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Museum of Croydon, Croydon

Companionship careCroydon

Days out in Croydon for an older parent

Ten places in Croydon that make a good day out for an older parent, from Museum of Croydon to Wandle Park. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

Museum of Croydon. Photo: Looshluz, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ten days out across eight towns

The best places to take an older parent in Croydon

Nine of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Museum of Croydon, Croydon

Photo: Looshluz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Croydon

Museum of Croydon

The Museum of Croydon is a free local history museum inside the Croydon Clocktower, with galleries on the people and places of the borough and changing special exhibitions. It is open Wednesday to Saturday.

The museum says all its areas are fully accessible, and the nearby Fairfield and Surrey Street car parks both have Blue Badge bays.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

What their access information confirms

  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Croydon

Fairfield Halls, Croydon

Photo: Jim Linwood, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Croydon

Fairfield Halls

Fairfield Halls is Croydon's main arts centre, with a concert hall and the Ashcroft Playhouse staging concerts, plays, comedy and daytime shows. There are cafés, bars and a restaurant in the building.

There are eight Blue Badge spaces at the front, lifts giving step-free access to every venue, accessible toilets and wheelchair spaces with a seat for a carer in both auditoriums.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Croydon

Coombe Wood, South Croydon

Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · South Croydon

Coombe Wood

Coombe Wood is a Green Flag garden of ornamental beds and woodland at the junction of Coombe Lane and Conduit Lane, with a small pond and waterfall and a café in the old house. A leaflet gives a guided route round the site.

There is a disabled parking bay and a café with a shelter in the gardens, so a carer can park close by and keep the walk short.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near South Croydon

Lloyd Park, South Croydon

Photo: Eagleash, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · South Croydon

Lloyd Park

Lloyd Park is a large area of open parkland with mature trees and woodland beside Coombe Road, with its own café. It has its own stop on the tram line.

The car park off Coombe Road gives three hours of free parking with a ticket, and the café makes an easy base for a short stroll under the trees.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, three hours free parking

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near South Croydon

Addington Hills, Shirley

Photo: Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Shirley

Addington Hills

Addington Hills is a large area of heath and pine and birch woodland on high ground, with a viewing platform that looks out over Croydon and the London skyline. It is open at all times.

There is parking off Shirley Hills Road and Oaks Road, so a carer can drive up close to the viewpoint rather than walk up the hill.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Shirley

South Norwood Country Park, South Norwood

Photo: Dm4244, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · South Norwood

South Norwood Country Park

South Norwood Country Park is a 125-acre local nature reserve with a pond, wet meadows and open grassland, where more than 100 kinds of bird are seen each year. A community café kiosk opens on Saturday mornings.

There is a car park with several bays for disabled visitors, but the toilets are closed during refurbishment, so a carer should plan a toilet stop before arriving.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near South Norwood

Norwood Grove, Norbury

Photo: Eagleash, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Norbury

Norwood Grove

Norwood Grove is a hillside park of about 34 acres with a white Victorian mansion set in ornamental gardens and wide views south over Croydon. It has a bowling green and sits next to Streatham Common.

The ornamental gardens around the mansion are the heart of the park, so a carer can focus the visit there and avoid the steeper open slopes.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Norbury

Farthing Downs, Coulsdon

Photo: Doyle of London, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Coulsdon

Farthing Downs

Farthing Downs is a chalk ridge on the edge of London, looked after by the City of London, with panoramic views of the London skyline, wildflower grassland and grazing cattle and sheep. A nature trail and a circular walk start from the car park.

There is disabled access and toilets at the car park and a short surfaced path to the information point, and Blue Badge holders park free once they register.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, car park charged

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Coulsdon

Riddlesdown, Riddlesdown

Photo: Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Riddlesdown

Riddlesdown

Riddlesdown is a City of London common of chalk grassland and ancient woodland with far-reaching views down the valley towards Kenley and Whyteleafe. Butterflies such as the common blue and wildflowers are the main draw in spring and summer.

A small car park off Riddlesdown Road sits right on the edge of the grassland, so your parent can enjoy the view without a long walk.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free, car park charged

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Riddlesdown

Wandle Park, Waddon

Photo: Anthony Spratt, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Waddon

Wandle Park

Wandle Park is a Green Flag town centre park in Waddon, redeveloped in 2012 so that the River Wandle once again flows through it in the open. It has a community garden and summer events.

It has its own tram stop and is small enough for an easy riverside stroll close to central Croydon.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Waddon

Regular groups and events in Croydon

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Croydon.

  • Music · CroydonCroydon Philharmonic ChoirA long-established Croydon choral society that rehearses regularly and performs large choral works in concert. A carer could take someone to hear the concerts, or to rehearsals if they still want to sing, and see them home afterwards.Details
  • Photography · CroydonCroydon Camera ClubA long-running local camera club with a programme of meetings, talks and competitions for photographers of all levels. A carer could handle the evening transport, carry equipment and help upload or print pictures for a club night.Details
  • Painting · CroydonCroydon Art SocietyA local society for painters, with a regular programme of meetings and practical demonstrations. A carer could help someone get to meetings, set up an easel and materials at home between sessions, and clear up afterwards.Details
  • ReadingCroydon Libraries book groupsCroydon Libraries list regular book group meetings across their branches, open to new members. A carer could collect the group's title in large print or audio, read passages aloud beforehand and bring someone to the meeting.Details
  • Sports · CroydonWalking football in CroydonWalking football sessions run in Croydon by The Change Foundation, played at walking pace for older players. A carer could drive someone to the session, bring kit and water and watch from the side.Details
  • Volunteering · CroydonVolunteer Centre CroydonCroydon Voluntary Action runs the borough's volunteer centre, matching people with local opportunities. A carer could go through the listings with someone, help with the first enquiry and provide transport to a regular shift.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Croydon

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Museum of CroydonCroydonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Fairfield HallsCroydonan hour or twoPaid entryYesYesYes
Coombe WoodSouth Croydonan hour or twoFreeAskAskYes
Lloyd ParkSouth Croydonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Addington HillsShirleyan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
South Norwood Country ParkSouth Norwoodan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Norwood GroveNorburyan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Farthing DownsCoulsdonan hour or twoFreeAskYesAsk
RiddlesdownRiddlesdownan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Wandle ParkWaddonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Croydon

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

AddingtonOld CoulsdonNorburySouth CroydonSouth NorwoodCoulsdonSelsdonPurley12345678910
  1. 1Museum of Croydon, Croydon
  2. 2Fairfield Halls, Croydon
  3. 3Coombe Wood, South Croydon
  4. 4Lloyd Park, South Croydon
  5. 5Addington Hills, Shirley
  6. 6South Norwood Country Park, South Norwood
  7. 7Norwood Grove, Norbury
  8. 8Farthing Downs, Coulsdon
  9. 9Riddlesdown, Riddlesdown
  10. 10Wandle Park, Waddon

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Croydon

Carers in Croydon charge £19 to £21 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Croydon has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Croydon

Museum of Croydon in Croydon, Fairfield Halls in Croydon, Coombe Wood in South Croydon, Lloyd Park in South Croydon, Addington Hills in Shirley, South Norwood Country Park in South Norwood, Norwood Grove in Norbury, Farthing Downs in Coulsdon, Riddlesdown in Riddlesdown and Wandle Park in Waddon. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Fairfield Halls describes a step-free route. Fairfield Halls and Farthing Downs have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Museum of Croydon, Coombe Wood, Lloyd Park, Addington Hills, South Norwood Country Park, Norwood Grove, Farthing Downs, Riddlesdown and Wandle Park. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 19 of the carers with a rate near Croydon drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Croydon shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Croydon

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Croydon

Days out in the areas around Croydon

Companionship care by town in Croydon

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Croydon

See carers near Croydon who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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