North End, Croydon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
North End is a pedestrianized street in Central Croydon which is the main equivalent to a high street in Croydon. The street gives access to both of the main shopping centres, Centrale and Whitgift Centre plus a forthcoming one called Park Place, and hosts many well-known shops. North End was closed off to all forms of motor traffic in 1989, to encourage shoppers to choose Croydon rather than its main south-east London rival Bromley.
North End is the home of the only Allders left standing, after the company went into liquidation, which finally led to the collapse of the group apart from the Croydon flagship store which opened in 1862. This Allders is the fourth largest department store in Britain and boasts the largest carpet department in Europe.
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[edit] Units
Surely it is inappropriate to give a list of all the shops. This is an encyclopedia and not a trade directory!
Shops from east to west are:
- Barclays
- American Express Foreign Money Exchange
- Primark (formerly Littlewoods)
- Allders
- WHSmith
- Barratts
- Dorothy Perkins
- Burton
- Debenhams (previously Kennards)
- Centrale - stores including Clinton Cards, TK Maxx, JD Sports and McDonalds Office (previously Drummond Centre) (formerly C&A)
- Whitgift Centre - stores including Bhs, Books Etc, Superdrug, Clarks and Mothercare
- JJB Sports
- George
- Currys.digital
- Sports World
- Lush
- Virgin Megastores
- Levi's Store
- Kookai
- Britannia
- New Look
- Oasis
- Nationwide
- Pizza Hut
- Halifax
- Topshop
- Topman
- Starbucks
- JD Sports
- GAME
- Tchibo
- Woolworths
- Vision Express
- Burger King
- Phones 4U
- Chitter Chatter (previously T-Mobile)
- Next
- Aldo
- Centrale - stores including ELC, H&M, UNIQLO, The Pier, French Connection, Miss Selfridge, Mango, House of Fraser and Timberland
- Zara
- McDonalds
- Whitgift Centre - stores including Boots, Sainsbury's Central, River Island, H&M, Wallis, The Disney Store, The Body Shop, Foot Locker and Waterstones
- Suits You
- Just Leather
- Pret a Manger
- 02
- Carphone Warehouse
- Ixes
- Studio
- Going Places
- First Choice
- Travel Zone
- Music Zone (previously MVC)
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Sole Trader
- Vibe
- Ann Summers
- HMV
- HSBC
- Specsavers
- Priceless Shoes
- MK
- Card Factory
- Wesley Owen
- Richards Tobacconists
- Marks and Spencer
- Abbey National
- Warren James
- Half Price Jewellery
- Subway
- Jessops
- Noodle Bar
- Forbidden Planet
[edit] Transport Links
North End has excellent transport links both to the borough and to the surrounding areas in and out of London.
East Croydon station is the second busiest railway station in Greater London outside of Travelcard Zone 1. It is located about 5 minutes east of the shopping area. There are services to London Victoria and London Bridge in Central London, Horsham, Gatwick Airport, Redhill, Caterham, Brighton and Tunbridge Wells. The rail services are provided by Southern, Southeastern, First Capital Connect and Virgin Trains.
West Croydon station is located at the northern end of North End and provides rail services by Southern (and formerly South West Trains). The East London Line will soon be extended to West Croydon as its new terminus; this is all part of the London Overground project that will connect Croydon with Watford, London Euston, Stratford and Richmond. There is also a large bus station with many bus routes terminating there.
Tramlink also provides frequent services from the four nearby stops. Croydon Central railway station was a former station at what is now the Croydon Clocktower. It was built so that shoppers could get closer to the main district but the idea failed and it was all paved over.
Getting to Croydon by car is also feasible as there are numerous car parks around the centre including Centrale and Whitgift's own multi-story car parks.