This neighbourhood forms a rough circle about a kilometre in radius from Ridgeway Primary school, representing the centre of South Croydon, which is distinct from Croydon itself, being more typically homogeneous, suburban and leafy. Indeed, the area appears on the map as a sort of bubble from North Croydon, which has different political as well as physical features. The district encapsulates the section of Purley east of the railway tracks, which is more residential in nature. The area contains the two railway lines that branch out from Croydon itself, both run by Southern Railways, with a railway station on each branch – Purley Oaks and Sanderstead. To the southwest and northeast there are two woodland reserves – Purley Beeches and the woodlands near Croham Hurst. There are also two golf courses on the edges of the locality. The northern part of the town of Sanderstead stops just short of the High Street and preserves the residential nature of this neighbourhood. There are, however, pockets of businesses and services around Sanderstead station to the west and a small section on Elmfield Way around the middle of the area.

Though the name Croydon has existed even as early as the 9th century, South Croydon itself is a relatively new area, having started developing into a distinct area a thousand years later in the 19th century. In particular, the area greatly expanded in the interwar period between the 1920s and 30s. Sanderstead goes back to the times of the Domesday book, where it is referred to as Sandestede, with a total household population of 26 including 21 villagers, 4 slaves and 1 cottager.

Margaret Bondfield lived in Sanderstead towards the end of her life, passing away in a nursing home here. She was a woman of many firsts – the first female cabinet minister (Labour), the first woman to be a privy counsellor, as well as the first woman to chair the General Council of the Trades Union Congress. She was a lifelong advocate of women’s suffrage, having helped found the Women’s Labour League back in 1906. She was continually involved in politics until her death in 1953.

The neighbourhood sits almost 20km from London Bridge, meaning that it has a tendency to feel rather isolated from the inner city. The Southern rail access to central London is reasonably convenient, though it does have a tendency to be subject to delays, which can make commuting to work a rather stressful experience.

Croydon has undergone a £5.25 billion regeneration programme, which has helped revitalise the surrounding area. Development in Sanderstead tends to take the form of low-density multi-bedroom detached and semi-detached houses, such as Oakview House by Bellview Briton Hill by Vita Group, but a few medium density developments have been proposed (and received negatively by many locals). Example of these proposals include proposed redevelopments on The Ridge Way, a residential street off Sanderstead Road, 2 Shaw Crescent (for 4 3-storey semi-detached dwellinghouses and a terrace of 3 2-storey dwellinghouses) and at 18 Rectory Park (to erect a block of five flats and three houses).