Croydon is a beautiful suburb of south London with a lot to offer. The place is full of bustling nightlife, a large shopping district, delicious food, tranquil parks and museums. Be sure to carve out at least a day or two from your next trip to London for this versatile place. The best way to tour Croydon is to book coach hire in Croydon. Read on to know about top things to do in Croydon.
Visit Shirley Windmill
Shirley Windmill is one of the four large windmills open to the public in Greater London. Please note that it is accessible only during Summer, on National Mills Day in May and Open House London Day in September. Take the 60 minutes guided tour to know about the history in detail. The windmill is open for guided tours on the first Sunday of the month, from June to October between noon and 5 pm. There is a small visitor centre where you can learn about flour milling industry of victorian times. See the original machinery with two pairs of millstones. Shirley Windmill is free to enter.
Explore culture at Museum of Croydon
Museum of Croydon is an award-winning museum that celebrates and represents the culture, community and diversity of the people of croydon through their exhibitions. It is suitable for the entire family. They have fun interactive activities for children to keep them busy. Interactive displays tell the stories of local people.
The art gallery showcases the Borough’s art collection and the clock tower houses a family trail, exhibitions and Chinese ceramics collection. Borough Archive, Art Collection, Museum Collection, Handling Collection, Research Room, Local History are precious collections of the museum. Please note that the museum is currently closed. Check out their website for live events and museum from home.
Grab a meal at Boxpark
Boxpark is like a heaven for street food lovers. You will find some of London’s best street food traders and restaurants. All cuisine from around the world is available in one place. There are countless varieties of dishes, desserts and drinks. Boxpark houses more than 30 street food restaurants selling street food from Greek, Korea, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and many more places. Boxpark regularly hosts events like art exhibitions, creative workshops, live music, game and movie screening, comedy nights and many more.
Spend the afternoon at Wandle Park
Wandle Park is spread across 21 acres of land. This park has everything you can think of, a playground, a rose garden, an ornamental garden, a bandstand, skate park, picnic area, pond and a cafe. Wandle river runs in the middle. Walk or cycle on the Wandle walk trail along Wandle river and see beautiful spots along the way. Wandle park hosts movie screenings during summer.
Admire the Street art of Croydon
When in Croydon, you must see the stunning street art of Croydon. It is the best street art you will ever see. Head to Surrey Street and St George’s Walk. These are the popular areas to appreciate Croydon street art. Discover more than 100 murals high on walls, across the buildings or in the alleys by top artists. Most unique artworks to check out are Princess Diana by Rich Simmons at Exchange Square, Boy Soldier By Schoony at Surrey Street and Toy by Dotmaster on High Street.
Go on a shopping spree
Indulge in retail therapy at some of the best shopping spots of Croydon. Centrale and Whitgift is a prime shopping place selling top brands like House of Fraser, Marks and Spencer, New Look, Ted Baker, and so many other. They offer a wide range of leisure, food, drinks and shopping options.
Croydon Main Street is a central shopping area with outdoor dining spaces, eateries and cafes. Head to Oscar Dahling Antiques to find unique antique pieces and souvenir. Surrey Street Market is London’s oldest street market selling fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and artisan food.