Croydon is a vibrant, varied and exciting borough with thriving town and district shopping centres, many excellent restaurants and bars, over 120 parks and open spaces, and a range of cultural venues and heritage sites. Excellent transport links to Gatwick and the south coast make it the perfect base for exploring further afield.

Croydon is an affordable mix of town and country with one of London’s fastest-growing young populations and a range of modern amenities, including high-speed broadband. Regular fast trains to Victoria, London Bridge, the tram network, and access to the London Overground make Croydon the perfect commuter location. For families with children Croydon has the largest school building programme in the country and many good or outstanding schools.

Croydon is one of London’s top three commercial districts, with a wide and growing variety of office space for large and small businesses alike. The Body Shop, Superdrug and HMRC have recently moved to the town and there are clusters of business sectors, ranging from technology and engineering to insurance and financial services. The redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre promises thousands of new jobs.

Community life

There are lots of ways to get involved in local activities and have your say about what happens in the borough. Whatever your interests or your skills, and no matter how much time you have to spare, you’ll be able to contribute to Croydon life.

Community groups

Whether you want to become a friend of your local park, get involved in a resident group or want to meet others with similar interests or experiences, there are groups waiting to welcome you.

Community organisations

Many of the local groups can be accessed many through ‘umbrella’ organisations responsible for supporting the voluntary and community sector.

Asian Resource Centre Croydon
Croydon BME Forum
Croydon Voluntary Action Directory of local groups and meeting spaces

Community groups

There are many other groups that can help you to get involved in your local area.

Friends of Parks
CAGS (Croydon Area Gay Society)
Residents Groups
Council Tenants and Leaseholders Forum
Faiths together in Croydon

Volunteer

You can make a real difference in Croydon by volunteering your time and skills, as well as donating to a local project.

Volunteering in Croydon

Visit the CVA site and linked to search for voluntary projects

Become a Champion

Become a Clean and Green Street champion

Make a Pledge

Support a local project with a pledge of time, money or both

You can take part in individual consultations and engagements or join a panel if you want to be involved on an ongoing basis.

Help shape council services

Get involved