This area of central Mitcham exemplifies the reasons why people chose to live in this part of south-west London. The housing range is diverse and relatively inexpensive, thanks to a lack of a major public transport link. This does not, however, render the area any more secluded – Mitcham Eastfields train station is a mere 10-minute drive, and from here London Victoria is 20 minutes up the line. Tram stops serve the southern part of the area and connect the area with Croydon and Wimbledon. South-east of Western Road (A236) you may find more compact, suburban terraced and semi-detached homes, with more modern townhouse and apartment blocks thrown in the mix, like those just above Field Gate Lane. The area around Figge’s Marsh has relatively wider roads and avenues, and the housing tends to be a little older. Day-to-day costs are kept reasonable with the Asda and Lidl supermarkets in the area, while other local amenities include Mitcham Library, housed in a building dating from 1933, Tamworth recreation ground with a miniature water park and the award-winning Mitcham Community Garden. For those wishing to get away from it all and at the same time feel more at one with the great capital, head to the National Trust Morden Hall Park which boasts a stunning London skyline and an adventure park, which according to locals is ‘great to learn to ride bikes’.

For similar reasons, notably the clean air and the proximity to the city, Mitcham has been a historically popular destination for Londoners since the 17th century. The soothing atmosphere brought about by the lavender fields native to the area drew not only aristocrats but also a thriving horticultural industry which saw its hey-day in the mid-19th century. The produce was transported to the city by means of the Surrey Iron Railway – a horse drawn track which passed through Mitcham railway Station. This is now a tram stop, but the offices which are grade-II listed have since been converted into accommodation called Station Court. One can find out more about these landmarks at the Wandle Industrial Museum on London Road in the area.

Walter Raleigh, a 17th-century gentleman jack of all trades (poet, soldier, politician and spy) who also popularised tobacco in the UK, was a landowner in Mitcham. It was on his turf that the modest yet beautiful Eagle House came to be built in 1705. The building currently houses a primary school for children with autism and other communication difficulties. Three centuries after Raleigh’s time, the area continued to attract the stealthy. Maxwell Knight, who resided at Mitcham, was a 20th century spymaster and is said to have been the inspiration for the Bond character ‘M’.

Though Cricket was probably invented in Kent and Sussex, the oldest cricket ground which still serves the purposes of the game can be found at Mitcham’s very own Cricket Green. There are records which show the game being played here since 1685. Confectionary enthusiasts will be thrilled to learn that one of the country’s earliest marzipan factories stood at what is now Renshaw’s corner (after Renshaw and Co.) for around 100 years.

Contrary to the above, it would seem as though a popular misconception about Mitcham is its lack entertainment options. However, some complain that its outward image is dominated by ‘fast food, kebab and fried chicken shops’. It is true that the area has recently seen a decline in economic activity and local employment, however significant efforts are being made by local authorities to counter this trend.

Fair Green, which constitutes Mitcham town centre, recently underwent a multi-million-pound upgrade. The makeover included an improvement to transport links, support to local businesses, and generally polishing the public square to create a more positive environment and improve confidence in the area to attract more economic activity. Less positively received have been some of the new development proposals submitted for sites in Fair Green and the general area. A planning application to add two storeys onto the Fair Green Parade building in Mitcham Village was unanimously approved by the council but criticised by locals for how it supposedly ruins the scale of the building in relation to the rest of the village. Another proposal for the Kings Arms pub building has also been criticised for how it reduces the space available to the pub (and the cafe next door) in favour of maximising room for luxury ‘studio suites’. The development intends to deliver 28 such units in a new five storey mixed-use block but locals are not impressed with the design.