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Preview: Surrey Street Market welcomes a striking new gateway, Croydon housing figures face fresh scrutiny, and today’s local calendar brings jobs, gaming, creativity and community connection.

A new gateway, standing more than seven metres tall, has been unveiled at Surrey Street Market as part of Croydon Council’s £4.4 million Amplifying Surrey Street project.

The first phase includes resurfacing Overton’s Yard and making it easier for traders to access the market, while future works are planned to bring new signage, trees, shaded seating, gazebo anchor points and improved power supplies.

The gateway’s design reflects branding shaped with traders, residents, local groups and Croydon School of Art students, while information panels celebrate a market with more than 750 years of history.

The project is still developing, but the new entrance gives Surrey Street a bold public welcome and a visible reminder of the market’s continuing place in Croydon life.

Save this local update and read the council’s full Surrey Street details. Read the full Croydon Council newsroom story

A South London Press and Local Democracy Reporting Service report says 417 Croydon Council homes were vacant and awaiting repair or major upgrades.

The report says the average re let time rose to 206 days in the first quarter of 2026/27, compared with 130 days in 2024/25.

It also reports that 3,269 households were living in temporary accommodation in July 2026, while more than 8,300 applicants were on the housing register.

The council says improvements are under way, including work to strengthen the voids service and bring empty homes back into use more quickly.

These figures cover a serious and complex part of local life, so read the full report for the detail, context and response from the council.

Save this housing explainer and read the full report. Read the South London Press and LDRS report

Today, Wednesday 16/09/2026, is the final same day reminder for two three week Wednesday courses led by Creative Croydon tutor Dr Catherine Pestano, beginning on Wednesday 30/09/2026 at CALAT Central Croydon.

🎨 Menopause: Paths to Wellbeing, £30.

🎶 Songs from Diverse African Traditions, £30.

The courses need more learners and are not guaranteed to run, so check the details before the 09:00 cut off today.

Check the CALAT course details before the 09:00 cut off, or contact [email protected].

The organiser listing indicates a London Jobs Fair from 10:00 to 13:00 today, Wednesday 16/09/2026, at Selhurst Park Stadium.

Free tickets are indicated, with attendees asked to bring evidence of the right to work in the UK. Check the organiser’s listing before travelling for the latest entry information.

Source: The Job Fairs organiser listing

🎨 Dementia, Art & Joy, 10:30 to 12:00 today, Wednesday 16/09/2026, at the Museum of Croydon. Source: Museum of Croydon

🎵 Rhymetime at Selsdon Library, 10:30 to 11:00 today. Source: Oazis

👶 Baby Sensory, 12:10 today, at St Mildreds Parish Church. Source: Happity

Baby Steps: Face to Face runs from 14:00 to 16:30 today at the Croydon Health Services Antenatal Clinic, Thornton Heath.

The session is a face to face antenatal class for parents to be, offering an opportunity to learn and connect in person.

Source: Croydon Health Services Maternity on Eventbrite

🚌 Croydon Drop-In Talkbus, 14:30 to 17:30 today, at Shrublands Estate. Source: Croydon Drop-In

🎲 Wednesday Night Gaming, 18:30 to 22:00 today, at The Ludoquist. The session fee is listed as £8, with beginners welcome. Source: Croydon Board Gamers on Meetup

🎨 Exhibition Closing Party: 19:00 to 21:00 today at the Museum of Croydon, celebrating Grayson Perry's The Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope. The free, no-booking programme includes music with Bonnie Diver, tarot with Palencar, fashion portraits with Zoe Parker and comic drawing with Ruffle. Source: Museum of Croydon

🎶 The Groove Kitchen, 19:30 to 22:30 today, at BOXPARK Croydon. A free ticket is required. Source: Shoobs

The Caravan Gallery: Croydon: Pride of Place is at College Square today and Thursday 17/09/2026, from 11:00 to 17:00, as part of Open House Festival. The free travelling photo exhibition celebrates Croydon's buildings, streets and people, with no booking needed. It then moves to Surrey Street Market on 18/09/2026 and 19/09/2026, before reaching North End on 20/09/2026. Check the official programme for current details before travelling.

Save the Caravan Gallery route and check the official Open House programme. View the College Square listing

Croydon-born musician Si Cranstoun is bringing deep local roots to a feel-good vintage soul and R&B story. Londonist's Croydon Edit, 15/09/2026, reports that his new music video was filmed near Surrey Street, and traces a family connection to Croydon: his parents had their first date at East Croydon station in the 1960s, and he had his own first date there too.

Save this Croydon soundtrack story for a local culture lift. Source: Londonist's Croydon Edit, 15/09/2026.

Live Storytelling Night with Storytime London arrives at the Museum of Croydon on Thursday 17/09/2026, from 19:30 to 21:30.

The evening brings storytellers, writers, poets and musicians together for a programme inspired by Grayson Perry’s Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope.

Source: Museum of Croydon event listing

😂 Chuckl. Croydon, Friday 18/09/2026, at Fairfield Halls, featuring Sara Pascoe, Mike Gunn, Fiona Allen and MC Dave Ward. The official Fairfield Halls listing shows a 19:00 start. Source: Fairfield Halls

Save Saturday 19/09/2026, from 10:00 to 16:00, for the Community Market at Regans, at Units 9 to 11, Royal Oak Centre, Brighton Road, Purley CR8 2PG.

It is a chance to back local makers, sellers and community connections in the south of the borough.

🌻 Arcadia Festival, Saturday 19/09/2026, 10:30 to 17:30, at Stanley Arts, with climate, nature, gardening and creative activity. Source: Stanley Arts

The Eco Living Fest is listed for Saturday 19/09/2026, from 13:00 to 16:00, at Holy Innocents Church Hall, 192A Selhurst Road, South Norwood, SE25 6XX.

The event brings practical sustainability ideas and local community activity together, making it worth a visit if you want to learn, share skills and live a little lighter.

Source: CVA Live event listing

Open House Festival 2026 continues across Croydon through Sunday 20/09/2026, offering opportunities to explore architectural icons and historic gems across the borough.

Check the programme before setting out, as individual activities may have different arrangements.

Source: Culture Croydon festival information

🎤 RAVERTOTS CROYDON, Sunday 04/10/2026, 14:00 to 16:00, at BOXPARK Croydon, CR0 1LD. Save the date and check the official BOXPARK event page for current ticket details. Source: BOXPARK Croydon

🎤 BYOB Poetry at BOXPARK Croydon, Tuesdays from 13/10/2026, 18:30 to 22:00. Save the date and check the official BOXPARK listing for entry details. Source: BOXPARK Croydon

The Croydon AI Summit 2026: Innovation, Inclusion, Impact takes place on Tuesday 27/10/2026, from 10:00 to 16:00, at Hilton London Croydon, 101 Purley Way, Croydon CR0 4QA.

Tickets are listed at £25, including lunch, tea and coffee.

Source: Croydon AI Summit on Eventbrite

Surrey Street Market has more than 750 years of history, according to the official Croydon Council newsroom.

The market sits within the Central Croydon Conservation Area, and its long story is now being reflected through heritage information panels on the new gateway.

Source: Croydon Council newsroom

Croydon schools and PTAs can share fairs, bake sales, fundraiser discos and other community notices with the Pulse for free.

Submit your verified school or PTA notice through Croydon Local Pulse, then invite families to subscribe so more neighbours can take part.

Building a Stronger Croydon, Together

The Croydon Local Pulse Team