Croydon Town Centre Heritage Stories
In 2026 we will be celebrating the history of Croydon town centre with new signage, guided walks, family trails, exhibitions and public art installations.
Visit Croydon town centre and travel through 900 years of history, from Croydon Minster and the Whitgift Almshouses, through the Victorian shops of North End and High St to the iconic modernist building No 1 Croydon (affectionately known to many as the 50p building).
There are also many hidden histories to discover, from the impact of Croydon-based activist Ray Harvey-Amer in the fight for LGBT+ rights to the story of Sislin Fay Allen, Britain’s first Black female police officer. Croydon’s music pioneers have had an international impact, from the birth of dubstep to the growth of UK punk whilst Croydon Art School, now part of Croydon College, nurtured iconic artists and creatives with student and teacher alumni including Bridget Riley and Malcolm McLaren.
You’re invited to join us this year as we uncover these histories through the eras of our town centre and get involved by sharing your own Croydon stories.
This programme has been shaped by Croydon’s communities through workshops, surveys and outreach activities. Through spring and summer 2026 there will be more opportunities to get involved, including participating in town centre walks to share your experiences and aspirations for celebrating the history of the town centre and joining a community design panel to inform our public art installations.
We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the project so far.
To receive updates about the project and how you can get involved please sign up to the Museum of Croydon newsletter.
To get in touch with us about this project please email museum@croydon.gov.uk
This programme is part of Croydon’s Town Centre Regeneration Programme with funding from UK government.
