A nostalgic TikTok video shows how vibrant and festive it was in one of Croydon’s iconic shopping centres.
The video, uploaded by user croydonextra, shows the Whitgift Centre during the Christmas season of 2009.
The video shows a massive Christmas tree that stretches from the floor all the way to the roof, dominating the shopping centre.
@croydonextra Croydon used to go all out with the decorations at Christmas. I know the Whitgift centre is a shadow of its former self but rest assured with the Westfield development finally happening things are going to get better. What are your memories of Christmas in Croydon? #croydonextra ♬ Last Christmas (Pudding Mix) - Wham!
By the tree, there is a small fair for children that features photo opportunities with reindeer, toadstools, and other festive props.
Baubles and string lights decorate the pillars on the second floor, where shoppers can look down from the railings, and huge stars hang from the ceiling above.
The Whitgift Centre in the video is full of people moving past fully stocked shops and not an empty unit in sight.
The video also shows a charity collector dressed as a bunny outside.
Christmas wreaths and decorations fill the remaining spaces, making the Whitgift Centre feel alive and bustling with festive cheer.
Shoppers fill the corridors, pausing to admire the lights, trees, and ornaments, while the decorations cover every corner of the centre, creating a quintessential Christmas experience in Croydon.
This year, the Whitgift Centre has a Christmas tree and lights wrapped around the pillars.
However, the decorations are far more understated than the grand and lively display seen in 2009.
The Whitgift Centre has been the biggest example of Croydon’s declining retail landscape.
Your Local Guardian visited the Whitgift Centre earlier this year and counted more than 70 empty units.
The Croydon BID will continue to deliver Christmas activities and services for families at the centres this year, including Santa’s Christmas Skyride and The Giant Christmas Pudding.
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