The Unexpected Beauty of Croydon

A tram at Waddon Marsh on Purley Way It's not a bus, it's not a train... it's a tram! Since 2000, trams have been a key part of transport in Croydon and along the routes to Beckenham, Elmers End, New Addington and Wimbledon. You can read about the history of the Croydon tram system on Wikipedia . It opened in 2000 after literally decades of planning. Part of it runs on former railway lines, while other parts run on or parallel to roads.  I use trams often, as they're fast and direct. The "hopper" fare means you can combine trams and buses in the same journey. I'm going to write about what there is to see around some of the tram stops, beginning with Addington Village Interchange. Addington Village Interchange doesn't seem particularly remarkable at first glance. It's a tram stop and a small bus station with fields on one side and a busy dual carriageway on the other. Ideal if you want to switch between buses or between bus and tram.  Two male pheas...

There's no denying that Croydon is extremely well connected, with trams, National Rail, Overground and numerous buses serving the borough. However, if you'd travelled the current Overground route to West Croydon in the early 19th century, you'd have needed a boat, as it was the Croydon Canal. If you'd visited Croydon between the two World Wars, you'd have found the UK's first (and only) international airport. I'm no local history expert and I have limited resources to draw on, so I'm going to focus on the present day sites where it's possible to see bits of the past transport infrastructure. Betts Park, Anerley, May 2020 There are few signs of the Croydon Canal remaining, as it was short-lived, being replaced by a railway line from West Croydon to London Bridge in 1836. The website London's Lost Rivers has more information. A short section of the canal still exists in Betts Park, which is just over the border with Bromley in Anerley. South Norwo...