National Gallery artworks exhibit comes to Croydon’s doorstep

Posted on February 4, 2026 by insidecroydon

On your doorstep: the National Gallery has come to Croydon with reproductions of 30 of its prized masterpieces, which will be displayed at nine locations around the borough until July

You would probably be blissfully unaware if you relied on information from the propaganda bunker at part-time Mayor Jason Perry’s dysfunctional council, but parts of Croydon are today arrayed with a selection of some of the world’s greatest artistic masterpieces.

Alright, not the original masterpieces. But faithful, life-sized reproductions of artworks from the National Gallery’s collection. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Coulsdon Sixth Form College, Croydon Council, Croydon Minster, Croydon parks, Education, National Gallery Art On Your Doorstep, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Emergency water depot set up at Ikea – but only for car drivers

Posted on February 4, 2026 by insidecroydon

Water park: the emergency supply depot at Ikea today – where only those with motor vehicles can access bottled water

The car park at Ikea off the Purley Way is being used as an emergency depot for those across Croydon, Mitcham and Streatham who have been without water supplies since a main burst on Mitcham Common yesterday.

By 6pm last night, Thames Water were saying that they had completed all of the immediate, emergency operations necessary to try to reconnect households to a water supply.

As many as 18,000 properties across eight postcodes – CR0, CR2, CR4, CR7, CR8, CR9, SM6 and SW16 – in four south London boroughs were originally said to have been affected by the burst main.

Work continued through the night to dig down to the burst pipe. Continue reading →

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‘Do not travel’: Southern Rail’s dire message for commuters

Posted on February 4, 2026 by insidecroydon

Off the rails: the derailed Southern train outside Selhurst depot this morning

A derailed train at the Selhurst depot and signalling faults on the line between Norwood Junction and Blackfriars have caused massive disruption for rail commuters this morning. Southern and Thameslink services from Brighton through central London to Cambridge, Peterborough and Bedford are expected to be affected for the rest of the day, according to the rail operators.

While commuters at East Croydon endured a crunch on platforms waiting for London Bridge-bound services during the morning rush hour, those who travel into central London via Victoria reported crowded trains but were still able to complete their daily journeys as usual.

Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express – all operated by Govia Thameslink Railway – issued a “do not travel” alert to passengers not long after 7am, due to what they described as “multiple incidents” on rail lines.

“Trains may be cancelled, severely delayed by up to 90 minutes or revised,” National Rail said. Continue reading →

Posted in Commuting, East Croydon, London-wide issues, Norwood Junction, Selhurst, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

London Mozart Players: St John Passion, Fairfield Halls, Mar 8

Posted on February 4, 2026 by insidecroydon

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Continue reading →

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Podcast: From toxic air to the soured atmosphere at Selhurst

Posted on February 3, 2026 by insidecroydon

Our first Croydon Insider podcast of 2026 is here – with a panel of readers and contributors delving behind the headlines on the stories that matter to you.

Discussing how the highs of Wembley in May last year could have turned so sour so quickly for Crystal Palace and their manager Oliver Glasner is Inside Croydon’s football correspondent Andrew Sinclair.

Regular podcaster Cheryl Fergus-Ferrell encourages all listeners and readers to sign a campaign petition opposing an increase in the amount of waste burned at the Viridor incinerator in Beddington, where they broke the terms of their licence nearly 1,000 times in an 18-month period.

Nadia Azizuddin tells us about the thriving independent music scene in Croydon, with emerging venue Riff Raffs and long-established music store and rehearsal space Rockbottom, while the demise of 101 Records and the state of the town centre also gets a mention. Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Sinclair, Croydon Insider, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace FC, Health, Inside Croydon, London Fire Brigade, Nadia Azizuddin, Oliver Glasner, Steve Parish, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burst main affecting water supplies to 18,000 households

Posted on February 3, 2026 by insidecroydon

Flood zone: the burst water main in Mitcham affected supplies to much of north Croydon and Streatham

Up to 18,000 households across Croydon and three other boroughs have been affected by a burst water main today “on a field” near to Watneys Road, which borders Mitcham Common.

Homes have encountered reduced water pressure, or no supply at all.

Properties, some schools and business premises in CR0, CR2, CR4, CR7, CR8, CR9, SM6 and SW16 are known to have been affected.

Continue reading →

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Brit School celebrates its made-in-Croydon Grammys hat-trick

Posted on February 3, 2026 by insidecroydon

Best newcomer: north London-raised Olivia Dean attended the Brit School from 14

News just in from Hollywood: former Brit School pupils have scooped the Grammys.

The Brit School had a trio of Grammy winners in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Olivia Dean, Lola Young and FKA twigs, former pupils at the specialist arts state school in Selhurst, all picked up their first Grammys, something described by Music Week as representing “a new wave of British talent making an impact on the global stage”.

The head of Universal Music UK called the made-in-Croydon triple success “a pivotal moment”.

And this in the week when another former Brit School pupil, Raye, was also recognised by the Grammys, receiving the prestigious Harry Belafonte best song for social change award for “Ice Cream Man”. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, BRIT School, Dance, Education, Music, Raye, Schools, Selhurst | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Road closures in South Croydon start next week for fortnight

Posted on February 3, 2026 by insidecroydon

Croham Valley Road will be closed at the junction of Farley Road for a fortnight from next Monday, February 9, while UK Power Networks conducts works to instal power ducts through South Croydon.

Diversions: UK Power Networks is closing Croham Valley Road from Feb 9 for two weeks

Notification from UK Power Networks was sent out yesterday for a project to upgrade underground electricity cables between substations at Addington and Beddington.

“We are currently installing ducts on Croham Valley Road,” the UKPN’s letter to residents says.

“The full stretch will be carried out in short stages and started at the junction with Melville Avenue in October, heading in the direction of Addington substation by the entrance to Littleheath Woods on Croham Valley Road… Continue reading →

Posted in South Croydon | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Dara Ó Briain is a BIG act. Fairfield Halls needs more like him

Posted on February 2, 2026 by insidecroydon

It was a big night at the Fairfield Halls on Saturday, with Dara Ó Briain, one of the biggest stand-up acts around, performing in front of a full house.
KEN TOWL fills in the venue’s audience feedback form

Big name, big show: Dara Ó Briain performed to a Croydon full house on Saturday. But there’s only one other comedy act booked at the Fairfield Halls before November

The minute the show at the Fairfield Halls ended (10.16pm on Saturday), my phone buzzed as I received an email that thanked me for attending and breathlessly expressed the hope that I had “enjoyed seeing Dara Ó Briain: Re:Creation”.

It went on, exhorting me not to “be shy”, but rather to “tell us what you think in 60 seconds. We’d love to know what you thought of Fairfield Halls. Be honest, we’re always looking for new ways to create memorable experiences”.

What I thought of Fairfield Halls, rather than Dara Ó Briain? The venue rather than the performer? And I have to do it in 60 seconds?

OK, Fairfield Halls, I’ll tell you what I think, but you’ll have to be patient. Continue reading →

Posted in Art, BH Live, Comedy, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Perry’s landlord licensing scheme will create a postcode lottery

Posted on February 2, 2026 by insidecroydon

Mayor Jason Perry’s proposals for a landlord licensing scheme to be introduced by Croydon Council later this year are discriminatory against half the borough, creating a postcode lottery for private renters.

Lottery: Cllr Claire Bonham says that all Croydon’s private renters deserve the protection of a landlord licensing scheme

That’s according to Councillor Claire Bonham and residents in her Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood ward, which has been excluded from the Tory Mayor’s scheme because it does not meet the criteria.

Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood is one of 14 wards in the borough that were left out of the council’s consultation, which ended last month.

There are 28 wards within the borough of Croydon. The 14 chosen to be subject to Mayor Perry’s landlord licensing scheme are mostly in Labour-supporting areas.

Not a single Conservative-voting ward has been included in the proposed landlord licensing scheme. Continue reading →

Posted in Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Landlord licensing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Croydon man among six charged with stealing from immigrants

Posted on February 2, 2026 by insidecroydon

A man from Croydon is among six immigration officers who have appeared in court facing various charges related to them stealing money from people arriving in Britain after having crossed the Channel in small boats.

Vulnerable: six Home Office officials, including David Grundy from Croydon, have been charged with offences linked to stealing from migrants arriving by small boat

David Grundy, 43, from Croydon, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week charged with converting criminal property – money laundering.

The other immigration officers in the dock were also charged with conspiracy to steal or misconduct in public office.

Prosecutor Rosalind Earis told the court that the charges related to thefts of “property belonging to migrants arriving at Dover between August 2021 and November 2022”. Continue reading →

Posted in Crime | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

All downhill for Odlings after they dismantled London Bridge

Posted on February 1, 2026 by insidecroydon

Ski Sunday: the annual World Cup ski races at Wengen provide part of the course for an annual competition established by a member of the Odling family from Croydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: A dynasty began in the late 1800s with a family living at Lennard Road whose relatives would build a global business empire from marble, played roles in running the British team at the 1936 Winter Olympics, helped to build Broadcasting House and to dismantle London Bridge, as well as taking part in Dunkirk and D-Day.
DAVID MORGAN traces the history of the Odling family

The wedding register at what we know today as Croydon Minster shows that on Thursday, August 27, 1896, William Anselm Odling was married to Margaret Briton. The ceremony was conducted by Rev Allen T Edwards, assisted by Rev T G Hill, the curate who was in the middle of a court case because of the anti-social behaviour of one of the parishioners…

Margaret Briton would have attracted attention as she was marrying thousands of miles away from her Australian home in Wingelo, New South Wales. William Odling, the groom, was the eldest son of Anselm and Susanah Odling, who lived in Wickham House, 9 Lennard Road in West Croydon. The 1900 Kelly’s Directory for Croydon shows the parents still living at that same address. Continue reading →

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London Mozart Players: St John Passion, Fairfield Halls, Mar 8

Posted on February 1, 2026 by insidecroydon

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Continue reading →

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Junkyard Choir and Bewley Brothers, Oval Tavern, Fri Feb 6

Posted on February 1, 2026 by insidecroydon

C O M M U N I T Y
A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Continue reading →

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Surrey Street market trader Joseph quits Labour in race row

Posted on January 31, 2026 by insidecroydon

Fairness and respect: Jose Joseph, well-known stall-holder on Surrey Street market, has quit the Labour Party making allegations of racism in the selection process

Jose Joseph, the Surrey Street market stall-holder and one of the best-recognised faces on the local political scene, has quit the Labour Party, accusing it of “discrimination and toxic behaviour”.

In a brief statement shared with party colleagues, Joseph announced his resignation by saying that Labour “fails to treat members of ethnic communities with fairness and respect”.

Joseph’s farewell statement was mentioned at a meeting of the Croydon West constituency party on Thursday, but no specific reasoning has been given for the timing of his resignation.

It is six months since Joseph learned that he was blocked from being a Labour candidate in the 2026 Town Hall elections. Joseph has told friends and colleagues that he believes he has been the subject of an unfairly critical internal report written by local official, Julie Setchfield. Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Greens, Croydon West, Fairfield, Jose Joseph, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Valentine’s Barn Dance, St Mary’s Addington, Sat Feb 14

Posted on January 31, 2026 by insidecroydon

C O M M U N I T Y
A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Continue reading →

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Remark’s Croydon Lunch Club, every Thu, Wellesley Road

Posted on January 31, 2026 by insidecroydon

C O M M U N I T Y
A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Continue reading →

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Hamnet and Marty Supreme among DLC’s February screenings

Posted on January 31, 2026 by insidecroydon

C O M M U N I T Y
A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Continue reading →

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After 25 years of achievements, TfL plans need more vision

Posted on January 30, 2026 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: As Inside Croydon revealed earlier this week, the tram network’s ageing rolling stock won’t be replaced until the 2030s.
But as CHRISTIAN WOLMAR, pictured left, explains, TfL’s draft business plan actually reflects the transport authority’s achievements over the last quarter-century

The publication of the draft business plan for Transport for London is an opportune moment to put the capital’s transport system in perspective.

Before looking at the future as addressed in the plan, which covers the period to 2029-2030, it is worth recalling the radical changes that have taken place in the quarter of a century of existence of Transport for London.

The very creation of Transport for London was a momentous achievement of the Labour government which, in 1997, had inherited an absolutely chaotic situation in the capital. Continue reading →

Posted in Commuting, East Croydon, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Rush makes move along George Street with discount offers

Posted on January 30, 2026 by insidecroydon

Hair salon Rush is moving along George Street, and opens tomorrow with some money-saving offers for customers.

New location; Rush’s salon at 25, George Street, is refreshed and improved, with special features to enhance the customer experience

Rush has had a salon in Croydon for more than 20 years, but it was time for a move, albeit not very far: to 25, George Street, with an upgrade and refresh for their premises.

The new salon features eight styling stations, contemporary grey-stone flooring and what Rush describes as “unique fixtures and fittings”. Artwork graces the walls, and the salon uses LED lighting to allow stylists “the ability to see clients’ hair tones perfectly whilst hair colouring”.

Rush’s George Street salon was designed by Dudley Cummings, from Rush’s salon design team. Continue reading →

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RSPCA is recruiting frontline animal rescue officers in London

Posted on January 30, 2026 by insidecroydon

The RSPCA is recruiting animal rescue officers in London.

Recruitment drive: the RSPCA is offering jobs on the frontline of its animal welfare service

RSPCA rescuers primarily help animals by investigating reports of cruelty and neglect, and also rescue those who are sick, injured or stranded.

“The animal rescue officer can be hugely rewarding and make a real difference to the well-being of animals and in educating owners who care for them,” says the RSPCA, the country’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity. Continue reading →

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Labour’s Davis looks to CPO the ‘hole in the heart of Croydon’

Posted on January 29, 2026 by insidecroydon

Development blight: Chinese property firm R&F’s stalled £500m scheme at St George’s Walk, including the Nestlé Tower, has been a drag on the town centre for six years

Mayoral candidate intends to discuss a Compulsory Purchase Order of Chinese-owned property with Prime Minister on his return from Beijing. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES

Labour’s candidate for Croydon Mayor, Rowenna Davis, says that if elected in May she will look to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order on the long-derelict building site opposite the Town Hall.

Such an audacious and ambitious purchase might cost between £150million and £200million of public money, but it could finally offer the prospect of ending a development stalemate that has blighted Croydon town centre for years, stretching back to the last century.

The St George’s Walk site, including the Nestlé Tower which appears in its glowing former glory as a channel ident on ITV most days, was bought by Chinese firm R&F Properties in 2017 for £60million.

They got planning permission for a £500million scheme that included 290 flats in one of Croydon’s landmark office blocks, and a further 800 homes on what they called “The Queen’s Quarter”, on the opposite side of Katharine Street from the Town Hall and Queen’s Gardens. Continue reading →

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Nestle Tower, Property, Rowenna Davis, St George's Walk, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

No Beckenham and New Addington trams for 2 weeks in Feb

Posted on January 29, 2026 by insidecroydon

It’s not only the ageing rolling stock that requires replacement on south London’s tram network.

Transport for London is to close half of the network, from East Croydon to Beckenham Junction, and all points in between, including New Addington, for two weeks next month.

TfL says that the closure has been planned to coincide with school half-term – between Wednesday February 11 and Wednesday February 25. Most school half-term breaks last only five days.

Regular users of the trams will be accustomed to the withdrawal of service during school holidays, which has become a frustratingly regular occurrence four or five times a year.

For this major and lengthy closure, bus replacement services will operate between East Croydon and Beckenham Junction, and from East Croydon to New Addington.

The works are “to allow essential track renewal works to take place at Sandilands junction, and between Gravel Hill and Addington Village”, TfL says. Continue reading →

Posted in Commuting, East Croydon, New Addington, TfL, Tramlink, Transport, West Croydon | Leave a comment

Campaign petition is challenge to south London councillors

Posted on January 29, 2026 by insidecroydon

Environmental campaigners in Sutton have launched a petition in an 11th-hour effort to persuade the Environment Agency to refuse Viridor’s request to be allowed to burn hundreds of thousands of tonnes more waste at their incinerator at Beddington Lane.

Determined protest: Cllr Nick Mattey has been protesting against the environmental damage caused by the incinerator for more than a decade

Inside Croydon has reported how Viridor’s incinerator had broken the terms of its licence nearly 1,000 times – 916, to be exact – in an 18-month period in 2022 to 2024. But Viridor never bothered to report its excessive emissions to the Environment Agency, as it is legally required to do.

And last October, Viridor’s Beddington plant pumped sulphur dioxide – the chemical used to make sulphuric acid – into the south London skies with emissions of 382.4 mg/m³, nearly double the permitted daily limit. The volume was literally off the scale on the plant’s public monitoring charts.

Since the 916 emission breaches, Viridor’s compliance rating with the EA has dropped from A to E.

Yet an official from the Environment Agency told a recent Sutton community meeting that it is “minded” to grant Viridor’s application to vary its licence andallow them to  burn even more rubbish, which will be trucked in from all over south-east England. Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Business, Environment, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Nick Mattey, Refuse collection, Sutton Council, Waddon, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

READER OFFER: 10% off tickets for Fairfield Halls concert

Posted on January 29, 2026 by insidecroydon

In tune: Inside Croydon readers can save money on their tickets when booking to see the next London Mozart Players’ concert at the Fairfield Halls

Inside Croydon is delighted to announce that, thanks to the London Mozart Players, our readers can enjoy a special discount on the price of tickets for their much-anticipated performance of JS Bach’s St John Passion at the Fairfield Halls on Sunday, March 8.

Using the iC exclusive discount code, readers can make savings of more than £4 on their tickets, which are available to book now for between £10 (for under-30s) and £43.50. Continue reading →

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