Old Malden & Worcester Park
This area is a mainly residential suburb. Central Road, a thriving high-street in this neighbourhood, is where most retail and services are concentrated, and is widely regarded as the place to go when eating out. Whether this is ribs at Bronco’s BBQ restaurant, or a more traditionally British bite at the North End Tavern or the HG Wells. This central artery also hosts two churches and a myriad of other eateries and shops. The more residential areas are surrounded by parks such as Beverly Brook and the Dorchester Road Recreation Ground. This, together with the multiple primary schools, makes this area a great place for young families.
In the 17th century, the surroundings of Worcester Park used to be used as a hunting ground for Henry the VIII. Nevertheless, the area was primarily developed during the early 20th, and most of the semi-detached houses were built in Edwardian neo-Tudor and Interwar styles. Brabham Court, which is designed in an elegant art-deco style, bears witness to this period. In the first decade of the 21st century, the area around the Mayflower Park Wetlands was developed into a set of mid and low-rise New England style dwellings. This peculiar estate has won several landscape awards.
Worcester Park has been home to many famous men and women, including the conservative Premier John Mayor, the Pre-Raphaelite artist William Holman Hunt, and the writer H.G Wells.
This area may feel isolated from the buzz of the inner-city due to the lack of diversity in this neighbourhood, and its overwhelming residential character; however, to those who crave calmer living arrangements, Worcester Park may offer the relaxation that they seek.
The future arrival of Crossrail to Worcester Park station will shorten the distance to central London, and is likely to bring an influx of people who are looking to take advantage of the new ease and convenience of local transportation. However, the project has been on hold since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and is not expected to be completed until well after 2030. More immediately, North Cheam and Worcester Park are getting a joint grant of £1.2m from Round Two Mayor’s Outer London Fund. This investment is helping to develop these two suburban centres, less than 1 km apart, into distinct and inviting destinations. Traders associations and business networks are also being set up to build strong links between the two centres, which should culminate in an exciting programme of markets and seasonal outdoor events.