London South
Selhurst Park. Home of Crystal Palace.
Gander Green Lane. Home of Sutton United
Plough Lane. Home of AFC Wimbledon
Kew Gardens
Imperial War Museum
London Eye
Introduction:
This part of London has the busiest railway station in the country, Clapham Junction. This station takes the majority of Southern Railway commuter and mainline routes to Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Brighton and Sussex Coast. From Waterloo, South Western trains operate to west London, west Surrey and the Hampshire, Dorset coastal cities and towns, via Clapham Junction.
Things to Do:
Kew Gardens:
The world’s most famous Botanical Gardens, which lies just 30 minutes from Central London, boasts historic buildings, iconic glasshouses and an enormous range of trees and plants. To be replenished after walking through the grounds are 4 eateries to chose from:- White Peaks and Victoria Plaza cafes and Orangery and Pavilion restaurants. Shops can be found at White Peaks and Pavilion café areas. Significant savings can be made if tickets are bought on line, the prices being Adults £14, Children £2.50 and Concessions £13. To travel to Kew by road use satnav TW9 3AB. Underground access is by District Line to Kew Gardens Station, Overground to Kew Gardens Station on the Richmond/Stratford Line or by Mainline railway from Waterloo to Kew Gardens via Vauxhall and Clapham Junction.
Imperial War Museum:
Located in Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ, the building was originally Bethlem Royal Hospital. The museum contains objects from the First World War and all conflicts Britain and the Commonwealth have been involved in since 1914. On view are archives, photographs, film, video, library and art. Also military vehicles, aircraft and other artefacts can be seen. There is a café and shop. To get to the museum it is best to use the Northern Line tube stations at Lambeth North or Elephant & Castle or Waterloo and Elephant & Castle on the Mainline railway.
Entry is free and the museum is open every day except the 3 days over Christmas.
Richmond Park:
This the largest enclosed space in London and the capital’s largest Royal Park. Located in the London Borough of Richmond this large open space specialises in deer, shire horses and bats. There is also an ornamental, woodland garden, the Isabella Plantation, which is of interest throughout the year. Food and drink is available at four outlets, Pembroke Lodge, at highest point in the park, Roehampton Café and refreshment points at Broomfield Point and Pen Pond. The park is open from 7.30am to 8.30pm and there are six car parks. The nearest mainline stations are Richmond and Norbiton which lie on the London Waterloo line, passes through Vauxhall and Clapham Common and is operated by South West Trains. The Richmond underground station is also located at the mainline station.
London Eye:
Get a good view of London from the iconic Eye.
River Thames:
Get a different view of London by taking a trip on the River.
Shopping:
Good retail centres are to be found across South London. Kingston to the west of the region is a shopping mecca. It contains the Bentall Shopping Mall which houses Fenwick Department Store and multiple national chain stores over three floors. It also contains a food court. Outside is a stand alone John Lewis which lies adjacent to the Thames and the rest of the town centre has a maze of streets containing a great variety of stores.
Croydon, which lies in the centre of the region, adjacent to the Surrey border, has a large Mall, The Whitgift Centre, together with a lively retail High Street, plus a House of Fraser Department Store. Also much retail on Purley Way.
Other good shopping locations to consider are Richmond, Sutton, and Wimbledon.
CLUBS
CRYSTAL PALACE
Introduction:
The football club is based in the London Borough of Croydon which is an outer London Borough, lying adjacent to Surrey. The current population is 364,800.
Transport in the Borough:
Buses:
Eighteen bus routes fan out from the centre of Croydon to other London suburbs and Surrey towns. Amongst places served are Lewisham, Brixton, Bromley, Clapham, Morden, Epsom and Redhill.
There are also two night buses from Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus in central London.
Trams:
Four tram routes run through the Borough. No.1 to Elmer’s End.
No. 2 to Beckenham Junction. No. 3 from New Addington to Wimbledon. No. 4 from Elmer’s End to Therapal Lane.
Road:
Two main roads cross in the centre of Croydon. The A23 which starts close to Waterloo Station in Lambeth passes through Croydon on its way to Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Crawley and Brighton. On its way it splits at the south end of the Borough to form the M23 which immediately intersects with the M25, the London Orbital Road.
At Purley Way the A23 crosses the A232 which runs from Epsom and Sutton to the west of Croydon to Orpington to the east.
Railway:
Trains from Victoria/Clapham Junction and London Bridge run through East Croydon station on their way to Gatwick Airport, Brighton and the Sussex Coast. These commuter routes are operated by Southern railway.
Air:
Gatwick Airport lies about twenty miles south of Croydon on the A23 road and also the railway to Brighton.
Taxis:
Seven taxi companies operate in the Borough.
Stadium: Selhurst Park. Whitehorse Lane. London SE25 6PU
Founded: 1905
Joined League: 1920
Chairman: Steve Parrish/Stephen Browett
Manager: Oliver Glasner
Current League: Premier
Phone Number: 020 8768 6000
Email: boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk
Brief History:
Founded in 1905 the club went into the Southern League, where they stayed until joining the Football League in 1920, when Division 3 was formed. The team was promoted in the very first season and the club took its place in the second tier.
After their formation the club initially played at The Crystal Palace but WW1 forced them out and they played a few seasons at Herne Hill Velodrome and then The Nest, which was Croydon Common Athletic Ground. Palace then moved into their spiritual home, Selhurst Park, in 1924.
After four seasons in Division 2 the club was relegated back to Division 3 South, where they stayed until 1958. That year Divisions 3 South and North joined forces and split into Division 3 and Division 4. Ending up in the lower end of their League in 1958, the club was placed in Division 4.
Eleven years later the club reached the top flight, stayed there four seasons and then suffered successive relegations. In 1973 the club decided to change its image and adopted Eagles as their symbol and changed their strip to red and blue vertical stripes. The club were promoted again in 1977 and 1979 and reached the top flight again. In 1990 they reached the FA Cup Final but were defeated and in 1991 reached third place in the top flight, the highest position in their history.
The Eagles became original members of the Premier League in 1992. They were relegated in 1993, were promoted and relegated immediately three times more, until promotion back to Premier League in 2013, where they currently reside.
Match Day:
Tickets:
Away fans should contact their own club for tickets.
Due to the smallish crowd capacity for a Premier League club it is advised to sign up to the club membership scheme to get best chance of tickets. For lesser games tickets can be bought on line or at the Box Office in Whitehorse Road. The ticket office can be contacted on 08712 000071 or by email boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk .
Transport:
Bus:
Eleven bus routes run in the vicinity of Selhust Park. They are:- No. 50. 75. 130. 157. 196. 198. 250. 312. 410. 450. 468. From centre of Croydon use 50 or 468. From Norwood Junction use 50.130. 196. 468. The other routes travel to and from other districts of Croydon and South London. For full details of routes check Transport for London web site.
Rail:
From Gatwick Airport, Crawley or South Coast you can alight at Selhurst (a short walk), or Norwood Junction (walk or bus, as above). From Victoria/Clapham Junction use Selhurst and from Bedford, King’s Cross, Blackfriars and London Bridge use Norwood Junction.
Car:
Very limited parking in the area of the stadium but if only alternative use sat nav SE25 5EX.
Air:
Trains run from Gatwick Airport to both Selhurst and Norwood Junction via East Croydon Station.
Stadium:
Selhurst Park has been the Eagles home ground since 1924.
There are four stands namely Holmesdale which is a two tiered structure located at south end, Arthur Wait which is on the east side and houses away fans, Main Stand which contains the offices, restaurant, lounges and bars. Finally, the Whitehorse Stand, known as the family stand is on the north end and contains the executive boxes.
In truth the facilities for visiting fans are not the best you will encounter. The refreshment outlet is not well located and food on the pricey side. The views from the back of the stand are restricted due to the roof line, TV gantry and pillar. However, the atmosphere is generally good.
There are good pubs and food outlets around Norwood Junction and Thornton Heath stations. Both these stations are within walking distance of the stadium.
The club shop is positioned next to the ticket office in Whitehorse Lane.
SUTTON UNITED
Introduction: The club is located in the London Borough of Sutton ( south, centre of London) which is bounded by the Borough’s of Croydon and Merton, and the County of Surrey to the south. The current population is 204,525.
Transport in the Borough:
Buses: Eighteen bus routes serve Sutton and connect to nearby Boroughs. Check TfL for details.
Road:
The A24 and A217 roads from the south coast and M25 through to Central London are the main north/south routes. The A232 runs east/west through the Borough centre.
Rail:
Sutton Station is served by Southern Railway from Victoria and London Bridge, heading for Dorking, Horsham and Epsom. Thameslink operate a service to St. Albans via Wimbledon.
Air:
Gatwick and Heathrow are within 25 miles of Sutton.
Taxis:
Up to 20 companies operate throughout the Borough and neighbouring areas.
Stadium:- Borough Sports Ground. Gander Green Lane. Sutton
Founded - 1898
Joined League - 2021
Chairman - Bruce Elliott
Manager - Steve Morison
Current League - League 2
Phone Number - 020 8644 5120
Email Address - Website Contact Form (or info@suttonunited.net)
Brief History:
The club was formed in 1898 with the merger of two local clubs, Sutton Association and Sutton Guild Rovers. It was in 1910 that the club gained senior status by joining the Southern Suburban League. During this decade they took Gander Green Lane as their home ground .In the early 1920s United were elected to Athenian League and during the decade reached two FA Amateur Cup finals, establishing themselves as a force in amateur football.
By 1946 Sutton had won the Athenian League twice and reached the first round of the FA Cup. In 1963 they played at Wembley for the first time in the Amateur Cup Final, which they duly lost to Wimbledon. In 1971 they were drawn against Leeds United in 4th round of the FA Cup but lost 0-6 in front of a record 14000.
After steady progress over the following years the club reached the GM Vauxhall Conference League.in 1986. In the 1987/88 season they beat League opposition, Aldershot and Peterborough United in the FA Cup before losing to Middlesbrough. They had further good FA Cup campaigns, including beating top flight Coventry City.
After relegation from the Conference they had mixed fortunes in the lower Leagues. They won promotion back to the now National League and in 2021 gained Football League 2 status. for the first time.
Match Day:
Tickets
Away fans should contact their own club for information
Transport:
Bus
There are two bus routes to the ground. The 413 can be caught by the Post Office in Sutton town centre and passes by the stadium. Bus 80 runs from Hackbridge to Belmont and should be alighted at Collingwood Rec. Then a short walk through the Rec to the stadium. All fares are contactless.
Rail
West Sutton station is a few minutes from the ground. Lying in the heart of the South London commuter belt trains from all of London, Surrey and south coast will transport you either direct or with a change or two. No underground services run in Sutton.
Car
There is no car parking at the ground for fans. The club are trying to secure some car park spaces nearby but safe and considerate parking on adjacent streets is available.
Air
Taxi or train from Gatwick Airport or Heathrow..
Stadium:
The club moved into Gander Green Lane in the early part of the 20th Century. Current Capacity is 7032.
The ground currently has four stands. The Main Stand contains the dug outs and is about half the length of the pitch. Opposite is the Recreational Terrace which contains a TV balcony on the roof.
The ends behind the goals are the Gander Green End which has a covered terrace behind the goal and sweeping terraces either side. The modern Collingwood Road End is a covered which gives protection for away fans and can create a good atmosphere by noisy fans..
There is a social club which accepts away fans but for pubs it is probably best to find them in Sutton centre one stop away by train. There is a good range of food to be found at the stadium.
AFC WIMBLEDON
Introduction:
The football club is based in the London Borough of Merton which is bounded by Sutton, Kingston and Wandsworth. It is also home to Wimbledon Tennis Club. The current population is 206,186.
Transport in the Borough:
Buses:
Twelve bus routes serve Merton. Check TfL for details.
Underground:
Two lines serve Merton, both of which head into central London. The District line from Wimbledon and Northern line from Morden.
Tram:
A tram route links Wimbledon to East Croydon, via Mitcham
Road:
The main roads in the Borough are the A298/A238 which leads off the A3 Kingston by Pass, A219 from Putney Fulham and central London and A24 from the south coast, M25 and central London.
Railway:
Wimbledon on the South Western route from Waterloo to Guildford and Portsmouth, is the main station.
Air:
Gatwick and Heathrow are within 25 miles of Merton.
Taxis:
A dozen or so taxi firms operate in Merton and surrounding area.
Stadium: Plough Lane. Wimbledon. London SW19
Founded: 2002
Joined League: 2011
Chairman: Erik Samuelson
Manager: Johnnie Jackson
Current League: League Two
Phone Number: 020 6547 3528
Email: info@afcwimbledon.co.uk
Brief History:
All the football world must be aware that AFC Wimbledon emerged from the decision to allow Wimbledon FC to transfer from South London to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire and become MK Dons. This spurred the Dons to form their new club which they did and they joined the Combined League in 2002.
The club prospered rapidly and by 2011 had got promoted to the Football League. After winning the Combined they entered and conquered the Ryman South, Ryman Premier, Conference South and Conference National.
So from formation to League status took just nine years, an amazing feat. Promotion soon followed again resulting in the club currently playing in League 1 and renewing their rivalry with MK Dons.
The club moved back into their new stadium in season 2020/2021.
All trophies etc. won by Wimbledon in their Premier League days and previously have been handed to the current club..
Match Day:-
Tickets:-
Fans of away teams should check with their own club regarding ticket allocation. Otherwise tickets can be bought online, by personal calling at ticket office or by postal means. The ticket office, for personal attendance, is open from 9.30am to 5pm during office hours. For online and postal applications, check out the club’s official web site.
Transport:
Bus:
Routes 156 (Runs between Wimbledon Station and Vauxhall via Clapham Junction), 77 (Runs between Waterloo Station and Tooting Station via Clapham Junction)and 493(runs between St, George’s Hospital and Richmond) serve the stadium.
Underground:
From Central London you can take the District Line to Wimbledon Park, and the Northern Line to Tooting Broadway.
Rail:
Haydons Road Station is the nearest to Plough Lane. The services are run by Thameslink and lies on the Bedford to Sutton line. You can pick the train up at St. Pancras/ King’s Cross and Blackfriars in central London.
You could also get a train to Clapham Junction and take bus 156 and 77.
Car.
As usual for London parking is very difficult and travel by car should be avoided.. The best route is around the M25 and take the A3, A24 or A217 roads from the M25 and head for Tooting Broadway station then onto the A217 to Plough Lane. From central London, the A24 to Tooting Broadway and then right onto the A217, as before.
Taxi:
An expensive means to get to Stadium.
Air:
Gatwick and Heathrow are within 25 miles of the stadium.
Stadium:
The new Plough Lane Stadium opened in 2020 and has a capacity of 9300, housed in four stands..
The main stand is the West Stand which contains the dug outs and hospitality.
The vocal home fans will be housed in the South Stand which also has limited standing area.
Away fans will be accommodated in the North Stand.
The club has good catering facilities. Tours are being planned for the future.
There is a club shop on site and an online shop.
Check the club’s official website for full details of the above..