Locals can’t agree whether it’s London or Surrey. In our recent poll of 174 locals, 46% thought it was Surrey, 39% thought London and 15% said both! That confusion perhaps helps explain why Carshalton is considered a perfect mix of town and country – on the edge of London.
Here’s our top 5 reasons to love it.
1. It has TWO Railway stations serving central London
It’s super convenient. Carshalton Beeches is less than 30 minutes to London Bridge, and Carshalton is less than 30 minutes to Victoria. They’re about 15 minutes walk between the two. If you want to stay connected with Central London but also want to get away from it all, what more can you ask for.
2. Discover stunning countryside views, farmland and award-winning parks
If you want to feel like getting away from it all, walk to the top of Carshalton on the Hill where you’ll reach the Little Woodcote Estate. The area was created when the ancient farmland of Old Lodge Farm was sold to the Surrey council in 1912 and split up to build on. The rest is now Greenbelt land. The land falls under the jurisdiction of Sutton council as of 1965, but is still owned by Surrey County Council. It’s got far-reaching countryside views and even has one of London’s largest organic farms – Sutton Community Farm.
You can enjoy nature at every turn, with so many local parks. Perhaps the park that sums up town and country most is Oaks Park, with a commanding hilltop view. It has in our opinion the best park cafe in the borough, if not the whole of south London! There’s also Beddington Park, Carshalton Park and The Grove, plus many other wonderful green spaces within easy reach of Carshalton.
3. Purley Way is on the doorstep for your shopping fix
If you want to some retail therapy – shopping at Purley Way in Croydon is a short distance. It has a massive Ikea, Dunelm Mill, Home Bargains, and infact loads of useful stores. So if you want to be in a nice area, and have lots of shopping on your doorstep, what more can you ask.
4. Some top destinations: Feel like you’re in France at London’s largest Lavender fields, plus discover a bird haven bigger than Barnes.
If you want to feel like you’re in the middle of Provence in France, in the summer months visit Mayfield Lavender Farm. Read our post.
To enjoy watching wild birds head over to Beddington Farmlands. It’s a 161 hectare site with several hides, where if you’re lucky you can spot a minimum of around 150 species – that’s how many are recorded each year.
5. Still has a community feel with lots of local pubs, independent shops and even a nearby farmers market
If you want to be sociable or pick up something locally produced, Carshalton village has 9 historic pubs within walking distance of each other – all with their own vibe and customers. It also boasts independent gift and home retailers in the village and in Carshalton Beeches, several independent cafes and even an antique shop. There is a farmers market at the old town hall in nearby Wallington, with local produce and more from across southern england suppliers.
Hard to believe this feature was originally conceived in August 2023. As a small independent website, that’s an example of how long it takes to bring these ideas to fruition. We hope you enjoyed reading it – please leave your thoughts below. Main image is West Street © Secret Carshalton.
would be so much nicer without all the traffic…..