London Borough of Croydon
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{{For|other places called Croydon|Croydon (disambiguation)}}
{{ Infobox London Borough |
name = London Borough of Croydon |
short_name = Croydon |
adminhq = Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon |
imagename = Image:LondonCroydon.svg |
status = [[London borough]] |
area_rank = 256th |
area_km2 = 86.52 |
ons_code = 00AH |
url = [http://www.croydon.gov.uk/ LB Croydon] |
leadership = Leader & Cabinet |
mayor = Cllr Jonathan Driver|
mps = [[Richard Ottaway]]<br>[[Andrew Pelling]]<br>[[Malcolm Wicks]] |
gla_constituency = Croydon and Sutton |
gla_member = [[Steve O'Connell]]
}}
The '''London Borough of Croydon''' ({{audio|En-uk-LBCroydon.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a [[London borough]] in [[South London]], [[England]] and is part of [[Outer London]]. It covers an area of {{convert|87|km2|sqmi|1|lk=on|abbr=on}} and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of [[London]].<ref name="General info">{{cite web|year = 1996|url = http://www.londononline.co.uk/boroughs/croydon/|title = London Borough of Croydon information|publisher = London Online|accessdate = 2007-10-16}}</ref> The borough is now one of London's leading [[business]], [[financial]] and [[cultural]] centres, and its influence in [[entertainment]] and the [[arts]] contribute to its status as a major metropolitan centre.
At its centre is the historic town of [[Croydon]] from which the borough takes its name. Croydon is mentioned in the [[Doomsday Book]], and from a small market town has expanded into one of the most populous areas on the fringe of London. [[Central Croydon]] is the civic centre of the borough and houses the largest office and retail centre in the south east of England outside [[Central London]].
Croydon Council and its predecessor [[County Borough of Croydon|Croydon Corporation]] unsuccessfully applied for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 1954, 2000 and 2002. The area is currently going through a large regeneration project called [[Croydon Vision 2020]] which is predicted to attract more businesses and tourists to the area as well as backing Croydon's bid to become ''London's Third City''. Since 2003 Croydon has been certified as a [[List of Fairtrade settlements|Fairtrade borough]] by the [[Fairtrade Foundation]]. It was the first London Borough to have Fairtrade status which is awarded on a [[Fairtrade Town|certain criteria]].<ref name="fairtrade">{{cite web|year = 2003|url = http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get_involved/campaigns/fairtrade_towns/towns_list.aspx|title = Fairtrade Towns list|publisher = Fairtrade Foundation|accessdate = 2008-07-08}}</ref><ref name="fairtradecroydon">{{cite web|year = 2003|url = http://www.fair-enough.co.uk/|title = Croydon: London's First Fairtrade Borough|publisher = Croydon Fairtrade Organisation|accessdate = 2008-07-08}}</ref>
==History==
The London Borough of Croydon was formed in 1965 from the [[Coulsdon and Purley Urban District]] and the [[County Borough of Croydon]].<ref name="Arms of Croydon Online">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/origins/arms.asp|title = The Arms of the London Borough of Croydon|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-05}}</ref> It is now governed by a [[cabinet-style council]] created in 2001. The name Croydon comes from Crogdene or Croindone, named by the [[Saxons]] in the 8th century when they settled here, although the area had been inhabited since prehistoric times.<ref name="History of Croydon">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43053|title = Croydon: Introduction and Croydon Palace|publisher = British History Online|accessdate = 2007-10-12}}</ref> It is thought to derive from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''croeas deanas'', meaning "the valley of the [[crocus]]es", indicating that, like [[Saffron Walden]] in [[Essex]], it was a centre for the collection of [[saffron]]. Another opinion<ref name="naming conventions">{{cite web|year = Unknown|url = http://81.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CR/CROYDON.htm|title = Former names of Croydon|publisher = 1911 Encyclopedia|accessdate = 2005-09-23}}</ref> holds that the name derives from the Old French ''croie dune'', meaning "chalk hill", since Croydon stands at the northern edge of the chalk hills called the [[North Downs]].<ref name="1911 name">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Croydon|title = Croydon - The name|publisher = [[1911 Encyclopedia]]|accessdate = 2008-06-05}}</ref>
By the time of the Norman invasion Croydon had a church, a mill and around 365 inhabitants as recorded in the Doomsday Book.<ref name="Croyweb History">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.croyweb.com/Basic/history.htm|title = Local history of Croydon|publisher = Croyweb|accessdate = 2008-06-05}}</ref> The [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[Archbishop Lanfranc]] lived at [[Croydon Palace]] which still stands. Visitors included [[Thomas Beckett]] (another Archbishop), and royal figures such as [[King Henry VIII]] and [[Queen Elizabeth I]].<ref name="History of Croydon book">{{cite book|last= Malden|first= H.E.|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4|year= 1912|publisher= Victoria County History|location= |isbn= }}</ref>
Croydon carried on through the ages as a prosperous market town, they produced charcoal, tanned leather, and ventured into brewing. Croydon was served by the [[Surrey Iron Railway]], the first public railway (horse drawn) in the world, in 1803, and by the [[Brighton Main Line|London to Brighton]] rail link in the mid-1800s, helping it to become the largest town in [[Surrey]].<ref name="Croyweb History"/>
In the 1900s Croydon became known for industries such as metal working, car manufacture and its aerodrome, [[Croydon Airport]]. The aerodrome became the largest in London and the main terminal for international air freight into the capital. Starting out during [[World War I]] as an airfield for protection against [[Zeppelin]]s, and developing into one of the great airports of the world during the 1920s and 1930s, it welcomed the world's pioneer aviators in its heyday.<ref name="Battle book">{{cite book|last= Cluett|first= Douglas|authorlink= |coauthors= Joanna Bogle, Bob Learmonth|title= Croydon Airport and The Battle for Britain|year= 1984|publisher= |location= London Borough of Sutton Libraries and Arts Services|isbn= 0-907335-11-X}}</ref> [[British Airways]] used the airport for a short period of time after redirecting from [[RAF Northolt|Northolt Aerodrome]], and Croydon was the operating base for [[Imperial Airways]]. As aviation technology progressed, however, and [[aircraft]] became larger and more numerous, it was recognized in 1952 that the airport would be too small to cope with the ever-increasing volume of air traffic. The last scheduled flight departed on [[30 September]] [[1959]]. It was superseded as the main airport by both [[London Heathrow Airport|London Heathrow]] and [[London Gatwick Airport]]. The air terminal, now known as Airport House, has been restored and has a hotel and museum in it. It was partly due to the airport that Croydon suffered heavy bomb damage during [[World War Two]].<ref name="Croyweb History"/>
In the late 1950s and through the 1960s the council commercialized the centre of Croydon with massive development of office blocks and the [[Whitgift Centre]] which was formerly the biggest in town shopping centre in Europe.<ref name="urbanization">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://usj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/43/13/2399|title = Modernism vs Urban Renaissance: Negotiating Post-war Heritage in English City Centres|publisher = Urban Studies Journal|accessdate = 2008-06-05}}</ref> The centre was officially opened in [[October]] [[1970]] by the [[Katharine, Duchess of Kent|Duchess of Kent]]. The original [[Whitgift School]] there had moved to Haling Park, South Croydon in the 1930s; the replacement school on the site, Whitgift Middle School, now the [[Trinity School of John Whitgift]], moved to Shirley Park in the 1960s when the buildings were demolished.
The present borough council unsuccessfully applied for [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 2000 and again in 2002. If it had been successful it would have been the third local authority in [[Greater London]] to hold that status along with the ''[[City of London]]'' and the ''[[City of Westminster]]''. At present the London Borough of Croydon is the second most populous [[Local government district]] of England without city status, [[Kirklees]] being the first. It is said that there applications were turned down due to a lack of a [[cathedral]] in the borough, a historic recommendation for cities.
Croydon is currently going through a vigorous regeneration plan, called [[Croydon Vision 2020]]. This will change the [[urban planning]] of Central Croydon completely. Its main aims are to make Croydon ''London's Third City'' and the hub of retail, business, culture and living in South London and South East England.<ref name="croydon expo 07">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydonexpo.com/|title = Home of the Croydon Exp07|publisher = [[Croydon Expo]]|accessdate = 2008-04-05}}</ref> The plan was showcased in a series of events called [[Croydon Expo]].<ref name="regeneration croydon">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydonconservatives.com/news_search_results_detail.asp?StoryNo=944|title = Croydon Expo to be a Regeneration Showcase|publisher = Croydon Conservatives|accessdate = 2008-06-05}}</ref> It was aimed at business and residents in the London Borough of Croydon to demonstrate the £3.5bn development projects the Council wishes to see in Croydon in the next ten years.<ref name="bbc croydon expo">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/02/21/regeneration_feature.shtml|title = New look Croydon on display|publisher = [[BBC London]]|accessdate = 2008-04-05}}</ref> There have also been exhibitions for regional districts of Croydon, including [[Waddon]], [[South Norwood]] and [[Woodside]], [[Purley]], [[New Addington]] and [[Coulsdon]]. Examples of upcoming architecture featured in the expo can easily be found to the centre of the borough in the form of the [[Croydon Gateway]] site and the [[Cherry Orchard Road|Cherry Orchard Road Towers]].<ref name="ssn">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=449575|title = Developer plans mixed-use scheme to rival Croydon Gateway|publisher = Skyscraper News|accessdate = 2008-03-18}}</ref>
==Governance==
The governance of the borough is by Croydon Council, which is responsible for the administration of Croydon. Croydon shares its [[London Assembly]] member with neighboring [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]]. It is a safe Conservative seat with the south of Croydon and parts of Sutton traditionally voting towards the Conservatives. The current Assembly Member is [[Steve O'Connell]] who was elected to the assembly in 2008 with a majority of 43%. Croydon is part of the [[London (European Parliament constituency)|London]] constituency in the [[European Parliament]]. Between 1979 and 1984 it formed part of the [[London South (European Parliament constituency)|London South]] constituency, followed by [[London South and Surrey East (European Parliament constituency)|London South and Surrey East]] between 1984 and 1999 before the adoption of [[proportional representation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.election.demon.co.uk/ |title=David Boothroyd's United Kingdom Election Results |accessdate=2008-01-20}}</ref>
===Politics of Croydon Council===
{{further|[[Croydon local elections]] and [[Croydon Council election, 2006]]}}
[[Image:CroydonTabHouse.jpg|thumb|right|Croydon Council's [[Taberner House]] offices]]
The council consists of 70 councillors elected in 24 wards. From 1994 to 2006 the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] controlled the council. Thirty-seven Labour and 31 [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] councillors were elected in the [[Croydon Council election, 2002|2002 elections]], plus a lone [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]], bolstered by a subsequent defection of a councillor who had originally been elected as a Conservative, defected to Labour, went back to the Conservatives and spent some time as an independent.
At the [[Croydon Council election 2006|2006 local elections]] the Conservatives regained control of the council after gaining 12 seats, taking ten seats from Labour in Addiscombe, Waddon and Norwood and the single Liberal Democrat seat in Coulsdon.<ref name="2005 election">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/elections/results/general|title = Results of the 2005 General Election held for Croydon Council|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-10-10}}</ref> They had seen 6% swings from Labour to Conservative in the two previous by-elections, each won by the incumbent party. Since the 2006 elections, a by-election in February 2007 saw a large swing back to Labour from the Conservatives. The next election is due to take place in May 2010 along with all the other councils in London.
From February 2005 until May 2006 the Leader of Croydon Council was [[Labour Co-operative]] Councillor Tony Newman, succeeding Hugh Malyan. Mike Fisher, Conservative group leader since May 2005, was named as Council Leader following the Conservative victory. Croydon is a [[cabinet-style council]], and the Leader heads a ten-person cabinet, its members responsible for areas such as education or planning. There is a Shadow Cabinet drawn from the principal opposition party. A backbench cross-party scrutiny and overview committee is in place to hold the executive cabinet to account.
The borough is covered by three [[parliamentary constituencies]] for the Westminster Parliament, these are [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]], [[Croydon Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon Central]] and [[Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]. There are 24 wards which represent Croydon Council. All Croydon Council seats were up for re-election for the first time since the 2002 elections, during the [[London local elections, 2006|election]] on [[May 4]], [[2006]]. Previously Labour held control of the council. In the election, the Conservatives took 10 seats from Labour and 1 from the Liberal Democrats.<ref name="Map of wards in Croydon">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/content/departments/570770/570872/wardmap.pdf|title = How the wards look|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-09-20}}</ref>
The controlling and majority group in the borough is the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]. Since the defection of a Labour councillor to the Conservatives,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.croydonconservatives.com/news_search_results_detail.asp?StoryNo=949 |title= Councillor defects to the Tory Group after a “lifetime” in the Labour Party|publisher= Croydon Conservatives|accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> the composition of the council has been 44 Conservatives, 26 Labour, and no Liberal Democrats.
===Civic History===
For much of its history, Croydon Council was controlled by the Conservative Party or conservative-leaning independents. Former Croydon councillors include current MP [[Andrew Pelling]],<ref name="2005 election">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/elections/results/general|title = Results of the 2005 General Election held for Croydon Council|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-10-10}}</ref> former MPs [[Vivian Bendall]], [[David Congdon]], [[Geraint Davies (Labour politician)|Geraint Davies]] and [[Reg Prentice]], [[London Assembly]] member [[Valerie Shawcross]], [[Peter Spencer Bowness|Lord Bowness]], [[John Donaldson, Baron Donaldson of Lymington]] ([[Master of the Rolls]]) and [[H.T. Muggeridge]], MP and father of [[Malcolm Muggeridge]]. The first Mayor of the newly created [[County Borough]] was [[Jabez Balfour]], later a disgraced [[Member of Parliament]]. Former Conservative Director of Campaigning, Gavin Barwell, has been a Croydon councillor since 1998 and will contest the Croydon Central seat for the Conservatives after the resignation of Andrew Pelling at the [[Next United Kingdom general election|next general election]].<ref name="2009/2010 election Pelling Barwell">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/mostpopular.var.2044966.mostcommented.barwell_to_replace_pelling.php|title = Barwell to replace Pelling|publisher = [[Croydon Guardian]]|accessdate = 2008-06-23}}</ref>
Some 10,000 people work directly or indirectly for the council, in its main offices in Taberner House or in its schools, care homes, housing offices or work depots. The council is generally well-regarded, having made important improvements in education and social services. However, there have been concerns over benefits, leisure services and waste collection. Although the council has one of London's lower rates of council tax, there are inevitable claims that it is too high and that resources are wasted.
The [[Mayors in the United Kingdom|Mayor of Croydon]] for 2008-09 is Councillor Jonathan Driver. The Leader is Cllr Mike Fisher and the Deputy Leaders are Cllr Tim Pollard and Cllr Dudley Mead. The Chief Executive since [[July 7]] [[2007]] has been Jon Rouse.
===Government buildings===
[[Croydon Clocktower|Croydon Town Hall]] on Katharine Street in [[Croydon|Central Croydon]] houses the committee rooms, the mayor's and other councillors' offices, electoral services and the arts and heritage services.
[[Image:Croydon clocktower.jpg|thumb|Croydon's Victorian Town Hall]]
The present Town Hall is Croydon's third. The first town hall is thought to have been built in either 1566 or 1609.<ref name="Croydon Town Hall">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/heritage/town_hall.asp|title = Katharine Street, Town Hall: Heritage Pages|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2007-10-10}}</ref> The second was built in 1808 to serve the growing town but was demolished after the present town hall was erected in 1895.
The present town hall was designed by local architect Charles Henman<ref name="Croydon Town Hall"/> and was officially opened by the Prince and [[Queen Alexandra|Princess of Wales]] on [[19 May]] [[1896]]. It was constructed in red brick, sourced from [[Wrotham]] in [[Kent]], with [[Portland stone]] dressings and green [[Westmoreland]] [[slate]]s for the roof. It also housed the court and most central council employees.
Parts, including the former court rooms, have been converted into the [[Museum of Croydon]] and exhibition galleries. The original public library is now a cinema, part of the [[Croydon Clocktower]]. The Braithwaite Hall is used for events and performances. The town hall was renovated in the mid-1990s and the imposing central staircase, long closed to the public and kept for councillors only, was re-opened in 1994. The civic complex, meanwhile, was substantially added to, with buildings across Mint Walk and the 19-floor Taberner House to house the rapidly expanding corporation's employees.
[[Ruskin House]] is the headquarters of Croydon's [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], [[Trade Union]] and [[Co-operative Party|Co-operative]] movements and is itself a co-operative with shareholders from organisations across the three movements. In the nineteenth century, Croydon was a bustling commercial centre of London. It was said that, at the turn of the twentieth century, approximately £10,000 was spent in Croydon's taverns and inns every week. For the early labour movement, then, it was natural to meet in the town's public houses, in this environment. However, the temperance movement was equally strong, and [[Georgina King Lewis]], a keen member of the [[Temperance movement|Croydon United Temperance Council]], took it upon herself to establish a dry centre for the labour movement. The first Ruskin House was highly successful, and there has been two more since.<ref name="Ruskin House"> This text was taken, with permission, from ''Ruskin House: A History'', M. Tiedemann & E. Daisley. For more information see [[Talk:Ruskin House|here]] {{cite book|last= |first= M. Tiedemann|authorlink= |coauthors= E. Daisley|title= |year= 1999|publisher= |location= |isbn= }}</ref> The current house was officially opened in 1967 by the then Labour [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]], [[Harold Wilson]]. Today, Ruskin House continues to serve as the headquarters of the Trade Union, Labour and Co-operative movements in Croydon, hosting a range of meetings and being the base for several labour movement groups. Office tenants include the headquarters of the [[Communist Party of Britain]] and Croydon Labour Party. [[Geraint Davies (Labour politician)|Geraint Davies]], the MP for [[Croydon Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon Central]], had offices in the building, until he was defeated by [[Andrew Pelling]] and is now the Labour representative standing for [[Swansea West (UK Parliament constituency)|Swansea West]] in [[Wales]].
[[Taberner House]] was built between 1964 and 1967, designed by architect H. Thornley, with Allan Holt and Hugh Lea as borough engineers. Although the council had needed extra space since the 1920s, it was only with the imminent creation of the London Borough of Croydon that action was taken. The building is in classic 1960s style, praised at the time but subsequently much derided. It has its elegant upper slab block narrowing towards both ends, a formal device which has been compared to the famous [[Pirelli Tower]] in [[Milan]]. It was named after Ernest Taberner OBE, Town Clerk from 1937 to 1963.<ref name="Taberner House names">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/heritage/taberner_house.asp|title = Park Lane, Taberner House:Heritage Pages|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2007-10-10}}</ref>
Taberner House houses most of the council's central employees and its 'one-stop shop' is the main location for the public to access information and services, particularly with respect to housing.
== Geography and climate ==
The borough is in the deep south of London, with the [[M25 motorway|M25 orbital motorway]] stretching to the south of it, between Croydon and [[Tandridge (district)|Tandridge]]. In the north and east of Croydon the authority mainly borders the [[London Borough of Bromley]] and in the north west the boroughs of [[London Borough of Lambeth|Lambeth]] and [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]]. The boroughs of [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]] and [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]] are located directly to the west. It is at the head of the [[River Wandle]], just to the north of a significant gap in the [[North Downs]]. It lies {{convert|10|mi|km}} south of London, and the earliest settlement may have been a Roman staging post on the London-Portslade road, although conclusive evidence has not yet been found. The main town centre houses a great variety of well-known stores on [[North End, Croydon|North End]] and two shopping centres. It was pedestrianised in 1989 to attract people back to the town centre. Another shopping centre called [[Park Place]], is planned to be built by 2012.
===Cityscape===
{{seealso|List of districts in the London Borough of Croydon}}
[[Image:CroydonNorthEnd.jpg|thumb|[[North End, Croydon|North End]] shopping street after the pedestrianization of the road]]
The [[CR postcode area]] covers most of the south and centre of the London Borough of Croydon while the other parts in the north are covered by [[SW postcode area|SW]] and [[SE postcode area|SE postcodes]] include the areas of South Norwood and Selhurst, Upper Norwood, West Norwood, and Norbury and Streatham.
Districts in the London Borough of Croydon include [[Addington, London|Addington]], a small village to the east of Croydon which until 2000 was poorly linked to the rest of the borough as it was without any railway or light rail stations with only a few patchy bus services to rely on. [[Addiscombe]] is a town just northeast of the centre of Croydon, and is popular with commuters to [[Central London]] due to its close proximity to the busy [[East Croydon station]].<ref name="addiscombe">{{cite web|year = 2003|url = http://www.addiscombe.net/|title = Addiscome Community website|publisher = Addiscomme On The Net|accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> [[Ashburton, London|Ashburton]], to the northeast of Croydon, is mostly home to residential houses and flats, being named after Ashburton House, one of the three big houses in the Addiscombe area.<ref name="ashburton">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.uklocalarea.com/browse.php/q/Ashburton/wc/00AHGF|title = Quality of life in the Addiscombe ward|publisher = UK Local Area|accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> [[Broad Green, Croydon|Broad Green]] is a small district, centred on a large green with many homes and local shops in West Croydon.<ref name="broad green">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/broad_green_avenue_a4d.html|title = Avenue guide to Broad Green|publisher = London Town|accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> [[Coombe, Croydon|Coombe]] is an area, just east of Croydon, which has barely been urbanised and has retained its collection of large houses fairly intact. [[Coulsdon]], southwest of Central Croydon, which has retained a good mix of traditional high street shops as well as a large number of restaurants for its size.<ref name="coulsdon">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.coulsdon.net/|title = Coulsdon home page|publisher = Coulsdon.net|accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> [[Croydon]] is the principal area of the borough, [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] is an area north of Croydon, which is shared with the [[London Borough of Lambeth|London Boroughs of Lambeth]], [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]], [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]] and [[London Borough of Bromley|Bromley]].<ref name="crystal palace">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.crystalpalacepark.net/|title = Parklife:Crystal Palace Park|publisher = CPP Parklife|accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> [[Fairfield, Croydon|Fairfield]], just northeast of Croydon, holds the [[Fairfield Halls]]<ref name="fairfield">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.fairfield.co.uk/|title = Fairfield Halls home page|publisher = Fairfield Halls|accessdate = 2007-11-02}}</ref> and the village of [[Forestdale, London|Forestdale]], to the east of Croydon's main area, commenced work in the late 1960s and completed in the mid-70s to create a larger town on what was previously open ground.<ref name="forestdale">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.forestdale.info/indexone.htm|title = Forestdale community website|publisher = Forestdale.info|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Hamsey Green]] is a place on the plateau of the [[North Downs]], south of Croydon.<ref name="hamsey">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/parks_and_open_spaces/hamseygreen.asp|title = History of Hamsey Green Pond|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Kenley]], again south of the centre, lie within the London [[Green Belt]] and features a landscape dominated by green space.<ref name="kenley">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.kenleyra.org.uk/|title = Kenley & District Residents Association|publisher = Kendra|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[New Addington]], to the east, is a large local authority estate surrounded by open countryside and golf courses.<ref name="nadding">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/newaddington.asp|title = History of the New Addington estate|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Norbury]], to the northwest, is a suburb with a large ethnic population.<ref name="norbury">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/norbury.asp|title = History of the Norbury area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Norwood New Town]] is a part of the [[Norwood]] triangle, to the north of Croydon. [[Monks Orchard]] is a small district made up of large houses and open space in the northeast of the borough.<ref name="monksorchard">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/monksorchard.asp|title = History of the Monks Orchard area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Pollards Hill]] is a residential district with houses on roads, which are lined with pollarded lime trees, stretching to Norbury. [[Purley, London|Purley]], to the south, is a main town whose name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'.<ref name="purleyoaks">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/purley.asp|title = History of the Purley area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Sanderstead]], to the south, is a village mainly on high ground at the edge of suburban development in [[Greater London]].<ref name="sanderstead">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/sanderstead.asp|title = History of the Sanderstead area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Selhurst]] is a town, to the north of Croydon, which holds the nationally known school, The [[BRIT School]]. [[Selsdon]] is a suburb which was developed during the inter-war period in the 1920s and 1930s, and is remarkable for its many Art Deco houses, to the southwest of Croydon Centre. [[Shirley, London|Shirley]], is to the east of Croydon, and holds [[Shirley Windmill]]. [[South Croydon]], to the south of Croydon, is a locality which holds local landmarks such as The Swan and Sugarloaf public house and independent [[Whitgift School]] part of the [[Whitgift Foundation]].<ref name="scroydons">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/southcroydon.asp|title = History of the South Croydon area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[South Norwood]], to the north, is in common with West Norwood and Upper Norwood, named after a contraction of Great North Wood and has a population of around 14,590. [[Thornton Heath]] is a town, to the northwest of Croydon, which holds Croydon's principal hospital [[Mayday University Hospital|Mayday]].<ref name="heathtpond">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/thorntonheath.asp|title = History of the Thornton Heath area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Upper Norwood]] is, west to Croydon, on a mainly elevated area of the borough. [[Waddon]] is a residential area, mainly based on the [[Purley Way]] retail area, to the west of the borough. [[West Croydon]] is west of Croydon and [[Woodside, London|Woodside]] is located to the northeast of the borough, with streets based around [[Woodside Green]], a small sized area of green land.<ref name="woodsidehistory">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/woodside.asp|title = History of the Woodside area|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> And finally [[Whyteleafe]] is a town, right to the edge of Croydon with some areas in the Surrey district of Tandridge.
Croydon is a gateway to the south from Central London, and therefore has a number of major roads running through it. [[Purley Way]] on the [[A23 road]] was built to by-pass Croydon town centre on which the A23 once did, is one of the busiest roads in the borough, and has been the site of several major retail developments including one of only 17 [[IKEA]] stores in the United Kingdom.<ref name="IKEA 17">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://193.108.42.168/?ID=77|title = United Kingdom 1987 (17 stores)|publisher = [[IKEA]]|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref><ref name="purleywayhistory">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/purleyway.asp|title = History of the Purley Way retail district|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> It carries on to [[Brighton Road]] which is the main route running towards the south from [[South Croydon|Croydon]] to [[Purley, London|Purley]] and continues on the [[A23 road|A23]]. The centre of Croydon is very congested, and the urban planning has since become out of date and quite inadequate, due to the expansion of Croydon's main shopping area and office blocks. [[Wellesley Road]], is a [[dual carriageway]] that cuts through the centre of the town, and makes it hard to interchange between the civic centre's two railway stations. [[Croydon Vision 2020]] includes a plan for a more pedestrian-friendly replacement. It has also been named as one of the worst roads for cyclists in the area.<ref name="cycle names">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://crapcyclelanesofcroydon.blogspot.com/2007/05/jug-handle-wellesley-road.html|title = The "jug handle" - Wellesley Road|publisher = Crap Cycle Lanes of Croydon|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> Construction of the [[Croydon Underpass]] beneath the junction of George Street and [[Wellesley Road]]/Park Lane during the early Sixties started, with the main aim to prevent traffic congestion on Park Lane, situated above the underpass. The [[Croydon Flyover]] on the other hand is situated near the underpass and next to [[Taberner House]]. It mainly leads traffic on to [[Duppas Hill]], towards [[Purley Way]] with the intention for easy links with [[Sutton, London|Sutton]] and [[Kingston upon Thames]] further afield. The major junction on the flyover is for [[Old Town, Croydon|Old Town]], which is also a large three-lane road.
===Topography and climate===
{{climate chart
|Croydon
|2|8|52
|2|8|34
|4|11|42
|5|13|45
|8|17|47
|11|20|53
|14|23|38
|13|23|47
|11|19|57
|8|15|62
|5|11|52
|3|9|54
|source=Met Office<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/gatwick.html
|title=Greenwich 1971–2000 averages |work=Met Office| }}</ref>
|float=right
}}
Croydon covers an area of 86.52 km², the 256th [[List of English districts by area|largest district in England]]. Croydon's physical features consist of many hills and rivers that are spread out across the borough and into the [[North Downs]], [[Surrey]] and the rest of South London. [[Addington Hills]] is a major [[floodplain]] in London for the [[Thames Valley]] and is recognised as a significant obstacle to the growth of London from its origins as a port on the north side of the river, to a large circular city. The [[Great North Wood]] is a former natural oak forest that covered the [[Sydenham|Sydenham Ridge]] and the southern reaches of the [[River Effra]] and its tributaries. The most notable tree, called Vicar's Oak, marked the boundary of four ancient parishes; [[Lambeth]], [[Camberwell]], Croydon and [[Bromley]]. John Aubrey<ref>John Aubrey ''Natural History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey'', 1718, vol. 2, p. 33, </ref> referred to this "ancient remarkable tree" in the past tense as early as 1718, but according to JB Wilson,<ref>J.B. Wilson & H.A. Wilson ''The Story of Norwood'' ISBN 0951538411</ref> the Vicar's Oak survived until 1825. The [[River Wandle]] is also a major tributary of the [[River Thames]], where it stretches to [[Wandsworth]] and [[Putney]] for 9 miles (14 km) from its main source in [[Waddon]].
Croydon has a [[temperate]] climate in common with most areas of [[Great Britain]], it is similar to that of [[Greenwich]] in [[Inner London]]: its [[Koppen climate classification#GROUP C: Temperate/mesothermal climates|Koppen climate classification]] is ''Cfb''.<ref><small>[http://www.worldclimate.com/ WorldClimate]</small></ref><ref><small>([http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N51W000+1102+03776W Temperature data)]</small> </ref> Its mean annual temperature of 9.6 [[Celsius|°C]] is similar to that experienced throughout the Weald, and slightly cooler than nearby areas such as the Sussex coast and Central London.<ref name="temperature">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif|title = Mean Temperature Annual Average|publisher = [[Met Office]]|accessdate = 2007-08-22}}</ref> Rainfall is considerably below England's average (1971–2000) level of 838 mm, and every month is drier overall than the England average.<ref name="rainmean">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/areal/england.html|title=Met Office: averages 1971–2000|accessdate=2007-08-22|publisher=Met Office|year=2007|work=Met Office website}}</ref>
The nearest weather station is at [http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/EGKK.html Gatwick Airport].<ref><small>[http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N51W000+2100+03776W (Rainfall data)]</small> </ref><ref><small>[http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N51W000+4104+03776W (Pressure data)]</small> <br><small>Temperature and rainfall: 1961–1990 averages. Pressure averages: 1971–1988 averages.<br>Derived from the Global Historical Climatology Network (version 1). See [[Template:Climate of Croydon and Gatwick]] for more.</small></ref>
===Architecture===
{{further|[[Architecture of Croydon]] and [[List of tallest buildings and structures in Croydon]]}}
The skyline of Croydon has significantly changed over the past 50 years. High rise buildings, mainly office blocks, now dominate the skyline. The most notable of these buildings include Croydon Council's headquarters [[Taberner House]], which has been compared to the famous [[Pirelli Tower]] of [[Milan]], and the [[Nestlé Tower]], the UK headquarters of [[Nestlé]]
In recent years, the development of [[Tall buildings in London|tall buildings]], such as the approved [[Croydon Vocational Tower]] and [[Wellesley Square]], has been encouraged in the [[London Plan]], which will lead to the erection of new skyscrapers over the next few years as London goes through a high-rise boom.<ref>{{cite web| title = London - Full Summary of Projects| publisher= Will Fox, SkyscraperCity.com| url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=46| accessdate=2006-12-15}}</ref>
No.1 Croydon, formerly the [[NLA Tower]], Britain's 88th tallest tower,<ref name="NLA Tower">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.skyscrapernews.com/snuk_list.htm|title = Britain's Tallest 100 Buildings by Height|publisher = Sky Scraper News|accessdate = 2007-10-12}}</ref> close to [[East Croydon station]], is an example of 1970s architecture. The tower has been nicknamed the 50p building, as it resembles many 50p pieces in a pile. <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:Cherryorchard.JPG|thumb|left|Computer Generated image of proposed [[Cherry Orchard Road|Cherry Orchard Road Towers]]]] -->[[Lunar House]] is another high-rise building. Like other government office buildings on Wellesley Road, such as '''Apollo House''', the name of the building was inspired by the [[Project Apollo|US moon landings]] (In the Croydon suburb of New Addington there is a [[public house]], built during the same period, called ''The Man '''on''' the Moon'').
A new generation of buildings are being considered by the council as part of [[Croydon Vision 2020]], so that the borough doesn't lose its title of having the "largest office space in the south east", excluding Central London.<ref>{{cite web|title = Croydon Gateway - Arrowcroft Scheme| publisher= Emporis|url= http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101018|accessdate=2007-10-12}}</ref> Projects such as [[Wellesley Square]], which will be a mix of residential and retail with an eye-catching colour design and [[100 George Street]] a proposed modern office block are incorporated in this vision.
Notable events that have happened to Croydon's skyline include the Millennium project to create the largest single urban lighting project ever. It was created for the buildings of Croydon to illuminate them for the third millennium. Not only did this project give new lighting to the buildings, but it provided an opportunity to project onto them images and words, mixing art and poetry with coloured light, and also displaying public information after dark. Apart from increasing night time activity in Croydon and thereby reducing the fear of crime, it helped to promote the sustainable use of older buildings by displaying them in a more positive way.<ref name="skyline">{{Cite web|url=http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-site/awards.cgi?action=detail&id=38&t=2|title=Croydon Skyline|accessdate=2007-10-12|publisher=Millennium Commission|year=2003|work=Croydon Skyline Millennium Trust}}</ref>
== Demography ==
According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 census]], Croydon has a population of around 269,100. In 2005 this was recorded to have risen up to 342,700, making Croydon the ninth most populous local authority in England out of 354 boroughs. 159,111 were males, with 171,476 females. In 2001 the number of people per hectare in Croydon was 38.21, in London 45.62, and in England 3.77.<ref name="Demographics">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276750&c=Croydon&d=13&e=16&g=330773&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1192116926566&enc=1|title = Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics|publisher = National Statistics|accessdate = 2007-10-11}}</ref> The mean age of the residents of Croydon was 33.75 and 233,748 out of 330,587 residents described their health as 'good'.<ref name="health demos">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276750&c=Croydon&d=13&e=16&g=330773&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1192118872250&enc=1&dsFamilyId=97|title = General Health in the London Borough of Croydon|publisher = National Statistics|accessdate = 2007-10-11}}</ref>
White is the majority ethnicity with over 72%, compared to 90% in England as a whole. Black or Black British was the second-largest ethnicity, over 13%; 11.3% is South Asian.<ref name="White">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276750&c=Croydon&d=13&e=16&g=330773&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1192118872250&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87|title = Ethnic Groups in London Borough of Croydon|publisher = National Statistics|accessdate = 2007-10-11}}</ref>
The most common householder type were [[owner occupied]] with only a small percentage rented. Many new housing schemes and developments are currently taking place in Croydon, such as [[The Exchange]] and [[Bridge House]], [[IYLO]], [[Wellesley Square]] and [[Altitude 25]]. The [[Metropolitan Police]] recorded a 10% fall in the number of crimes committed in Croydon, better than the rate which crime in London as a whole is falling, in 2006.<ref name="Croydon Crime">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.met.police.uk/croydon/index.htm|title = Metropolitan Police in Croydon Borough|publisher = Metropolitan Police|accessdate = 2007-10-11}}</ref> Croydon has had the highest fall in the number of cases of violence against the person in South London, and is one of the top 10 safest local authorities in London. According to ''Your Croydon'' (a local community magazine) this is due to a stronger partnership struck between Croydon Council and the police.<ref name="Crime">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/content/departments/570770/570872/599193/ycjune07.pdf|title = Beating the Borough's Bad Boys|publisher = Your Croydon|accessdate = 2007-06-14}}</ref> In 2007, overall crime figures across the borough saw decrease of 5%, with the number of incidents decreasing from 32,506 in 2006 to 30,862 in 2007.<ref name="Crime2007">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1972657.0.croydons_crime_figures_released.php|title = Croydon's crime figures released|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2008-01-18}}</ref> Croydon has five police stations. Croydon police station is on Park Lane in the centre of the town near the [[Fairfield Halls]]; South Norwood police station is a newly refurbished building just of the High Street; Norbury police station is on London Road; Kenley station is on Godstone Road; and New Addington police station is on Addington Village road.
===Population change===
The table below details the population change since 1901, including the percentage change since the last available census data. Although the London Borough of Croydon has existed as a london borough since 1963, figures have been generated by combining data from the towns, villages, and [[civil parish]]es that would later be constituent parts of the authority.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;width:70%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
! colspan="12" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|[[Population growth]] in Croydon since 1901
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Year
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1901
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1911
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1921
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1931
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1941
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1951
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1961
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1971
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1981
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1991
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 2001
|- Align="center"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 141,918
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 185,914
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 221,692
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 264,358
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 281,273
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 299,271
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 316,084
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 333,942
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 316,296
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 319,218
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 330,688
|- Align="center"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population change
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | –
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +43,996
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +35,778
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +42,666
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +16,915
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +17,998
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +16,813
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +17,858
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | −17,646
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +2,922
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | +11,470
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>'''Source: '''[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10168338&c_id=10001043&add=N A Vision of Britain through Time]</small>
|}
== Economy ==
{{further|[[Economy of Croydon]]}}
{|class="infobox"
! style="background:#ccccff" align="center" colspan=3|Labour Profile<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431879/report.aspx#tabjobs|title=Labour Market Profile: Croydon |accessdate=2007-08-02 |work=Nomis official labour market statistics |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] }} Data is taken from the ONS annual business inquiry employee analysis and refers to 2005</ref>
|-
||Total employee jobs||128,800
|-
||Full-time||91,100||70.7%
|-
||Part-time||37,700||29.3%
|-
||Manufacturing||5,400||4.2%
|-
||Construction||6,300||4.9%
|-
||Services||117,000||90.9%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Distribution, hotels & restaurants||30,500||23.7%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Transport & communications||6,900||5.4%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Finance, IT, other business activities||33,800||26.2%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Public admin, education & health||38,900||30.2%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Other services||6,900||5.3%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Tourism-related||9,100||7.1%
|}
The main employment sectors of the Borough is [[retail]] and [[organization|enterprise]] which is mainly based in Central Croydon. Major employers are well-known companies, who hold stores or offices in the town. [[Purley Way]] is a major employer of people, looking for jobs as sales assistants, sales consultants and store managerial jobs. [[IKEA Croydon]], when it was built in 1992, brought many non-skilled jobs to Croydon. The store, which is a total size of 23,000 m²,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/IkeaNearYouView?storeId=7&catalogId=11001&langId=-20&StoreName=croydon|title=IKEA Group stores|publisher=IKEA Group corporate site|accessdate=2007-07-30}}</ref> took over the former site of Croydon Power station, which had led to the unemployment of many skilled workers. In May 2006, the extension of the IKEA made it the fifth biggest employer in Croydon, and includes the extension of the showroom, market hall and self-serve areas.<ref name="IKEA Croydon re-vamp">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/search/display.var.742402.0.ikea_is_bigger_than_ever.php|title = IKEA is bigger than ever|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-09-23}}</ref> Other big employers around Purley is the large Tesco Extra store in Purley, along with other stores in Purley Way which include, Sainsbury's, B&Q, Comet, Vue and Toys "R" Us along with many others. Croydon town centre is also a major [[retail]] centre, and home to many [[High Street]] and [[department store]]s as well as designer boutiques. The main town centre shopping areas are on the [[North End, Croydon|North End]] precinct, [[Whitgift Centre]], [[Centrale]] and the [[St George's Walk]]. [[Department store]]s in Croydon town centre include [[House of Fraser]], [[Marks and Spencer]], [[Allders]], [[Debenhams]], [[T.K. Maxx]] and [[F. W. Woolworth Company|Woolworths]]. Croydon's main [[market]] is [[Surrey Street Market]], which has a royal charter dating back to 1276. Shopping areas outside the city centre include the [[Valley Park Retail Area|Valley Park]] retail park, [[Colonnades Leisure Park|Croydon Colonnades]], [[Croydon Fiveways]], and the [[Waddon Goods Park]].
In a 2005 survey on spending potential, Croydon came 21st (second in London behind the [[West End of London|West End]] which came out first) with £909 million while the next London retail centre, [[Kingston upon Thames]] came 24th with £864 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caci.co.uk/msd.asp?url=lsp-retailfootprint.htm |title=Retail Footprint 2005 |accessdate=2005-10-05 |publisher=[[CACI|CACI Ltd]] }}</ref> In a 2004 survey on the top retail destinations, Croydon was 27th.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://press.experian.com/popup/sd.cfm?f=National%20release%202004.htm |title=Results of the Experian 2004 Retail Ranking |accessdate=2005-10-05 |publisher=Expirian }}</ref>
In 2007, Croydon leapt up the annual business growth league table, with a 14% rise in new firms trading in the borough after 125 new companies started up, increasing the number from 900 to 1,025, enabling the town, which has also won the Enterprising Britain Award and "the most enterprising borough in London" award,<ref name="BBC Enterprise">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/07/04/croydon_dragons_den_video_feature.shtml|title = Croydon is the most enterprising place in London|publisher = BBC News|accessdate = 2008-01-19}}</ref> to jump from 31 to 14 in the table.<ref name="BBC Enterprise">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/businessnews/businessnews/display.var.1686457.0.croydon_is_firmly_on_startup_maps.php|title = Croydon is firmly on start-up maps|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2008-01-19}}</ref>
{{Quote|Croydon is home to a variety of international business communities, each with dynamic business networks, so businesses located in Croydon are in a good position to make the most of international trade and recruit from a labour force fluent in 130 languages.|Malcolm Brabon, Business Link London|''Croydon Guardian''}}
[[Croydon Tramlink]] created many jobs when it opened in 2000, not only drivers but engineers as well. Many of the people involved came from Croydon, which was the original hub of the system.
Retail stores inside both [[Centrale]] and the [[Whitgift Centre]] as well as on [[North End, Croydon|North End]] employee people regularly and create many jobs, especially at Christmas. As well as the new building of [[Park Place (Croydon)|Park Place]], which will create yet more jobs, so will the regeneration of Croydon, called [[Croydon Vision 2020]], highlighted in the [[Croydon Expo]] which includes the [[Croydon Gateway]], [[Wellesley Square]], [[Croydon Vision 2020#Central One|Central One]] plus much more.
[[Image:Direct Line Croydon.JPG|thumb|Direct Line House in Central Croydon are occupied by the [[Direct Line]] insurance firm]]
Croydon is a major office area in the south east of England, being the largest outside of [[Central London]]. Many powerful companies based in [[Europe]] and worldwide have European or British headquarters in the town. [[American International Group]] (AIG), the sponsors of [[Manchester United F.C.]] has its European headquarters in East Croydon in [[No.1 Croydon]] formerly the NLA Tower (50p building), shared with Liberata, [[Pegasus Software|Pegasus]] and the [[Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy|Institute of Public Finance]].<ref name="NLA Tower AIG">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/businessnews/businessnews/display.var.1526486.0.looking_out_for_no1.php|title = Looking out for No1|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2008-01-19}}</ref> AIG is the sixth-largest company in the world according to the 2007 [[Forbes Global 2000]] list. The [[Switzerland|Swiss]] company [[Nestlé]] has its UK headquarters in Croydon in the [[Nestlé Tower]], on the site of the proposed [[Park Place (Croydon)|Park Place]] shopping centre, so the offices may be modernised and re-newed causing the company to relocate for a while. Real Digital International has developed a purpose built 70,000 square ft factory on Purley Way equipped with the most sophisticated production equipment and technical solutions.<ref name="rdi">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.real-digital.co.uk/modules/page/Page.aspx?pc=background&mid=16&pmid=3|title = Background to Real Digital International|publisher = Real Digital International|accessdate = 2008-06-20}}</ref> [[Telewest (former)|ntl:Telewest]] now [[Virgin Media]] has offices at Communications House, from the Telewest side when it was known as [[Croydon Cable]].<ref name="Croydon Cable">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk/about_us/office_locations.aspx|title = ntl: Telewest Business office locations|publisher = Virgin Media Group|accessdate = 2007-09-18}}</ref> The [[Home Office]] [[UK Border Agency]] has its [[headquarters]] in [[Lunar House]] in Central Croydon. In 1981, Superdrug opened a 11,148 m² (120,000 ft²) distribution centre and office complex at Beddington Lane. The head office of international engineering and management consultant [[Mott MacDonald]] is located in St Anne House on [[Wellesley Road]]. [[British Telecom|BT]] has large offices in Prospect East in Central Croydon.<ref name="mott">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.mottmac.com/contact/?countryId=326&x=51&y=13|title = Mott MacDonald office locations|publisher = Mott MacDonald Group|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> The [[Royal Bank of Scotland]] also has large offices in Purley, south of Croydon. [[Direct Line]] also has an office opposite [[Taberner House]]. Other companies with headquarters in Croydon include [[Lloyds TSB]], [[Merrill Lynch]] and [[Balfour Beatty]]. [[Ann Summers]] used to have its headquarters in the borough but has moved to the Wopses Lodge Roundabout in [[Tandridge (district)|Tandridge]].
== Landmarks ==
There are a large number of attractions and places of interest all across the borough of Croydon, ranging from historic sites in the north and south to modern towers in the centre.
[[Image:Shirley Windmill.jpg|right|thumb|[[Shirley Windmill]]]]
[[Croydon Airport]] was once London's main airport, but closed on [[30 September]] [[1959]] due to the expansion of London and the need of more room at the airport which was impossible to provide, so [[Heathrow International Airport]] took over as London's main airport. It is now disused and is a tourist attraction.<ref name="Battle book"/> The [[Croydon Clocktower]] arts venue was opened by [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1994.<ref name="Croydon Town Hall"/> It includes the [[David Lean Cinema]] (built in memory of [[David Lean]]), the [[Museum of Croydon]] and [[Croydon Central Library]]. The Museum of Croydon (formerly known as Croydon Lifetimes Museum) highlights Croydon in the past and the present and currently features high-profile exhibitions including the Riesco Collection, The Art of Dr Seuss and the Whatever the Weather gallery.<ref name="moc">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.museumofcroydon.com/themes?session=bKbl5UPphSh|title = Themes in the Museum of Croydon|publisher = [[Museum of Croydon]]|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Shirley Windmill]] is a working windmill and one of the few surviving large windmills in [[Surrey]], built in 1854. It is [[Listed building|Grade II listed]] and received a £218,100 grant from the [[Heritage Lottery Fund]].<ref name=EH>{{cite web|url = http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=201262|publisher = [[English Heritage]]|title = Images of England - Shirley Windmill|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Addington Palace]] is an 18th century mansion in [[Addington, London|Addington]] which was originally built as Addington Place in the 16th century. The palace became the official second residence of six Archbishops, five of whom are buried in [[St Mary's Church]] and churchyard nearby.<ref name=croydon palace addington>{{cite web|url = http://www.friendsofoldpalace.org/addpalace.htm|publisher = Friends of Old Palace|title = Information of Addington Palace|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[North End, Croydon|North End]] is the main pedestrianised shopping road in Croydon, having [[Centrale]] to one side and the [[Whitgift Centre]] to the other. The [[Warehouse Theatre]] is a popular theatre for mostly young performers and is due to get a face-lift on the [[Croydon Gateway]] site. The [[Nestle|Nestlé Tower]] is the [[UK|UK headquarters]] of [[Nestlé]]<ref name="UK Nestle Locations">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.nestle.co.uk/AboutNestle/NestleLocations/|title = Location of Nestlé offices in the UK and EIRE|publisher = Nestlé|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> and is one of the tallest towers in [[England]], which is due to be re-fitted during the Park Place development. The [[Fairfield Halls]] is a well known concert hall and exhibition centre, opened in 1962. It is frequently used for [[BBC]] recordings and was formerly the home of [[ITV]]'s [[World of Sport (UK TV series)|World of Sport]].<ref name="fairfield"/> It includes the [[Ashcroft Theatre]] and the [[Arnhem|Arnhem Gallery]]. [[Croydon Palace]] was the summer residence of the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] for over 500 years and included regular visitors such as [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] and [[Queen Elizabeth I]]. It is thought to have been built around 960. [[Croydon Cemetery]] is a large cemetery and crematorium west of Croydon and is most famous for the gravestone of [[Derek Bentley]], who was wrongly hanged in 1953. [[Mitcham Common]] is an area of [[common land]] partly shared with the boroughs of [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]] and [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]]. Almost 500,000 years ago, Mitcham Common formed part of the river bed of the River Thames.<ref name="Mitcham Common friends">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.mitchamcommon.org/about.html|title = About Mitcham Common|publisher = Mitcham Common Conservators|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> The [[BRIT School]] is a performing Arts & Technology school, owned by the BRIT Trust (known for the [[BRIT Awards|BRIT Awards Music Ceremony]]). Famous former students include [[Kellie Shirley]], [[Amy Winehouse]], [[Leona Lewis]], [[Kate Nash]], [[Dane Bowers]], [[Katie Melua]] and [[Lyndon David-Hall]].<ref name="BRIT">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2184707.ece/|title = Croydon's little gem - The BRIT school|publisher = [[The Independent]]|accessdate = 2008-06-06}}</ref> [[Croydon Grants|Grants]] is an entertainment venue in the centre of Croydon which includes a [[Vue (cinema)|Vue cinema]] and the [[Tiger Tiger (nightclub)|Tiger Tiger]] nightclub.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grantscentrecroydon.co.uk/ |title=Croydon Grants website |publisher=Grants Centre Croydon |accessdate=2008-04-04}}</ref> [[Taberner House]] houses the main offices of [[Croydon Council]], and was built between 1964 and 1967. It has been compared to the [[Pirelli Tower]] in [[Milan]]. [[Surrey Street Market]] has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276 linking it to the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]. The market is regularly used as a location for TV, film and advertising. [[Beanos]], a collectors' record store that has been in Croydon for over three decades, was once the largest second-hand record shop in [[Europe]].<ref>Plummer, Robert: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6214278.stm Record collectors' shop faces the music], ''[[BBC News]]'', [[20 December]] [[2006]].</ref> The Parish Church of St John the Baptist is a large church dating from the 15th century. It was largely destroyed by fire in 1867 and rebuilt by Sir [[George Gilbert Scott]]. It is the burial place of six Archbishops of Canterbury with monuments to Archbishops Sheldon and Whitgift. [[BedZED]], Beddington Zero Energy Development, is on the outskirts of the borough.
==Transport==
{{main|List of stations in the London Borough of Croydon|Tramlink}}
There are two main interchanges for all public transport modes ([[Inter-city rail|national]] and [[Commuter rail|local rail]], [[Tramlink|tram]], and [[Bus|local buses]]) at [[West Croydon]] and [[East Croydon station]].
===National and international travel===
Croydon is linked into the national motorway network via the [[M23 motorway|M23]] and [[M25 motorway|M25]] orbital motorway. The M25 skirts the south of the borough, linking Croydon with other parts [[London]] and the surrounding counties; the M23 branches from the M25 close to Coulsdon, linking the town with the [[Southern England|South Coast]], [[Crawley]], [[Reigate]], and [[London Gatwick Airport]]. The [[A23 road|A23]] connects the borough with the motorways. The A23 is the major trunk road through Croydon, linking it with Central London, East Sussex, Horsham, and Littlehaven. The old London to Brighton road, passes through the west of the borough on [[Purley Way]], bypassing the commercial centre of Croydon which it once did.
[[Image:East Croydon Railway Station - England - Station Frontage - Evening - 270404.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[East Croydon station]]]]
The [[Brighton Main Line]] [[Rail transport in Great Britain|railway route]] south from Croydon links the town to Sussex, Surrey, and Kent and to Central London to the north: providing direct services to Hastings, Southampton, Brighton, Portsmouth, Gatwick Airport, Bedford and Luton. Also running through Croydon is the N/S cross-country line which links Manchester and Reading directly with South London, the Southeast, and the South Coast. The main station for all these services is [[East Croydon station]] in the centre of the town centre. [[East Croydon station]] is the largest and busiest station in Croydon, third busiest in London, excluding [[Travelcard Zone 1]]. The station at [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]] serves all trains travelling west except the fastest. There are also more regional stations scattered around the borough. Passenger rail services through Croydon are provided by [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]], [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]], [[First Capital Connect]] and [[CrossCountry]].<ref name="national rail">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/galleries/download/print_maps/Nat_Rail_Passenger_Operators_2006.pdf|title=UK rail network map|accessdate=2008-05-25|publisher=[[National Rail]]|year=2006|work=National Rail website}}</ref> A pilot scheme launched by the [[Strategic Rail Authority]], [[Transport for London]] and three train operators is designed to encourage more passengers to travel off-peak. In full partnership with the [[South London|South London Boroughs]] which includes Croydon, SWELTRAC, SELTRANS and the transport users group, the scheme promotes the advantages of off-peak travel following improvements to safety, travel connections and upgrading of station facilities. The [[Thameslink Programme]] (formerly known as Thameslink 2000), is a £3.5 billion major project to expand the [[Thameslink|Thameslink network]] from 51 to 172 [[train station|stations]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2413&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=8 |title=Good news for South London as £3.5BN Thameslink project clears major hurdle | date=2006-10-18 |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> spreading northwards to [[Bedford]], [[Peterborough]], [[Cambridge]] and [[King's Lynn]] and southwards to [[Guildford]], [[Eastbourne]], [[Horsham]], [[Hove]] to [[Littlehampton]], [[East Grinstead]], [[Ashford]] and [[Dartford]]. The project includes the lengthening of platforms, station remodelling, new railway infrastructure (e.g. viaduct) and additional rolling stock. When implemented, First Capital Connect services would call at other stations in the borough including Purley and Norwood Junction.
The closest international airport to Croydon is [[London Gatwick Airport]], which is located {{convert|19|mi|km}} from the city centre. The airport opened on August [[1930]] and is a major international operational base for [[British Airways]], [[easyJet]] and [[Virgin Atlantic Airways|Virgin Atlantic]]. It currently handles around 35 million passengers a year making it London's second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]]. [[Croydon Airport]] opened on [[29 March]] [[1920]] but, due in part to its short runway and the expanding Gatwick Airport close by the final passenger scheduled flight departed on [[30 September]] [[1959]]. It used to be the operating base for [[Imperial Airways]] and was served by [[British Airways]]. [[London Heathrow Airport]], [[London City Airport]] and [[London Luton Airport]] all lie within a two hours' drive of the city. Luton Airport is connected to Croydon by [[Thameslink|a direct train]] every hour.
===Local travel===
The [[A23 road|A23]] and [[A22 road]]s are the major trunk roads through Croydon. These both run north-south, connecting to each other in [[Purley, London|Purley]]. The A22 connects Croydon, its starting point, to [[East Grinstead]], [[Tunbridge Wells]], [[Uckfield]], and [[Eastbourne]]. Other major roads generally radiate spoke-like from the city centre. [[Wellesley Road]] is an urban motorway which cuts through the middle of the [[central business district]] was constructed in the 1960s and includes an [[Croydon Underpass|underpass]], which allows traffic to avoid going into the town centre.
The hilly topography of Croydon and the lack of underground services in South London is a reason for the extensive suburban and inter-urban railway network. Croydon is in the commuter belt to London as part of suburbia. There are several busy local rail routes running along the borough's towns, connecting it with [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[London Victoria]]. These local routes mainly run on the [[Brighton Main Line]] and [[Sutton & Mole Valley Lines]]. As well as the main stations of East Croydon and West Croydon, there are several suburban stations at [[Norwood Junction railway station|Norwood Junction]], [[Purley railway station|Purley]], [[Coulsdon South railway station|Coulsdon South]] and [[Kenley railway station|Kenley]] and more.
[[Image:Addington Village bus and tram station.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Tramlink]] at Addington Interchange]]
The light rail system ''[[Tramlink]]'' (Operated by [[Tramtrack Croydon]], a wholly owned subsidy of Transport for London),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/7741.aspx|title=TfL announces plans to take over Tramlink services|date=2008-03-17|accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref> opened in 2000, serves the borough and surrounding areas. Its network consists of three lines, from [[Elmers End]] to West Croydon, from [[Beckenham]] to West Croydon, and from [[New Addington]] to [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], with all three lines running via the Croydon loop on which it is centred on. It has been highly successful, environmentally-friendly and a reliable light rail system carrying around 22 million passengers a year. It is also the only tram system in London but there is another light rail system [[Docklands Light Railway|in the Docklands]]. It serves [[Mitcham]], [[Woodside, London|Woodside]], [[Addiscombe]] and the [[Purley Way]] retail and industrial area amongst others. An extension to [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] is currently being developed by Transport for London with the support of the council and the South London Partnership. This would improve public transport access to [[Upper Norwood]] and [[Crystal Palace Park]] and help to stimulate regeneration across the wider area. The extension could be in service by [[2013]]. Other possible extensions include [[Sutton, London|Sutton]], a new park and ride close to the M25, [[Coulsdon]], [[Purley, London|Purley]], [[Kingston Upon Thames]], [[Tolworth]], [[Tooting]], [[Brixton]] for an interchange with the proposed [[Cross River Tram]], [[Bromley]] and [[Lewisham]] for an interchange with the Docklands Light Railway.
A sizeable bus infrastructure which is part of the [[London Buses]] network operates from a main hub at [[West Croydon station]]. The bus station at [[West Croydon]] is undergoing a major re-development to make it more modern and future-proof. There are also plans to create a new bus terminal at [[Park Place (Croydon)|Park Place]] if the shopping centre is built. [[Addington Interchange]] is a regional bus terminal in [[Addington, London|Addington Village]] which has an interchange between [[Tramlink route 3|route three]] and bus services in the remote area. [[Arriva London]], part of [[Arriva]], is one of the largest bus operators to serve Croydon along with [[Metrobus (bus company)|Metrobus]], [[Selkent]], and [[Travel London|National Express London]]. Recent developments have seen [[East London Bus Group]] taking over Stagecoach bus services in London. Unlike other places in the country, London's transport infrastructure is regulated and therefore is not subject to price wars between different companies with TfL setting a standard price for bus services which is currently set at 90p with an [[Oyster card]]. Services include buses to Central London, Purley Way, Bromley, Lewisham and a number of other [[civic centre]]s in the south. [[London Buses route X26]], the longest route in London, provides services to Heathrow Airport via [[Richmond station (London)|Richmond]] and Sutton.
Although hilly, Croydon is compact and has few major trunk roads running through it. It is on one of the [[Connect2]] schemes which are part of the [[National Cycle Network]] route running around [[Croydon]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/schemes/project_detail.php?id=147|title=London - Croydon Park Links|date=2008|accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref> The [[North Downs]], an area of outstanding natural beauty popular with both on- and off-road cyclists, is so close to Croydon that part of the park lies within the borough boundary, and there are routes into the park almost from the civic centre.
Construction of the first phase of the [[East London Line]] Extension to West Croydon is now under way north of the Thames. This project will improve Croydon's public transport connections to central and inner [[East London, England|East London]]. It will also provide the main impetus for building a modern public transport interchange at West Croydon station linking [[tram]], [[bus]] and [[Rail transport|rail]]. The East London Line Extension will be a major contribution to London's transport infrastructure in time for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|Olympic and Paralympic Games]] to be held in the capital in 2012. Two stations in Croydon, [[Norwood Junction]] and [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]], will be connected to London Underground services. Currently Croydon is one of only five London Boroughs not to have at least one [[London Underground]] station within its boundaries, and the closest tube station is apparently [[Morden tube station]], 139 minutes away to the west.<ref name="London Town">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/the_croydon_flyover_44f.html|title = Local guide to The Croydon Flyover|publisher = LondonTown|accessdate = 2007-05-03}}</ref>
== Public services ==
[[Image:Cane Hill Asylum.jpg|thumb|[[Cane Hill]]]]
[[Home Office]] policing in Croydon is provided by the [[Metropolitan Police]]. The force's Croydon arm have their head offices for policing on [[Park Lane]] next to the [[Fairfield Halls]] and [[Croydon College]] in central Croydon. [[Public transport]] is co-ordinated by [[Transport for London]]. [[Fire service in the United Kingdom|Statutory emergency fire and rescue service]] is provided by the [[London Fire Brigade]], which has five stations in Croydon.<ref name="London Fire Brigade"/>
[[Waste management]] is co-ordinated by the [[local authority]].<ref name="Waste management">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/waste/docs/wastestrat_all.pdf|title = Rethinking rubbish in London|publisher = [[Greater London Authority]]|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref> Unlike other [[Waste disposal authorities in Greater London|waste disposal authorities in Greater London]], Croydon's rubbish is collected independently and isn't part of a waste authority unit. Locally produced [[inert waste]] for disposal is sent to [[landfill]] in the south of Croydon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/councilnews/2886|title=South London Borough's unite to tackle waste challenge|author=London Borough of Croydon|publisher=croydon.gov.uk|date=16 April|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref> There have recently been calls by the ODPM to bring waste management powers to the [[Greater London Authority]], giving it a waste function.<ref name="Waste management"/> The Mayor of London has made repeated attempts to bring the different waste authorities together, to form a single waste authority in London. This has faced significant opposition from existing authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letsrecycle.com/info/localauth/news.jsp?story=6382 |title=London Mayor re-ignites bid for single waste authority|publisher=[[Letsrecycle.com|www.letsrecycle.com]]|author=|date=2003|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref> However, it has had significant support from all other sectors and the surrounding regions managing most of London's waste. Croydon has the joint best recycling rate in London, at 36%. Croydon's [[Distribution Network Operator]] for electricity is [[EDF Energy|EDF Energy Networks]]; there are no [[power station]]s in the borough. [[Thames Water]] manages Croydon's [[drinking water|drinking]] and [[waste water]]; water supplies being sourced from several local reservoirs, including [[Beckton]] and [[King George VI Reservoir|King George VI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-C56947C1-538A347A/corp/hs.xsl/2802.htm |title=Sustainable supplies for the future|publisher= Thames Water|author=Beckton Desalination Plant|date=2007|accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref> Before 1971, Croydon Corporation was responsible for water treatment in the borough.
===Health===
[[Mayday University Hospital]] is a major [[NHS]] hospital built on a 19 acre site in Thornton Heath near the west of the borough. It is a District General Hospital with a 24-hour [[Emergency department|accident and emergency]] department. [[NHS Direct]] has a regional centre based at the hospital. Former names of the hospital include the Croydon Union Infirmary from 1885 to 1923 and the Mayday Road Hospital from 1923 to around 1930.<ref name="Mayday Hospital">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=168&page=37|title = The National Archives:Mayday Hospital, Croydon|publisher = The National Archives|accessdate = 2007-09-29}}</ref> The [[NHS Trust]] also provides services at Purley War Memorial Hospital, in [[Purley, London|Purley]].
Croydon General Hospital was on London Road but services transferred to Mayday, as the size of this hospital was insufficient to cope with the growing population of the borough. Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre and the Emergency Minor Treatment Centre are other smaller hospitals operated by the Mayday in the borough. [[Cane Hill]] was a [[psychiatric hospital]] in Coulsdon.
===London Fire Brigade===
The borough of Croydon is 86.52km<sup>sq</sup>, populating approximately 340,000 people. There are five fire stations within the borough; Addington (two pumping appliances), Croydon (two pumping appliances, incident response unit, fire rescue unit and a USAR appliance), Norbury (two pumping appliances), Purley (one pumping appliance) and Woodside (one pumping appliance). Purley has the largest station ground, but dealt with the fewest incidents during 2006/07.<ref name="London Fire Brigade">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/Croydon.pdf|title = London Fire Brigade: Croydon Profile|publisher = London Fire Brigade|accessdate = 2008-05-20}}</ref>
The borough of Croydon has the most schools in London; 156. The fire stations, as part of the Community Fire Safety scheme, visited 49 schools in 2006/2007.<ref name="London Fire Brigade">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/Croydon.pdf|title = London Fire Brigade: Croydon Profile|publisher = london Fire Brigade|accessdate = 2008-05-20}}</ref>
===Education===
{{main|List of schools in Croydon}}
[[Image:Croydon College.JPG|thumb|right|Croydon College's main buildings in Central Croydon.]]
Overall, Croydon was ranked 92nd out of the all the [[Local Education Authority|Local Education Authorities]] – and 21st in Greater London – in [[National Curriculum assessment]] performance in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7130024.stm |author= |title=LEA SATs performance |publisher=BBC Online |date=2007-12-06 |accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref> In 2007, the Croydon LEA was ranked 81st out of 149 in the country – and 21st in Greater London – based on the percentage of pupils attaining at least 5 A*–C grades at GCSE including maths and English (37.8% compared with the national average of 46.7%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7180228.stm |author= |title=How different LEAs performed |publisher=BBC Online |date=2008-01-10 |accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref> In 2007, [[Old Palace School of John Whitgift]] was the most successful school in Croydon at GCSE with 100% of the pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at A*–C grade including maths and English. The most successful public sector school was Coloma Convent Girls' School. [[BRIT School]] was the most successful public school at A–level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/306_gcse_lea.stm |author= |title=Education results in Croydon |publisher=BBC Online |date=2008-01-10|accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref>
The borough compared with the other London boroughs has the highest amount of schools in it, due to the fact that 26% of its population are under 20 years old.<ref name="London Fire Brigade">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about_us/media/Croydon.pdf|title = London Fire Brigade: Croydon Profile|publisher = london Fire Brigade|accessdate = 2008-05-20}}</ref> They include primary schools (95), secondary schools (21) and four further education establishments.<ref name="Croydon Education home page">{{cite web|year = |url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/education/|title = Croydon Education|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> [[Croydon College]] has its main building in Central Croydon, it is a high rise building.<ref name="Croydon College information zone">{{cite web|year = |url = http://www.croydon.ac.uk/03a.html|title = Croydon College|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> [[John Ruskin College]]<ref name="John Ruskin College floor plan">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.johnruskin.ac.uk/pages/au_icp.asp|title = Floor plan of John Ruskin College|publisher = John Ruskin College|accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> is one of the other colleges in the borough, located in Addington and Coulsdon College<ref name="Coulsdon College home page">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.coulsdon.ac.uk/|title = Home page of Coulsdon College|publisher = Coulsdon College|accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> in Coulsdon. South Norwood has been the home of [[Spurgeon's College]], a world-famous Baptist theological college, since 1923; Spurgeon's is located on South Norwood Hill and currently has some 1000 students. The London Borough of Croydon is the [[Local Education Authority|local education authority]] for the borough.<ref name="List of schools in London Borough of Croydon">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://eduinfo.croydon.gov.uk/CMS/GUI/Bases/index.php?schoolType=all|title = School Search Results|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref>
Below is a table which shows the results of the GCSE Examination Performance in Croydon schools in 2007.
{| class="wikitable" style="background:#f0f0f0" style="font-size:90%"
!School!!A*-C Pass Rate
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| Coloma Convent Girls' School||86%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[Harris City Academy Crystal Palace|Harris City Technology College]]||80%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[Archbishop Tenison's Church of England High School, Croydon|Tenison's School]]||69%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[Riddlesdown High School]]||63%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[St. Joseph's College (Boys)|St. Joseph's College]]||63%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[St. Andrews C of E High School]]||57%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[BRIT School]]||53%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[Shirley High School]]||53%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School]]||53%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| Woodcote High School||52%
|- style="background:#f7ffce"
| [[Norbury Manor High School for Girls]]||52%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| Edenham High School||41%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| [[St. Mary's R C High School]]||39%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| Westwood Language College for Girls||36%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| Thomas More Catholic School||35%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| The Archbishop Lanfranc School||35%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| Coulsdon High School||32%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| [[Addington High School]]||27%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| Selhurst High School for Boys||27%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| Selsdon High School||23%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| [[Ashburton Community School]]||21%
|- style="background:#ffe7c6"
| [[Haling Manor High School]]||18%
|- style="background:#f0f0f0"
| '''Average for London Borough of Croydon'''||'''44.4%'''
|- style="background:#f0f0f0"
| '''Average for England'''||'''46.8%'''
|}
* ''The table shows the percentage of students gaining five A* to C grades, including English and Maths, for state schools in the London Borough of Croydon''.
* ''The table does not include independent schools which are located in the borough''.
* Source: [[Department for Children, Schools and Families]]<ref name="Department for Schools">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/group_07.pl?Mode=Z&Type=LA&No=306&Base=b&F=1&L=50&Year=07&Phase=1|title = Secondary School achievement and attainment tables 2007|publisher = Department for Children, Schools and Families|accessdate = 2008-05-24}}</ref>
===Libraries===
[[Image:Southnorwoodlibrary.JPG|thumb|One of the local Libraries in Croydon]]
The borough of Croydon has 14 libraries, a joint library and a mobile library. Many of the libraries where built a long time ago and therefore have become outdated, so the council started updating a few including [[Ashburton Library]] which moved from its former spot into the state-of-the-art [[Ashburton Learning Village]] complex which is on the former site of the old 'A Block' of [[Ashburton Community School]] which is now situated inside the centre. The library is now on 1 floor. This is what the council wanted to roll out around the borough but due to the cost of this one, it was decided that doing this would cost to much.
[[South Norwood Library]], [[New Addington Library]], Shirley Library, Thornton Heath Library, Selsdon Library, Sanderstead Library, Purley Library, Coulsdon Library and Bradmore Green Library are examples of older council libraries. The main library is [[Croydon Central Library]] which holds many references, newspaper archives and a tourist information point (one of three in [[South East London]]). [[Upper Norwood Library]] is a joint library with the [[London Borough of Lambeth]]. This means that both councils fund the library and its resources, but even though Lambeth have nearly doubled their funding for the library in the past several years Croydon has kept it the same,<ref name="Tessa Jowell Labour campaign article">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.tessajowell.net/?PageId=4bd1346c-8ec2-36f4-ed45-ba76a9cef35eschoolType=all|title = Tessa Jowell joins campaign for joint funding of Upper Norwood Library|publisher = Labour Party|accessdate = 2007-07-24}}</ref> doubting the future of the library.
==Religion==
{| cellpadding="1" border="0" style="float: right; margin: 0em 1em 1em 0em; border: 1px #bbbbbb solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- align="center" bgcolor=#EDD5A3
| colspan="3" | [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]<ref name="Demographics"/>
|- align="center" {{bgcolor-gold}}
| ||Croydon||London
|- align="center"
|Christian||215,124||4,176,175
|- align="center"
|Buddhist||1,579||54,297
|- align="center"
|Hindu||16,781||291,977
|- align="center"
|Muslim||17,642||607,083
|- align="center"
|Sikh||1,310||104,230
|- align="center"
|Atheist (No Religion)||48,615||1,130,616
|- align="center"
|Other Religions||2,830||186,347
|}
Croydon is made up of many different cultures and ethnicities from around the world.<ref name="Demographics"/> According to the [[United Kingdom Census 2001]], the borough has over 215,124 Christians, mainly Protestants. This is the largest religious following in the borough and has many more believers than the next religion Islam. There are just 17,642 Muslim followers in the borough, which makes up some of the 607,083 in London as a whole. But over 48,615 people are [[atheist]]s, meaning that they don't believe in a religion at all, compared with only 26,506 people in close by borough of [[Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames|Kingston upon Thames]], although this is a less populated borough.<ref name="National Statistics for Kingston">{{cite web|year = 2001|url = http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276763&c=Kingston&d=13&e=16&g=340334&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1192128306296&enc=1|title = Key Figures for 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics, Kingston|publisher = National Statistics|accessdate = 2007-10-11}}</ref>
There are more than 35 churches in the borough, with [[Croydon Parish Church]] being the main one.<ref name="Churches in LB Croydon">{{cite web|year = 2003|url = http://www.eden.co.uk/churches/croydon/index.html|title = Croydon Churches|publisher = Eden/National Church Database|accessdate = 2007-10-16}}</ref> This church was founded in Saxon times, since there is a record of "a priest of Croydon" in 960, although the first record of a church building is in the [[Domesday Book]] (1086). In its final medieval form, the church was mainly a Perpendicular-style structure, but this was severely damaged by fire in 1867, following which only the tower, south porch and outer walls remained. Under the direction of Sir George Gilbert Scott the church was rebuilt, incorporating the remains and essentially following the design of the medieval building, and was reconsecrated in 1870. It still contains several important monuments and fittings saved from the old church.<ref name="Croydon Parish Church">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydon-parish-church.org.uk/history|title = History of Croydon Parish Church|publisher = Croydon Parish Church|accessdate = 2007-10-16}}</ref>
Croydon is going through a large re-generation plan and part of that plan is to add a Cultural Quarter to the centre of Croydon.<ref name="Central Croydon Living">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.centralcroydonliving.com/bridgehouse.html|title = Central Croydon Living - Bridge House|publisher = Howard Holdings|accessdate = 2007-09-25}}</ref> This includes the [[Bridge House]] and [[The Exchange]] developments which are plans for loft style urban living to the centre of town.
Croydon has strong religious links, from a royal charter for [[Surrey Street Market]] dating back to 1276, to [[Croydon Palace]] which was the summer residence of the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] for over 500 years. With visitors such as [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] and [[Queen Elizabeth I]]. The [[Bishop of Croydon]] is a position as a [[Bishop#Bishops in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches|suffragan]] [[Bishop]] in the [[Anglican]] [[Anglican Diocese of Southwark|Diocese of Southwark]]. The current bishop is Rt Rev [[Nicholas Baines|Nicholas (Nick) Baines]]. A list of the Bishops of the Episcopal Area of Croydon include:
{| border=1 style="border-collapse: collapse"
|- align=left
! width="25%"|Tenure
! width="40%"|Incumbent
! width="20%"|Notes
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>1937 to 1942||'''[[William Louis Anderson]]'''||<small>(1892-1972)
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>1942 to 1947||'''[[Maurice Harland]]'''||<small>(1896-1986)
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>1947 to 1956||'''[[Cuthbert Killick Norman Bardsley]]'''||<small> (1907-1991)
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>1956 to 1977||'''[[John Taylor Hughes]]'''<small>||<small>(1908-2001)<small>
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>1977 to 1985||'''[[Stuart Snell]]'''||<small>(d. 1988)
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>1985 to 2002||'''[[Wilfred Wood (bishop)|Wilfred Wood]]'''||<small>(b. 1936)<small>
|- valign=top bgcolor="#ffffec"
|<small>2003 to present||'''[[Nicholas Baines]]'''||<small>(b. 1957)<small>
|}
== Sport and Leisure ==
{{further|[[Croydon parks and open spaces]]}}
The borough has been criticized in the past for not having enough leisure facilities, maintaining the position of Croydon as a three star borough.<ref name="Croydon's three star borough rating">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydonconservatives.com/news_search_results_printer.asp?StoryNo=942|title = Three Star Croydon 'Improving Well'|publisher = Croydon Conservatives|accessdate = 2007-10-10}}</ref> At the moment only three leisure centres are open for public use and two of these are expected to be closed down in the near future, with plans for only one of them to be re-built. Thornton Heath's ageing sports centre was recently knocked down, and replaced by a newer more modern leisure centre. [[South Norwood Leisure Centre]] was closed down in early 2006 so that it could be knocked completely down and re-designed from scratch like Thornton Heath, which would cost around £10 million.<ref name="South Norwood Pools close for demolition">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.londonpoolscampaign.com/discuss/msgReader$806|title = South Norwood Pools close|publisher = London Pools Campaign|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref> [[Image:Countrypark2.jpg|thumb|South Norwood Country Park]] In May 2006 the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] became in charge of Croydon and decided that doing this would cost too much money, so they came up with another idea of just re-furbishing the centre, although this decision did not come without controversy.<ref name="South Norwood Forum">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/interactive/messageforum/view.php?threadid=829.com|title = Message Forum on South Norwood Pools|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref><ref name="Leisure Centre petition">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/interactive/messageforum/view.php?threadid=829.com|title = Pool plans are approved despite 3,000 signature petition|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref>
Purley Pool is to close soon, but a new "super-pool" is planned in Coulsdon. The aging New Addington Leisure Centre is also set to close but is to be re-built. A new leisure centre is also going to be built on the [[A23 road|A23]], southern end of [[Purley Way]] in [[Waddon]].
Sport Croydon,<ref name="Sport Croydon">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/sports/|title = Sport Croydon - Home Page|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref> currently is the commercial arm for leisure in the borough and the logo is seen somewhere in each of the centres. Fusion currently provides leisure services for the council which previously used Parkwood Leisure which itself provides services for nearby [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]].<ref name="Parkwood Leisure">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.leisure-centre.com|title = Parkwood Leisure - Home Page|publisher = Parkwood Leisure|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref>
Football teams include [[Crystal Palace F.C.]], which plays at [[Selhurst Park]], in the [[Coca-Cola Championship]]. [[Coulsdon United F.C.]] (formerly [[Coulsdon Town F.C.]] before the merge with [[Salfords F.C.]]) are a team that currently play in the [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]] Division One. [[Croydon Athletic F.C.]], whose local nickname is The Rams, is a football club based in [[Thornton Heath|Thornton Heath's]] Keith Tuckey Stadium and play in the [[Isthmian League]] Division One South, with [[Croydon F.C.]] who play at [[Croydon Sports Arena]] and [[Holmesdale F.C.|Holmesdale]], who were founded in [[South Norwood]] but currently playing on Oakley Road in [[Bromley]], currently in the [[Kent League]]. Non-football teams that play in Croydon are [[Streatham-Croydon RFC]], an historic [[rugby union]] club in [[Thornton Heath]] who play at Frant Road, as well as [[South London Storm Rugby League Club]], based at [[Streatham-Croydon RFC|Streatham's]] ground, who compete in the [[Rugby League Conference]]. The [[London Olympians]] are an [[American Football]] team that play in Division 1 South in the [[British American Football League]].
Croydon has over 120 parks and open spaces,<ref name="Parks and open spaces in Croydon Council">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/pksandops/pos|title = Parks and open spaces in Croydon|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-09-25}}</ref> ranging from the 200 acre (80ha) [[Selsdon Wood|Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve]] to many recreation grounds and sports fields scattered throughout the Borough.
== Culture ==
Croydon aims to become one of the hearts of culture in London and the South East of England. This has been proved with the dedication the council has shown to projects such as the proposed [[Croydon Arena]]. Although, despite the aim, it has also cut funding to the [[Warehouse Theatre]].<ref name="Warehouse Theatre">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/search/display.var.956329.0.the_warehouse_fights_council_cut.php|title = The Warehouse Theatre fights council cut plans|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-09-28}}</ref>[[Image:Centrale.jpg|Centrale, Tamworth Road|thumb]] In 2005, Croydon Council drew up a ''Public Art Strategy'', with a vision that is accessible and enhances people's enjoyment of their surroundings.<ref name="Public Art">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydon.gov.uk/content/departments/570801/570935/artstrategy05-08.pdf|title = A Public Art Strategy for Croydon 2005-2008|publisher = Croydon Council|accessdate = 2007-09-28}}</ref> The public art strategy should deliver a new event called ''Croydon's Summer Festival'', a creative industries hub in [[Old Town, Croydon|Old Town]], ensure public art is included in developments such as [[Croydon College|College Green]] and [[Croydon Gateway]] and investigate the possibility of gallery space in the Cultural Quarter.
The [[Fairfield Halls]] and the [[Ashcroft Theatre]] show productions that are held throughout the year such as drama, ballet, opera and pantomimes and can be converted to show films. It also contains the Arnhem Gallery civic hall and an [[art gallery]]. Other cultural activities, including shopping and exhibitions, are [[Surrey Street Market]] which is mainly a meat and vegetables market near the main shopping environment of Croydon. The market has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276. [[Croydon Airport|Airport House]] is a newly refurbished conference and exhibition centre inside part of [[Croydon Airport]]. The [[Whitgift Centre]], the current main shopping centre in the borough is also one of the largest in-town shopping centres in the whole of [[Europe]]. [[Centrale]], a new shopping centre that houses many more familiar names, as well as Croydon's [[House of Fraser]]. [[North End, Croydon|North End]], the main shopping street, which holds both centres. [[Park Place (Croydon)|Park Place]], a shopping centre that is planned to be built in Central Croydon by [[Minerva plc]]. [[Purley Way]], a large out-of-town retail and entertainment area that caters for South London and areas South of London, it includes [[IKEA Croydon]], [[Vue (cinema)|Vue]] and [[City Limits]]. Croydon Arena, a proposed arena which will feature more commercial exhibitions and sport events next to [[East Croydon station]].
==Media==
[[Image:2005-07-01 - United Kingdom - England - London - Crystal Palace - Crystal Palace Transmitter.jpg|thumb|One of the Crystal Palace television masts]]
There are three local newspapers which operate within the borough, each with considerable history in the area. The [[Croydon Advertiser]] began life in 1869,<ref>[http://www.ashrare.com/newspaper_history.html Newspaper History] at Ash Rare Books, accessed [[2006-08-14]]</ref> and is the third-highest selling paid-for weekly newspaper in London.<ref>[http://www.newspapersoc.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=1556 Newspaper Society London circulation tables, July-December 2005] accessed [[2006-08-09]]</ref> The Advertiser is also Croydon's major paid-for weekly paper and is on sale every Friday in five geographical editions: Croydon; Sutton & [[Epsom]]; Coulsdon & Purley; New Addington; and [[Caterham]].<ref name="Trinity">[http://www.trinitymirrorsouthern.com/titledetails.cfm?parentid=4&groupid=26&titleid=70 Trinity Mirror Southern series description] accessed [[2006-08-09]]</ref> The paper converted from a broadsheet to a compact (tabloid) format on [[31 March]] [[2006]]. It was bought by [[Northcliffe Media]] which is part of the [[Daily Mail and General Trust]] group on [[6 July]] [[2007]]. In 2008 it was given a new website as part of the ''This is'' network of brands across the United Kingdom. The [[Croydon Post]] is a free newspaper available across the borough and is operated by the Advertiser group. The circulation of the newspaper is notably more then the main title published by the Advertiser Group.<ref name="Croydon Post">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.abc.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=nav/abc&noc=y|title = Circulation of Croydon Borough Post|publisher = ABC|accessdate = 2008-05-26}}</ref>
The [[Croydon Guardian]] is another local weekly paper, which is paid for at newsagents but free at Croydon Council libraries and via deliveries. The newspaper is published every Wednesday. The paper is owned by regional newspaper publisher [[Newsquest Media Group]] and is inside the South London arm.<ref name="Croydon Guardian">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/|title = Croydon Guardian local newspaper pages|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-09-19}}</ref> It is one of the best circulated local newspapers in London and has the highest circulation in Croydon with around one thousand more copies distributed than The Post.<ref name="Croydon Guardian circulation">{{cite web|year = 2008|url = http://www.abc.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=nav/abc&noc=y|title = Circulation of the Croydon Guardian|publisher = ABC|accessdate = 2008-05-26}}</ref>
The borough is served by the London regional versions of [[BBC London|BBC]] and [[Carlton Television|ITV]] coverage, from either the [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|Crystal Palace]] or [[Croydon transmitting station|Croydon transmitters]].<ref name="Crystal Palace aerial transmission gallery">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/crystalpalace/index.php|title = The Transmission Gallery, Crystal Palace|publisher = mb21|accessdate = 2007-09-19}}</ref><ref name="Crystal Palace aerial information">{{cite web|year = 2007|url = http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0016652|title = Structure information of Crystal Palace Transmitter|publisher = Structurae|accessdate = 2007-09-19}}</ref>
[[Capital Radio]] began broadcasting on October 1973 from [[Euston Tower]], [[North London]]. The station, now owned by [[Gcap Media]], broadcasts as Capital 95.8 from [[Leicester Square]] in Central London. The group also has a sister station on the [[medium wave]] frequency, known as [[Classic Gold Digital Network|Classic Gold Digital 1521]]. Local BBC radio is provided by [[BBC London 94.9]]. Large radio stations picked up by transmitters around Croydon are [[Kiss 100 London]] and [[Magic 105.4 FM]] from [[Bauer Radio]], [[Choice FM London]] from [[GCap Media]], [[Heart 106.2]] from [[Global Radio UK]], [[Virgin Radio]] from [[SMG plc|SMG]] and [[102.2 Smooth Radio]] from [[Guardian Media Group]].
== Town twinning ==
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:right;font-size:100%;"|
|-
! style="background: #810541; color: #FFFFFF" ! | Flag
! style="background: #810541; color: #FFFFFF" height="17" width="110" |Country
! style="background: #810541; color: #FFFFFF" ! width="110" | Town
! style="background: #810541; color: #FFFFFF" ! width="150" | Area
|-
! style="background: #FFFFEF; color: #000000" ! | {{flagicon|NED}}
! style="background: #FFFFEF; color: #000000" ! | [[Netherlands]]
! style="background: #FFFFCF; color: #000000" ! | '''[[Arnhem]]'''
! style="background: #FFFFEF; color: #000000" ! | ''[[Gelderland]]''
|-
! style="background: #FFFFEF; color: #000000" ! | {{flagicon|Guyana}}
! style="background: #FFFFEF; color: #000000" ! | [[Guyana]]
! style="background: #FFFFCF; color: #000000" ! | -
! style="background: #FFFFEF; color: #000000" ! | ''[[South America]]''
|}
The London Borough of Croydon is twinned with the [[municipality]] of Arnhem which is located in the east of the Netherlands.<ref name="Arnhem Link">{{cite web|year = 2005|url = http://www.croydononline.org/history/places/arnhem.asp |title = Croydon and Arnhem Link|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2007-09-27}}</ref> The city of [[Arnhem]] is one of the [[List of cities in the Netherlands with over 100,000 people|10 largest cities in the Netherlands]]. They have been twinned since 1946 after both towns had suffered extensive bomb damage during the recently ended war. There is also a [[Guyana|Guyanese]] link supported by the council.<ref name="Guyana">{{cite web|year = |url = http://www.croydononline.org/community_information/list-fse.asp?wtT=2034|title = The community link with Guyana, South America
|publisher = Croydon Online|accessdate = 2007-09-28}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{portalpar|London|Flag of England.svg}}
* {{wikitravel|London/Croydon}}
* [[List of people associated with the London Borough of Croydon]]
* [[UK postcodes#Croydon, CR0|UK postcodes]] — a note of why and how postcodes CR0 and CR9 differ from the others.
* [[Greater London]]
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Croydon}}
'''Official'''
*[http://www.croydon.gov.uk/ London Borough of Croydon]
'''News and travel'''
*[http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/ News, sport and information]
*[http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/ Local news and travel]
*[http://wikitravel.org/en/Croydon Croydon on Wikitravel]
'''Culture'''
*[http://www.visitlondon.com/areas/villages/croydon Visit Croydon]
*[http://www.croydononline.org/ Community website]
*[http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/ Culture and leisure in Croydon]
'''Maps'''
*[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=croydon&hl=en Croydon] at [[Google Maps]]
*{{coord|51.3767096|-0.1280594|source_wikimapia_region:GB_type:adm1st|display=inline}}
{{coord|51|20|N|0|05|W|region:GB_type:adm1st|display=title}}
{{LB Croydon}}
{{London}}
{{SE England}}
[[Category:Croydon|*]]
[[Category:Districts of London|Croydon, London Borough of]]
[[Category:1965 establishments]]
[[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (UK English)]]
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[[it:London Borough of Croydon]]
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