10 Best Things To Do In Croydon, England

Hiren
Contributing Writer
Published
| 3 min read
best things to do in croydon uk

The town of Croydon has splendid examples of modern architecture and breathtaking landscapes that are perfect for shutterbugs. Compared to many other cities in the UK, it is a relatively small town which doesn’t see a lot of footfall, but that certainly doesn’t prevent it from being on your must-visit list!

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1. Discover tales of the first world war at Remembering 1916 Life On The Western Front

Thank you Sarah for our informative and interesting tour today. I have had great feedback from our group. Some of us will be back again before Easter. Highly recommended:-)

Posted by Carol Courtney on Tuesday, 14 March 2017

Remembering 1916 Life On The Western Front was an exhibition that did a very good job of detailing the history of one of the most important years in the first world war. The exhibition ran for more than a year from 12 March 2016 to 16 April 2017. However, the exhibition’s catalog can be still bought from the official website. When it ran, it saw a footfall exceeding 35,000.

Remembering 1916 Life On The Western Front

Address: Whitgift Exhibition Centre | Whitgift School, Haling Park, South Croydon, Croydon

Website: Remembering 1916 Life On The Western Front

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2. Get information for tourists at the Croydon Airport Visitor Centre

Aa oldcroydonairport
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Anthony Appleyard used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

The Croydon Airport Visitor Centre houses a micro-museum where there are many interactive exhibits that seek to guide you about Croydon as a city and also as Britain’s first major international airport. It played an important role in the first world war. Be careful about the opening times of the exhibit. Overall, it is a very good educational resource for those interested in knowing more about aviation as a mode of transport.

Croydon Airport Visitor Centre

Address: Purley Way | Airport House, CR0 0XZ Croydon, England

Website: Croydon Airport Visitor Centre

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3. Indulge to your heart's desires at Boxpark Croydon

Boxpark Croydon south entrance
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Hzh used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Boxpark Croydon is the place to be for culinary enthusiasts! Dozens of places lie here, each of them just waiting to satisfy your taste buds with the very best of food and drinks. There are also plenty of events held regularly here if you want to do something to whip up your appetite! There are so many choices available that it can often take long before you finally settle on what you want to have!

Boxpark Croydon

Address: Boxpark Croydon 99 George Street, CR0 1LD Croydon, England

Website: Boxpark Croydon

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4. Feel the wind in the plains of the Shirley Windmill

Shirley 1910
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Unknown author used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

It is rare to get a chance to see windmills in crowded cities where the flow of wind is easily blocked by tall skyscrapers. However, in Croydon, you can visit the Shirley Windmill. There are also souvenirs you can buy and cakes that you can eat.

You will have to climb up some stairs and you will be provided a guided tour of the place. It is not always in a working condition. However, it is a lovely place to be.

Shirley Windmill

Address: Postmill Close, CR0 5DY Croydon, England

Website: Shirley Windmill

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5. Take a stroll through the Wandle Park

Croydon, Tramway flyover near Wandle Park - geograph.org.uk - 1711496
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dr Neil Clifton used under CC BY-SA 2.0

If you want to take a walk through the greens or even ride a bike, you can visit Wandle Park. The place is easily reachable via trams. There are play areas and sand pits where kids can spend a great time. In addition, there is even a pond with ducks. You can jog on the tracks and there is also enough place to play football if you wish.

Wandle Park

Address: Cornwall Road, CR0 4JS Croydon, England

Website: Wandle Park

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6. Take kids to watch the clock tower at Museum Of Croydon

Museum of Croydon
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Pafcool2 used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Museum Of Croydon is a one-size-fits-all shop for those who want to discover more about Croydon and its history. Filled with enthusiastic and polite staff, this place houses not just a museum but also an art gallery, a library, a café and even a pub. In the museum, there are touch screen displays to help you show around. Make sure to have plenty of time on hand because the museum has many sections to explore.

Museum Of Croydon

Address: Central Library 1 Croydon Clocktower Katharine Street, CR9 1ET Croydon, England

Website: Museum Of Croydon

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7. Marvel at the architecture of the Croydon Minster

Croydon MInster 01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Eagleash used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The Croydon Minster is a magnificent and really tall cathedral that will captivate you at first sight. Being located close to the city center, it can often be troublesome to find parking space here. It looks even more beautiful inside than on the outside. The whole church presents a lovely sight when the candles are lit up. Visitors have also appreciated the choir here.

Croydon Minster

Address: Church Street, CR0 1RN Croydon, England

Website: Croydon Minster

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8. Take a trip to Bromley and visit the Queens Gardens

Why should this lovely Cedar Tree be sacrificed for the proposed Churchill Gardens development ? This tree has been...

Posted by Jeff Royce on Sunday, 9 July 2017

Although it is not visited by a lot of visitors, Queens Gardens is the perfect getaway for kids. There are dedicated play areas and also a shopping center nearby. If you feel hungry from the trip, there are also many chain restaurants that you will find here.

Queens Gardens

Address: Kentish Way, BR1 3EA Bromley, England

Website: Queens Gardens

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9. Take a tram ride through the Addington Hills

Croydon, Addington Hills - geograph.org.uk - 1671740
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Dr Neil Clifton used under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Addington Hills present a picturesque landscape which is excellent for taking photographs. Trams take you through the hills to New Addington. Even if it is snowing, trams are usually functional. So you can visit this place in the winter too.

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10. Take a trip to Downe to visit Charles Darwin Down House

Darwins Thinking Path
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Tedgrant used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

There isn’t a lot to do in the small town of Downe, but the Charles Darwin Down House present here truly comes across as a hidden gem. It is the home of the father of evolution, Charles Darwin.

Audio guides are available to help you explore the place. If you are tired and need a quick bite, there are sandwiches available. There is plenty to see and do here so it will be beneficial to undertake this trip with several hours in hand.

Charles Darwin Down House

Address: Down House Luxted Road, Downe, BR6 7JT Orpington, England

Website: Charles Darwin Down House

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Discover hidden surprises in Greater London

Croydon also has many golf courses, which take advantage of the beautiful landscapes that the city has to offer. In addition, there are also movie theaters and pubs where you can have fun in the night. So even though it is a small city, tourists will not find it lacking in any way. Come visit the city and discover for yourself!

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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