h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Croydon is great as a centre for shopping - as it has a huge variety of shops in a very compact area. Lots of the 'high street' shops are concentrated in a pedestrianised area between East and West Croydon stations but there are also many large 'out-of-town' warehouse type stores along the A23 Purley Road a short walk away. The tram can be caught from the the centre to the Purley Way, or there are lots of buses.

There are usually a few buskers on the pedestrianised area - all the usual suspects (how do those same four South American pan-pipe chaps get around so quickly?) as well as a man with a strange oriental instrument. There is often an opera signer and a wide variety of religious types that try to grab your attention a la Life of Brian.

There are currently two actual shopping malls in Croydon, the shabby Drummond centre and the gargantuan Whitgif centre. These malls are opposite each other on the main shopping drag but the Whitgif centre wins hands down (IMO) for variety of shops. A new mall is due to open in the near future that promises all sorts of fab things. Each mall has a department store attached, Debenhams in the Drummond Centre and Allders in the Whitgif centre. The new mall will have a House of Fraser in it.

The Whitgif centre has all of the expected shops, and some of the smaller boutique type stores as well. It is generally very clean but gets very crowded on the weekends - in fact the whole place is crowded at weekends.

I am not sure about parking as I usually walk in. The public transort options are excellent and are probably the best way to get there.

Erm, there is probably more but I should really get on with my real job...

Oh yes, I just remembered that they are extending the Whitgif centre even more. Allders is moving across George Street which will be covered and have walkways over it. This is also where the trams stop so the tram will be an integral part of the centre.

Presumably tons more shops will rush in to fill the void where Allders used to be.

The amount of choice there is already good so it canonly get better. It is great not to have to go into central London in order to buy almost anything...