Croydon has not always been seen as a destination in its own right, its close proximity to central London having arguably hindered as much as helped it in this regard. Even today, when many people think of this part of south London, they might merely imagine industrious, utilitarian 1960s office blocks and (admittedly extensive) transport links.
However, Croydon is not merely a functional part of the capital. It is certainly not an area only to be seen within the wider context of the sizzling and ever-active metropolis that is London. Sure, it is certainly an advantageous place to live for those requiring a convenient connection to the rest of the capital. That is thanks to the presence of such well-entrenched transport infrastructure as the East Croydon and West Croydon stations, the London Tramlink light rail system and various well-serviced bus routes.
But Croydon has also long been one of the capital’s best-kept secrets – a place where art and culture, fine dining and the very best in recreation and leisure sit side-by-side. This is the home, after all, of arts venues like the Fairfield Halls, with its history of famous faces like the Beatles, Bucks Fizz, Johnny Cash and Tom Jones. In much more recent times has come the opening of the Spread Eagle Theatre, a 50-seat studio theatre that supports emerging artists and theatre companies.
Indeed, Croydon can also boast in-demand restaurants like Preto and Khyber Restaurant on the High Street, fitness and leisure amenities such as LA Fitness and Virgin Active, and bars and clubs like Tiger Tiger and Reflex. In short, Croydon is most definitely the place to be, and the gradual realisation of this is also triggering the gradual gentrification that has already made so many other, previously underappreciated parts of the capital true go-to destinations.
More and more, people are coming to live in Croydon with an expectation of living the high life, which is where the one-time IYLO building, now ISLAND set of apartments, comes in. An elegant structure with a protracted and sometimes troubled construction process thanks to the economic slowdown of the late 2000s and the associated difficulties of obtaining credit, ISLAND is now complete and ready to welcome ambitious newcomers to the city.
ISLAND has come a long way since its days as the IYLO building, and Croydon has come a similarly long way from its sometimes unglamorous past. An ISLAND penthouse or apartment, conveniently situated right in the centre of Croydon, presents the perfect opportunity to appreciate both.
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