Croydon is a story of ambition: in some ways it has been truly successful but in other ways it is a bit of a failure. Although Croydon had been a Surrey market town since 1276 and was home to the Archbishops of Canterbury for centuries, things really got going in the 19th century with the coming of the railway and the gaining of borough status.

On this tour we will see some grand buildings from the late 19th century and some from the 1930s which show how Croydon was telling the world it was a place of importance. We will hear how the unique circumstances of the 1950s and 1960s resulted in a largely speculative office boom and how Croydon led the way as a shopping destination. And we will hear how Croydon lost out when it became part of Greater London in 1965 and what Croydon is now doing to reinvent itself for the 21st century.

This tour will appeal not only to those with an interest in architecture but also how to people who want to explore an area which is at once well known and yet not known.

And on the way we see a couple of unexpected art works!

This walk starts and ends at East Croydon Station

You can check travel options at the Transport for London Journey Planner.