Open House Festival

Neighbourhoods

Back to neighbourhoods

Croydon walks and talks

Join in a huge variety of walks and talks that cover topics that span Croydon’s past, present and future. The Northern Croydon tour explores the hometown of Stormzy and Nadia Rose while also visiting The BRIT School and the home of Samuel Coleridge Taylor as well as famed recording studios that played a role in Indie, new-wave, reggae and more. Come along on a walking tour through the South Norwood Heritage Zone which will explore the making of a London suburb in the 19th century and discover some underrated South Norwood history. The Purley Way History Tour will give an insight into the many different eras and building styles represented on one of Croydon's busiest streets- from Victorian industry, the World Wars, 1930s trade, Brutalism and even a ghost swimming pool. WWII fighter pen tours at former RAF Kenley is open to explore the architecture, use, and restoration of the WWII fighter pens and air raid shelters that were part of RAF Kenley's airfield defenses. Discover one of Croydon's oldest surviving buildings, the medieval St. Mary's in Addington Village. Hear about ancient roads, see a local working forge (still in use after 280 years), a park designed by Capability Brown and the legacy of post-war planning "new town" designs. In central Croydon ‘Central Croydon - Stories, Styles & Spaces’ tour will look into the diverse buildings, their stories, styles and their effects on the Croydon Old Town/Central Croydon. There is so much more to see, hear and explore!