The Times has named Croydon as number 44 on a list of England’s best places to live, with Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea as number 41 and number 50 respectively.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland were listed separately.
To get this data, The Times combined nine different data sets, covering a range of different categories for every local authority in the country.
This included the number of Ofsted ratings, local crime rates, the number of listed properties and Green Flag spaces in each area.
Croydon was the 10th area in London on the list and the 27th area in the south of England.
According to data gathered by The Times, Ofsted has rated 23 per cent of Croydon schools outstanding.
The borough has 23 outstanding schools, 18 of which are primary, three secondary, and one special school.
Among some of the top-rated schools were Bensham Manor School and Chipstead Valley Primary School.
Croydon is well known for being one of south London’s cheapest places to live, with the average house price costing £404,000.
Although often perceived as an unhappy and depressing place to live, earning those by the Office of National Statistics and iLiveHere.com in 2024, Croydon is a borough with a lot to offer, boasting a diverse community and a growing cultural scene.
It was named the London Borough of Culture in 2023.
Croydon is a borough with several green spaces and parks, including Wandle Park and Farthing Downs, where you can enjoy a walk.
It also has convenient transport links, with a journey to Central London taking just 15 to 25 minutes by train.
The bus network also provides regular services to neighbouring towns, such as Wimbledon, Sutton and Kingston.
Croydon is set to see some big changes this year, with Mayor Jason Perry stating that the boards around the former Allders store will come down after a new deal was made with Westfield.
The Claret and Ale is considered one of the best pubs in the borough. CAMRA has crowned it the Croydon Pub of the Year every year since 2019.
With a strong community spirit, the Surrey Street Market is one of the most iconic places in Croydon, having stood there as early as the 1200s.
Thespians and theatre lovers can enjoy a show at the famous Fairfield Halls, which continues to host celebrities performing their signature acts.
Richmond was ranked the best place to live in England, with Merton and Sutton also in the top 10.
