We used the following prompt: “Write a poem about Sutton” and put it into ChatGPT to find out what it was going to say.
ChatGPT was publicly launched in late 2022 and has become a revolutionary tool, transforming the way people interact with AI and access information.
The poem referenced Cheam, Wallington, and Carshalton – towns within the borough – and highlighted the borough’s overall leafy character and historic charm.
The poem was also notably more light-hearted and positive compared to the one it created for Croydon.
Here’s what ChatGPT had to say about Sutton.
In London’s quiet southern reach,
Beyond the rush, beyond the speech,
There’s Sutton — steady, calm, and clean,
With threads that tie through Cheam to Green.
Carshalton hums with timeless grace,
Its ponds reflect a slower pace.
Old cottages and Sunday fairs,
And winding lanes with poet airs.
Wallington wakes with school bell chimes,
With buses tracing daily lines.
A market town with hidden flair,
Where grandmas chat in salon chairs.
Then Cheam — where Tudor echoes lie,
In timbered frames and passers-by.
A village heart with leafy streets,
Where past and present always meet.
And Sutton stands, the borough’s soul,
A crossroads keeping all things whole.
Its high street holds a thousand feet,
A melting pot of calm and beat.
From railways stretched to woodland calls,
To quiet pubs and grand town halls,
These corners speak in softer tones,
Of families grown and seeds long sown.
So here’s to every nook and name,
Each postcode stitched with pride, not fame —
Four hearts that beat with borough grace,
In Sutton’s wide and warm embrace.
When asked about the reasoning behind its choice of style, it said: “I wrote those things to capture the essence of Sutton and the surrounding areas (Carshalton, Wallington, Cheam) in a poetic way.
“Each area has its own unique vibe, and I wanted to celebrate them collectively in the poem, highlighting both the calmness of Sutton and the charming character of the other neighbourhoods.
“I used themes like community, local landmarks (like Carshalton’s ponds or Cheam’s Tudor influence), and a sense of peacefulness that these areas evoke.
“I wanted to evoke the feeling of being in these places: the slower pace of life, the hidden charm, and the rich history that ties them together.
“It’s all about conveying a sense of local pride and connection.”
