such as:

       B & Q

       Boots

       John Lewis at Home

       PC World

       Currys

       Argos

       TK Maxx

       IKEA

       Next

       Wing Yip

In addition to all of this Croydon town centre, and its surrounding areas, have a rich cafe culture where young and old can relax, play and socialise day and night.

Transport Links

Croydon also has excellent public transport and road links. It is an ideal base too for exploring London and the South East of England. By train, Central London is just 20 minutes away and Brighton can be reached in under an hour. Most trains into London stop at Victoria or London Bridge; the Brighton - Bedford line runs through East Croydon (stopping helpfully at Luton Airport), and trains south to Gatwick Airport are also frequent.

In addition to this, and decades after the old trams stopped running in Croydon, a new Tramlink opened in 2000 and has since proved to be the most reliable public transport service in the UK! Also popular because it runs east-west (not north-south like the trains) connecting Croydon with Wimbledon, Beckenham Junction and New Addington.

All in all the London Borough of Croydon provides an infusion of fashion and lifestyle opportunities and choices to meet the wide needs of its diverse society.