People seeking flats to rent in Croydon will find that the borough offers one of the most thriving and active communities in the entire region, making it the ideal location for urbanites with busy lives.
The borough is located in the south of London and is the second-most populous district in the metropolitan area, with a population of 342,000 and climbing.
Its history extends back almost 1,000 years, receiving a mention in the historic Domesday book of 1068, and has always been one of the more popular and prominent locations in the region, becoming known as a major transport hub throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Since becoming a borough in the 1800s, Croydon quickly developed as an important business area thanks to its excellent transport links, with numerous facilities, amenities and commerce centres having sprung up in the area over the years.
Nowadays, Croydon is known as being a thriving focal point for retailers, boasting 2.5 million square feet of shopping space, or 0.5 per cent of the total for the whole of the UK.
Of the top 30 brands in Britain, 28 have outlets in Croydon, while the Purley Way retail park ranks as the eighth biggest of its kind in the UK.
The breadth of shopping facilities in the borough are one of the key elements that make it a popular place to live, according to residents who responded to a recent online poll conducted by Croydon Council as part of its Love Croydon community initiative.
Around 20 per cent of survey respondents stated that the shopping was what they loved most about Croydon, with stores lining the high street to suit buyers of every inclination.
Adding to Croydon's attractiveness as a place to live is a transport network that remains as robust as ever, with the East London train line extending from Whitechapel to New Cross/New Cross Gate helping to link the area together.
However, there is more to the borough than shopping and urban living, as it also offers a strong sense of community, culture and history.
For example, it is home to the historic St Mary's Church in Addington, which has been in place since 1040 and is the burial place for 11 former Archbishops of Canterbury.
Moreover, it is also the site of Fairfield Halls on Park Lane, a major arts centre with a concert hall and theatre that sees regular performance from top entertainment acts visiting the area.
Croydon also has plenty to offer nature lovers, boasting 300 green spaces and having been voted the greenest large city in the UK by the Royal Horticultural Society in 2009, with Coombe Wood earning the title of London's best park.
The area is also well stocked with schools from primary level upwards and has plentiful library facilities of which families can take advantage.
All of these factors combine to make Croydon one of the most diverse, bustling and lively parts of London in which to find a flat, with plenty to offer people from all walks of life.
Posted by Andy Britten
