Holiday Costa Del Croydon says new book (From Your Local Guardian)

Holiday Costa Del Croydon says new book

6:20am Thursday 1st July 2010 in

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Croydon is an ideal holiday destination for its friendly atmosphere, a new book recommends – just avoid the hoodies and make sure you wear a stab vest.

Armed with his pen and a warning not to walk around the streets at night, Times travel writer Tom Chesshyre decided to spend a weekend as a tourist in the “anonymous warehouse sprawl” of the borough.

He wrote about his experiences in a new book To Hull and Back: On Holiday in Unsung Britain.

As his train pulled into East Croydon station, the author wondered: “Is the whole idea of tourism in Croydon totally mad?

“If stab vests are the order of the day, and it’s not considered safe to walk around the high street at night in case you happen to look at someone in the wrong way, surely you would be better off taking a break just about anywhere else?”

Despite learning about the town through the 2008 murders of Oliver Kingonzilla and Billy Ward and his initial perception that Croydon was “not the most picturesque” place, the writer was struck by the friendliness of residents.

He wrote: “I have never been anywhere with so much talk of stabbings and casual street violence, even though I haven’t witnessed so much as someone raising their voice this weekend.”

He soaked up the peaceful vibe in the Black Sheep bar, which “feels a bit like passing through immigration into America” with its fingerprint ID system and endured a brief pint in the Ship.

And like any good tourist he dutifully visited the town’s landmarks: Addington Palace, Croydon Parish Church, the Whitgift Centre and Lunar House.

While touring New Addington – the “armpit of Croydon” – the adventurer discovered uplifting gospel music and noted the town “may have its difficulties, but definitely feels as though it's got community spirit and soul”.

Mr Chesshyre was charmed by the history of Croydon’s airport, which has a “terrific museum” and the “wonderfully unusual” Aerodrome Hotel, where he basked in the ghostly atmosphere of Croydon’s glorious flight heritage.

The travel writer might not be too sure if he will holiday in Croydon again but said despite headlines of violence, the highlights of his weekend getaway included the sense of community spirit, the history of the early days of flight, the Black Sheep, archbishops’ summer homes and Croydon Parish Church, once visited by Henry VII.