Why visit Purley
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 39 parks and trails, 116 places to eat, 7 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Charles Cryer Theatre, Croydon Flyover, Croydon War Memorial and Museum of Croydon.
Weather in Purley
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About Purley
Purley is an area of the London Borough of Croydon in Greater London, England, on the border with Sutton. It is 11.5 miles (18.5 km) south of Charing Cross and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) northeast of the London/Surrey border, with a history going back at least 800 years. It was originally granted as an estate from holdings at Sanderstead and until as a district of Surrey and then, with neighbouring Coulsdon, as an urban district that became an electoral ward of the London Borough of Croydon, becoming part of the ceremonial county of London, in 1965. In 2018 the Purley ward was divided into two: Purley and Woodcote, and Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown.
From the Wikipedia article Purley, London (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Purley
Things to do6
Charles Cryer Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.9 mi
Theatre and former cinema in Carshalton, London
Fairfield Halls
Cinema and theater · 2.5 mi
Arts, entertainment and conference centre in Croydon, London
The Spread Eagle Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.5 mi
Pub theatre above the Spread Eagle pub in Croydon, London, England
Warehouse Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.7 mi
Former theatre in Croydon, London, England
Ashcroft Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
Theatre within the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, London, England
Museums and landmarks11
Croydon War Memorial
Monument and historic site · 2.5 mi
War memorial in London
Museum of Croydon
Museum · 2.5 mi
Local and social history museum in Croydon, London
Promenade de Verdun War Memorial
Monument and historic site · 1.0 mi
War memorial in Croydon, London
Parks, trails and playgrounds39
Carshalton Park
Park · 2.7 mi
Public park in Carshalton, in the London Borough of Sutton
Coombe Wood
Park · 2.6 mi
Woodland and garden area in the London Borough of Croydon
Cotelands
Park · 2.6 mi
Small park near Park Hill, managed by the London Borough of Croydon
Croham Hurst
Park · 1.8 mi
Woodland in Croydon, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Grove Park
Park · 3.0 mi
Public park in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton
Duppas Hill
Park · 2.1 mi
Hill and park in the London Borough of Croydon, England, UK
27 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes116
The Med Kitchen
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.6 mi
39 Limpsfield Road, South Croydon
Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Caffè Nero
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.5 mi
132 Brighton Road, Coulsdon
Mo-Fr 07:00-17:30; Sa 08:00-17:30; Su 08:30-17:00
Costa
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.5 mi
25 Limpsfield Road, South Croydon
Mo-Fr 06:30-18:00; Sa 07:00-18:00; Su 08:00-17:30
Maple Restaurant
Restaurant · 1.5 mi
29-31 Limpsfield Road, South Croydon
Mo off; Tu-Th 08:00-22:00; Fr 08:00-23:00; Sa 09:00-23:00; Su 09:00-18:00
Costa
Cafe · Coffee Shop
8 Purley Road, Purley
Mo-Fr 07:00-19:00; Sa 08:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00
104 more on the map.
History
The name derives from an estate, mentioned in about 1200 when it was deeded to one William de Pirelea, son of Osbert de Pirelea by the abbot of St. Peter's monastery near Winchester. The original meaning of Purley was probably a wood or clearing where pear trees grow, derived from "Pirlea", which is from Anglo Saxon pir, pear or pirige, pear tree and leá, a clearing or a place.
Under the Local Government Act 1894, Purley became part of the Croydon Rural District of Surrey. In 1915 Purley and the neighbouring town of Coulsdon formed the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District which was based at the Purley Council Offices. The council was abolished in 1965, under the London Government Act 1963, and its area transferred to Greater London and used to form part of the London Borough of Croydon.
The urban district council was based in a colonial-style building opened in 1930. The building, on the A23 Brighton Road near Reedham Station, became the property of the London Borough of Croydon and was sold to developers. It was left derelict for many years but was converted into flats in 2012. Plans to dig under the building and build additional flats were refused in 2015.
Read more of the history
Kenley Aerodrome, to the south of the town, is currently official property of the Ministry of Defence. It was one of the key fighter stations – together with Croydon Airport and Biggin Hill – during the World War II support of Dunkirk, Battle of Britain and for the defence of London.
Purley grew rapidly in the 1920s and 1930s, providing spacious homes in a green environment. Northeast Purley stretches into the chalk hill spurs of the North Downs.
One road, Promenade de Verdun, created by William Webb, has a distinction all of its own. It is 600 yards (550 m) long and has on one side Lombardy poplars planted in local soil mixed with French earth specially shipped over to the UK. A plaque at one end of the road explains that the French Ministry of the Interior donated the soil from Armentières, as a memorial to the alliance of World War One and the soldiers who died. At the other end stands an obelisk carved from a single piece of stone with the inscription "Aux soldats de France morts glorieusement pendant la Grande Guerre".
In World War Two, the 32nd Surrey Battalion of the Home Guard was known as the Factory Battalion, and had the specific task of guarding the Purley Way factories: its units were mainly based on staff from the individual firms. The factories adjoining Croydon Airport took the worst of the air raid of 15 August 1940: the British NSF factory was almost entirely destroyed, and the Bourjois factory gutted, with a total of over sixty civilian deaths.
A comprehensive history of Purley and its growth around Caterham Junction (now Purley Station) with the coming of the railways some 150 years ago is found in the Bourne Society's 'Purley Village History' and in its Local History Records publications.
The Webb Estate is a gated community with around 220 homes. It began as 260 acres of farmland before being purchased in the 1880s and transformed into Edwardian homes and landscaped gardens by estate agent William Webb. Webb also had 10 tonnes of battlefield soil shipped from France to construct the listed war memorial at Promenade de Verdun.
Known for having a "garden village" feel with a high level of privacy, it also includes two private schools plus a restaurant and deli.
The estate made headlines in a 2002 survey, which found that it had over the years attracted the highest-earning residents in the UK, having established itself as an attractive destination for wealthy city workers.
Notable people to have lived on the Webb Estate include singer Francis Rossi, footballer Wilfried Zaha, television presenter Laura Hamilton, and former Downing Street Press Secretary Bernard Ingham.
From the History section of Purley, London on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Purley
Geography
The Purley postal district encompasses Purley high street and extends through Woodcote to the West, includes the Peaks Hill area to the North, and borders Purley Oaks in South Croydon. To the East it includes Riddlesdown and to the South it borders Kenley and Coulsdon. The current electoral ward of Purley and Woodcote is largely co-extensive with the postal district, but Riddlesdown is now in the neighbouring Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown ward.
Woodcote is contained within Purley. Developed in the early 20th century, it is centred on Woodcote Village Green and is the location of Woodcote Model Village. Purley's Webb Estate lies on Woodcote road, close to Upper Woodcote Village.
The Bourne river runs through Purley. The river is culverted but can flood in Purley valley. A local history society take their name from this river.
Education
Purley is home to a number of schools; including four Catholic schools. Two of which are in Peaks Hill neighbourhood of Purley, and these are The John Fisher School an all boys' state school (formerly an independent and then a voluntary aided state school), and Laleham Lea School a co-educational prep-school.
Purley has one of the UK's longest-established language schools, Purley Language College, founded in 1928.
From the Wikipedia article Purley, London, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Purley
Kit ConnorBritish actor (born 2004)Photo: Amy Hecht, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nigel HarmanBritish actorPhoto: Theatre Tickets Direct, CC BY 3.0
Nick LeasonBritish racing driverPhoto: Russell Trow, CC BY 2.0- Archibald LowBritish physicist (1888–1956)
- Shelagh FraserBritish actress (1920-2000)
- Haig OundjianBritish figure skater
- Martin LeeBritish singer (1946–2024)
- Ian CurtisEnglish cricketer (born 1959)
- Colin SellBritish musician
- Georgina SomersetBritish intersex person; Royal Navy officer, later dentist (1923-2013)
- Innes PearseEnglish medical practitioner and biologist
- Iain CampbellEnglish cricketer (1928-2015)
Born in Purley, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay7
London Croydon Aerodrome Hotel, BW Signature Collection
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
680 Purley Way, Croydon
Churches and places of worship29
St Gertrude’s Catholic Church South Croydon
Church · Roman Catholic · 1.2 mi
46 Purley Road, South Croydon
Shopping17
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries32
Regina Coeli Catholic Primary School
School · Roman Catholic · 1.2 mi
173 Pampisford Road, South Croydon
Healthcare13
Andrew McCoig Pharmacy
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.1 mi
367 Brighton Road, South Croydon
Map of Purley
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
London Biggin Hill Airport (BQH) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Kenley 1 mi southeast, about 1 min by car
- Sanderstead 1 mi east, about 2 min by car
- Coulsdon 2 mi southwest, about 3 min by car
- Wallington 3 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Croydon 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Sutton 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Shirley 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- Caterham 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Thornton Heath 4 mi north, about 7 min by car
- West Wickham 5 mi northeast, about 7 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Purley
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Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Going nowhere yet, 377129 awaits its driver at Purley. - panoramio, Roger Carvell, CC BY 3.0
- Purley train station 02, Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Purley train station 04, Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Purley train station 01, Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Purley Station 2013-01-12, TheJRB, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 455818 Departs Purley, TheJRB, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Purley train station 03, Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Charles Cryer Theatre Carshalton, G.Rogers ( Rodge500 ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Croydon Flyover, Pafcool2, Public domain
- Fairfield Halls - London, Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0
- Spreadeagle, Croydon, CR0 (2353133094), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Croydon War Memorial - West, hahnchen at Wikimedia Commons (must include link if medium allows), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of Croydon, Pafcool2, Public domain
- Addington-hills-view, Harvest1, CC BY 3.0
- Bramley Bank 1, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Grotto Carshalton Park, G.Rogers ( Rodge500 ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- Cotelands 284, Roger W. Haworth ( talk · contribs ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Croham Hurst path, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Foxley Wood 3, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Grove Park Carshalton, G.Rogers ( Rodge500 ), CC BY-SA 2.5
- St Peter's Church, Croydon - West, hahnchen at Wikimedia Commons (must include link if medium allows), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Croydon Parish Church - North East, hahnchen at Wikimedia Commons (must include link if medium allows), CC BY-SA 3.0
- St Andrew's, Croydon, hahnchen at Wikimedia Commons (must include link if medium allows), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Control Tower & Terminal building at Croydon Airport. Croydon, UK, John Murrell, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Purley Library, Tag Scientist, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Purley War Memorial Hospital, Frombowen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley), Frombowen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Foxley Hatch, Purley, CR8 (2770910584), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Swithun's Church, Grovelands Road, Reedham, Purley (April 2013) (3), User:Hassocks5489, CC0
- St John the Baptist's Church, Dale Road, Purley (April 2013) (4), User:Hassocks5489, CC0
- Roundshaw Downs 6, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Warehouse Theatre Warehouse Cafe Bar, Croydon, CR0 (6109125574), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Peter Cushing - 32 St James' Road Purley London CR8 2DL, Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plants and Paths at Coombe Wood Gardens, Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jethro10, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
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