Croydon is a major commercial centre in Greater London and has always been a significant halt on the road south of London. By 1930’s, after World War 2, the town centre was becoming congested which eventually led to the passing of the ‘Croydon Corporation Act 1936’.
This bought big change to the area and new office blocks and rail links were put into place. Tabener House for example was built in 1967 and has since become the administrative of the new enlarged Borough of Croydon.
The 1990s saw further changes intended to give the town a more attractive image. These include the closure of North End to vehicles in 1989 and the opening of the Croydon Clocktower arts centre in 1994.
Tramlink began operation in May 2000. A new equally large shopping centre, Centrale, opened in 2004 opposite the Whitgift Centre, straddling the site of the smaller Drummond Centre and what was once a large branch of C&A. There are plans for a large new shopping centre, Park Place, which will replace most of the eastern edge of the shopping district including St George's Walk; the redevelopment of the Croydon Gateway site; and extensions of Tramlink to Purley, Streatham, Lewisham and Crystal Palace. Croydon has become the second-largest place to shop in the south east, after central London, offering a wide range of shops and department stores.
It is also home to many high density buildings such as the Nestlé Tower, being London's third main CBD, after the Square Mile and the Docklands and South London's main business centre.
The Croydon area is served by various hospitals of which the main one is Mayday University Hospital in London Road. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has stated that he would support Croydon becoming an official city. The old London to Brighton road used to pass through the town on North End before it was shut off to motor traffic.
The A23 now bypasses the centre of the town and follows Purley Way, to the west of the area, instead. The Brighton Main Line 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 south east, 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 railway station in Croydon and the third busiest in London, excluding those in Travelcard Zone 1. West Croydon station 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 and First Capital Connect.
This bought big change to the area and new office blocks and rail links were put into place. Tabener House for example was built in 1967 and has since become the administrative of the new enlarged Borough of Croydon.
The 1990s saw further changes intended to give the town a more attractive image. These include the closure of North End to vehicles in 1989 and the opening of the Croydon Clocktower arts centre in 1994.
Tramlink began operation in May 2000. A new equally large shopping centre, Centrale, opened in 2004 opposite the Whitgift Centre, straddling the site of the smaller Drummond Centre and what was once a large branch of C&A. There are plans for a large new shopping centre, Park Place, which will replace most of the eastern edge of the shopping district including St George's Walk; the redevelopment of the Croydon Gateway site; and extensions of Tramlink to Purley, Streatham, Lewisham and Crystal Palace. Croydon has become the second-largest place to shop in the south east, after central London, offering a wide range of shops and department stores.
It is also home to many high density buildings such as the Nestlé Tower, being London's third main CBD, after the Square Mile and the Docklands and South London's main business centre.
The Croydon area is served by various hospitals of which the main one is Mayday University Hospital in London Road. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has stated that he would support Croydon becoming an official city. The old London to Brighton road used to pass through the town on North End before it was shut off to motor traffic.
The A23 now bypasses the centre of the town and follows Purley Way, to the west of the area, instead. The Brighton Main Line 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 south east, 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 railway station in Croydon and the third busiest in London, excluding those in Travelcard Zone 1. West Croydon station 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 and First Capital Connect.
