If you had just one afternoon to enjoy a quick taste of Carshalton village, then here’s 7 great places you really should go and sample.
Arrive at Carshalton Station (A), not to be confused with Carshalton Beeches station, or park in the High Street car park (B). Or even consider a 127, 157, 407, 627, or X26 bus, which all stop in the High Street. The mainline train station is London Victoria or London Bridge.
1. London plane tree, Festival Walk
You won’t miss spotting this massive tree. Once London’s tallest, it’s reputed to currently now be the second-largest tree. It has a handy plaque to tell you all about it.
2. Hidden wildlife pond, Ecology Centre
This walled area was the grounds to The Lodge (still standing) and it’s a glorious nature haven in the heart of suburbia. There’s a scenic wildlife pond with seating nearby and you can spot various birds, and maybe some creepy crawlies if you look carefully. Look out for the lovely allotments situated in a small clearing of trees.
3. Honeywood museum, Honeywood Walk
Pop into the free museum and check out the latest exhibitions or view the permanent displays. It’s an old house overlooking the ponds, and there’s an original Edwardian snooker room to check out.
4. Carshalton Water Tower, West Street
Take a moment to gaze up at this imposing 300 year old building. It contains a beautiful tiled Georgian bathhouse on the ground floor, and the tower once supplied running water to nearby Carshalton House (currently a school). If you’d like to see inside too, you can arrange to visit when it’s open to the public at various points throughout the year.
5. Oldest building, All Saints church
Pop around the back and you’ll see what is most likely the oldest building in Carshalton, if not the whole of Sutton. Parts of the church are of Norman origin.
6. Cascade, The Grove
The Grove became a public park in the 1920s after being purchased by the council. There’s a lovely cascade you can view from a wooden bridge. The big house that the park is named after, still stands (pictured at the top of the page). Just behind the mansion, you’ll find a large children’s playground, plus close by there’s Sassis Coffee Shop with bucket-loads of outdoor seating, situated in a quiet walled setting.
7. Grotto, Carshalton Park
In the winter, sometimes water flows through this historic park, from a source of the River Wandle that is situated around the site of an old Grotto originally built in 1724. The structure is even older than many other famous grotto’s such as those at Painshill and Stourhead.
There’s LOADS of other great places in Carshalton to check out too, so you’ll have to pop back more than once…
For opening times please search individual websites. For businesses in the area please see our directory. Got a question? Please just ask below.
