| Crystal Palace | |
|---|---|
 View of Crystal Palace from the park. Four London boroughs—Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, and Southwark—meet at this junction. | |
  Crystal Palace Location within Greater London | |
| Population | 12,255 (2011 Census. Bromley Ward)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TQ341708 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE19, SE20, SE26 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
Crystal Palace is an area in South London, named after the Crystal Palace Exhibition building which stood in the area from 1854, until it was destroyed by a fire in 1936.[2] About 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Charing Cross, it includes one of the highest points in London, at 367 feet (112 m),[3] offering views over the capital.
The area has no defined boundaries and straddles five London boroughs and three postal districts, although there is a Crystal Palace electoral ward and Crystal Palace Park in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms a part of the greater area known as Upper Norwood, and is contiguous with the areas of Anerley, Dulwich Wood, Gipsy Hill, Penge, South Norwood and Sydenham. The area is represented by three parliamentary constituencies, four London Assembly constituencies and fourteen local councillors.
Until development began in the 19th century, and before the arrival of the Crystal Palace, the area was known as Sydenham Hill. The Norwood Ridge and an historic oak tree were used to mark parish boundaries. After the Crystal Palace burned down in 1936, the site of the building and its grounds became Crystal Palace Park, the location of the National Sports Centre which contains an athletics track, stadium and other sports facilities. Crystal Palace Park has also been used as the setting for a number of concerts and films, such as The Italian Job and The Pleasure Garden and contains the Crystal Palace Park Concert Platform, in place since 1997. Two television transmitter masts make the district a landmark location, visible from many parts of Greater London. Local landmarks include the Crystal Palace Triangle, a shopping district made up of three streets forming a triangle; Westow Park, a smaller park that lies off the triangle southwest of Crystal Palace Park; and the Stambourne Woodland Walk.
Crystal Palace was named in the Sunday Times newspaper's top ten list of "the best places to live in London" of 2016.[4] In April 2022 Crystal Palace was named the best place to live in London by the Sunday Times,[5][6] being characterised by a bohemian fusion of urban vibes and village-feel.
- ^ "Bromley Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- ^ Mills, Anthony David (2001). Dictionary of London Place Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280106-6
- ^ Ordnance Survey (1862). Spot Height in feet, TQ337707 (Map). Ordnance Survey.
- ^ "Best places to live in London". Evening Standard. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Davis, Matthew. "Crystal Palace named best place to live in London 2022 list". Sunday Times. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
- ^ "Londoners split over Crystal Palace and whether it's great or 'dead'". 13 June 2022.