Thornton Heath resides in the county of Surrey, but it has formed part of the London borough of Croydon since 1965. Lying only eight miles south of Charing Cross, Thornton Heath offers great access to Central London but still retains a clear-cut identity.
(Estate agents in Thronton Heath-Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath)
Thornton Heath has a high concentration of Victorian and Edwardian properties reflecting the influence of the arrival of the railway in 1862. Some fascinating historical snippets emerge from the 20th century including the story of a Thornton Heath housewife who was apparently possessed by a poltergeist during the late 1930s! She was supposedly able to summon small animals as well as jewellery from thin air and even performed what was described as a psychic shoplifting of a ring from Woolworths.
Row back a couple of hundred years to 1735 when Dick Turpin, the legendary highwayman, is reputed to have hidden at Heath Cottage located on what is now the corner of the High Street. In the 1700s, Thornton Heath was remote and desolate and so popular with footpads and vagabonds. The site of Heath Cottage is now home to Tesco but back in the day, was the home of Turpin’s uncle and aunt.
Thornton Heath is also famous for clock and bell-making. Gillet & Johnston, the internationally renowned firm was located in Union Road from 1844 to 1957 with the famous Clocktower a well-known landmark until its demotion in 1997.
Local Attractions in Thornton Heath
As a mainly residential area, you might be forgiven for thinking that there would be few attractions, but Thornton Heath has a few surprises tucked up its sleeve. Enjoy the delights of the fully restored Shirley Windmill, actually a Tower Mill, which is an unusual attraction in this type of environment. The Bethlem Museum of the Mind has thought-provoking exhibitions and is located in a beautiful building with stunning gardens. If you fancy a trip to the seaside then Thornton Heath sits on the main London to Brighton railway line so it is only 40 minutes to the Brighton coast by train.
https://www.list.co.uk/places/tourist-attractions/location:Thornton%20Heath(51.4003,-0.1110)/
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/mayfield-road-playground
Schools and Colleges in Thornton Heath(Estate agents in Thronton Heath-Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath)
Schools are a big incentive to move to Thornton Heath which has four primary schools all rated as ‘outstanding ‘by Ofsted plus two academies and one secondary school also with an outstanding rating.
https://www.locrating.com/the-best-Primary-schools-in-Thornton%20Heath_Croydon_England.aspx
https://www.paxtonacademy.org.uk/
Shopping Facilities, Restaurants and Leisure in Thornton Heath
Shopping in the High Sreet has a distinct community feel, absent are the ubiquitous coffee shop chains and retail outlets that you see everywhere else. There is a blend of familiar faces and independent traders. Plans to open a Westfield shopping centre nearby in Croydon with a possible opening date of 2023 should cater to all serious retail needs. There is a large and very modern Tesco right in the heart of Thornton Heath.
https://www.opening-times.co.uk/Lidl/Thornton-Heath/London-Road/
Restaurants are unique and colourful independents with a variety of cuisines. There is a leisure centre with a swimming pool and range of sports options and a health spa. The library has been recently refurbished back to its original Edwardian splendour and retains many splendid architectural features. And for some green space and downtime, nearby Mitcham Common has a peaceful nature reserve with many designated walks with ponds and wildlife.(Estate agents in Thronton Heath-Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath)
Property Types and Demographics in Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is popular with young professionals and first-time buyers as it has a great range of affordable properties available with a particular concentration of fine Victorian and Edwardian homes. Around 60% of house purchases in Thornton Heath went to first time buyers in 2019. The average property price is £338,000 which will buy you a two or three bedroom terraced home, popular for those starting out on the property ladder and also buyers looking to move from Central London into a larger home.
Some of the best purchases are on the attractive Bensham Manor Road and the popular ‘Americas’ estate. These period properties make lovely characterful family homes and flats. Enjoy high ceilings and lots of space inside plus traditional features and decent gardens with off-road parking. There are new builds for those who prefer something contemporary. The average rent is £404 per week well below the London rate of £558.
Estate agents in Thornton Heath, Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath
https://heavenestateagents.co.uk/
Transport Connections from Thornton Heath(Estate agents in Thronton Heath-Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath)
Thornton Heath is between Norbury and Selhurst on the Brighton main line. The station and its services is operated by Southern, apart from two morning departures which are operated by Thameslink. The station is in Travelcard Zone 4 with an annual travelcard cost of £2076.
Trains to Victoria take just 25 minutes and you can also travel to London Bridge in the same length of time. There are handy tram services into Mitcham and you can access the Northern tube line from Morden, which is four miles away.
Alternatively, London Buses run a service from Thornton Heath to Waterloo Station hourly. Tickets cost £2 and the journey duration is 55 minutes.
Thornton Heath is definitely an area on the up which means property prices are affordable right now but probably won’t stay that way! For just a short commute into London, spending power will buy a palace for buyers keen to move just a short distance from the heart of the capital.(Estate agents in Thronton Heath-Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath)
Thornton Heath has a small town genuine feel, it really doesn’t feel like living in London, but its location has all the advantages of a short commute back into the capital for work or leisure.(Estate agents in Thronton Heath-Guaranteed rent in Thornton Heath)
