East Croydon is one of the fastest ways into London that doesn't cost you a Zone 1 rent. Trains reach London Bridge and Victoria in under 20 minutes and Gatwick International Airport in about the same, but the area has grown into far more than a place to catch a train, with Boxpark's shipping-container food market, a restored concert hall and a cluster of new towers reshaping the skyline. 

Altura 50 stands in the centre of East Croydon, a short walk from the station, Boxpark and the shops and bars of the town centre, and you can view our apartments whenever you'd like a closer look.

Culture and nightlife around Boxpark and Fairfield Halls

If one place sums up how much Croydon has changed, it's Boxpark. Built from stacked shipping containers beside East Croydon station, Boxpark Croydon is part street-food market, part events venue and part night out, with independent traders serving everything from Caribbean to Thai around a big communal space. 

In the evenings and at weekends it becomes one of the liveliest spots in south London, showing major sport on the big screens and putting on live music, comedy and DJ nights. It's the kind of place you can drop into for lunch or spend a whole Saturday, and it's a short walk from Altura 50.

A few minutes away, Fairfield Halls gives Croydon a cultural anchor of a very different kind. Reopened after a major refurbishment, the arts centre is home to a concert hall, a theatre and a gallery, with a programme that runs from orchestras and opera to comedy, gigs and family shows through the year. Between the two, you rarely have to leave Croydon to find something on, whether you want a lively night at Boxpark or a seat at a concert. For more on what surrounds Altura 50, explore the neighbourhood.

Getting around from East Croydon

East Croydon station is one of the busiest and best-connected stations in the south, and it's only 2 minute walk from Altura 50. Here's how long the fastest direct trains take to a few key destinations.

That combination is what makes East Croydon stand out. You can be at a desk in the City or the West End inside half an hour, then at an airport gate for a weekend away about fifteen minutes after leaving home, all from the same station. 

The tram network runs right through the town centre too, linking Croydon west to Wimbledon and out toward Beckenham. For anyone who splits their time between central London and travelling further afield, few places make both as easy.

Eating and drinking in East Croydon

Croydon's restaurants and bars have come on a long way, and a lot of the best of it is independent. Here are a few places worth knowing, whether you're after dinner or just a drink.

Little Bay

A theatrical, affordable European bistro that's been a Croydon institution for years, complete with live opera on Friday nights.

Fern

A stylish all-day bar and restaurant on George Street with a proper cocktail list, open late on Fridays and Saturdays and an easy walk from the station.

Basil & Grape

An Italian trattoria and wine bar in the centre of town, known for its Roman-style pinsa and a long wine list.

The Ludoquist

A board game café and bar on Church Street with a library of more than a thousand games to play over a drink.

Galicia

A long-running Spanish tapas bar on the High Street, good for sharing plates and a glass of Rioja in the middle of town.

Art & Craft

A small, well-regarded craft beer bar just off Surrey Street market, with an ever-changing range on tap.

Things to do beyond the station

There's more to do in Croydon than Boxpark and the concert hall, and a fair amount of it is green. Lloyd Park is the big one, a wide open space with lawns and woodland walks that hosts outdoor events and a music festival in the summer, while Wandle Park is closer to the centre with riverside paths, a bandstand and a skate park. 

For a night at the pictures there's a large Vue cinema at the Grants leisure complex, with bars and restaurants under the same roof, and the independent David Lean Cinema in the Clocktower for arthouse films and classics. 

If you'd rather browse, Surrey Street Market has been trading since the thirteenth century and still runs most days, with produce stalls and street food a short walk from the station. Between the parks, the screens and the market, there's usually something on when you go looking for things to do in Croydon.

Is East Croydon right for you?

While East Croydon has broad appeal, it truly shines for renters who are working in central London and appreciate a modern urban lifestyle. If you commute into central London but don't want to pay Zone 1 or 2 rents for the privilege, the trains make the trade an easy one, and the same goes if you travel often and value being about 15 minutes from Gatwick Airport. It also works if you want genuine culture and nightlife within walking distance rather than a quiet dormitory town, with Boxpark, Fairfield Halls and a growing food scene all close by. 

Plenty of people moving to Croydon come for the value and stay for the life that's grown up around it, and Altura 50 adds its own, with a residents' gym, co-working spaces, a screening room and a sky garden on the fiftieth floor among the amenities on offer.

A few FAQs

How far is East Croydon from London Bridge?

Trains from East Croydon reach London Bridge in about 13 minutes, running direct on Southern and Thameslink services. They're frequent throughout the day, which is a big part of why East Croydon is such a popular choice for City commuters.

Is Croydon a good place to live?

Croydon is one of the best-connected places in south London, with fast direct trains to central London and Gatwick Airport and a growing culture and food scene to match. Years of regeneration have brought new homes, public spaces and venues like Boxpark and the refurbished Fairfield Halls. For renters who want more space and value than inner London without giving up the things that make a place worth living in, living in Croydon makes a lot of sense, which is a large part of the thinking behind Altura 50.

What is there to do in Croydon besides Boxpark?

Plenty. Fairfield Halls covers concerts, theatre and comedy, Surrey Street Market has been running for more than 700 years and still trades most days, and there's green space at Lloyd Park and Wandle Park within easy reach. Add a large Vue cinema and a growing list of independent bars and restaurants, and there's more than enough beyond Boxpark to fill a week.

Book a viewing and see Altura 50 for yourself. Our team would love to show you around and help you find the right apartment. It won't take long to see why residents love living here.