This rather unassuming Croydon neighbourhood is centred around the Crystal Palace stadium, Selhurst Park, and is made up of numerous quiet suburban roads and a reasonable amount of green space. The diverse community makes use of the modest amenities, such as local greengrocers, cafes and chicken shops, and the great transport links (Norwood Junction and Selhurst stations) keep the area popular with commuters. Housing consists of a typical mix of gardened Edwardian terraces and semis, and post war estates, so there’s something to fit groups of all sizes, and the high number of highly rated schools have made the neighbourhood increasingly popular with young families. Grangewood Park, South Norwood Grounds, the Recreation Ground, and Heavers Meadow all provide the local population with acres of green to escape the general suburban uniformity.

This once densely wooded area was covered in great oak trees for millennia due to its heavy clay soil, and was populated by nomadic travellers, itinerant paupers, and highwaymen. By the 17th century, most of the wood had disappeared to make way for the open Croydon Common, across which two tracks ran; one towards Penge and the other to Selhurst. Brickworks began to occupy the area as the clay ground was especially desirable for the brickmaking process, and were helped by the London to Croydon canal, which was useful for transport. By the 20th century, the oak trees had been replaced by the chimneys from the brickworks, and in 1922 Crystal Palace Football Club established itself on the site of one of the former brickfields, with Selhurst Park stadium opening in 1924.

The highly regarded technical college, BRIT School, is located in the neighbourhood, providing specialist teaching in the performing arts. Founded in 1992, the school has kickstarted the careers of numerous famous performers such as Adele, Amy Winehouse, King Krule, Black Midi and Kate Nash, as well as a host of others.

The author Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), lived at 12 Tennison Road from 1891-1894. Doyle is best known for creating the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes!

Like many of London’s suburbs, the neighbourhood has a tendency to become gloomy and claustrophobic, and combined with the congestion on matchdays, it can prove a rather frustrating place to live. However, the sense of community that the football club has fostered can sometimes make for a surprisingly vibrant part of town.

Crystal Palace FC have had planning permission granted for a £100m redevelopment of Selhurst Park, which will see capacity increase from 26,000 to 34,000 and an impressive five-storey structure replace the existing main stand. Concerns have been raised by local residents regarding congestion and the aesthetic of the new design not fitting with the area’s context, but overwhelmingly locals seem to support the development. Aside from this, construction has begun on the Belgrave and Grosvenor development on nearby Belgrave Road. The proposed 17 storey tower, along with two more smaller buildings, will host 102 new homes.