Croydon’s ‘versatility’ makes it a hit in the world of film and TV
By Harrison Galliven, Local Democracy Reporter
Croydon’s cultural capital has long been a source of pride for the South London borough, but now those involved in promoting it as a filming location want to focus on its greener parts.
Fans of Peep Show will recognise Broad Green’s Zodiac Court as the home of Mark and Jez, while more eagle-eyed viewers will recognise a former office in Wellesley Road as the stand-in for a Gotham hospital in The Dark Knight Rises.
The job of finding these locations falls with the Film Fixer team, who encourage filming in the borough.
Film Fixer specialist Paige Neilson said: “Part of it is that the borough can be so versatile. In one minute you’re in Croydon, but a lot of the time they can double it to make it look like you’re anywhere else in the world.
“We’ve had a Netflix series called Sandman, which hasn’t come out yet. They did a shoot where they made College Road look like New York.
“In 2017, we had a film called American Assassin filmed in Croydon but made it look like Istanbul.
“It’s about seeing what something could be turned into.”
One of the most recent high-profile films to feature Croydon was Andrew Haigh’s hometown love letter, All of Us Strangers.
The 2023 film featuring Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott included scenes from the Whitgift Centre, but unlike other films before it the flick focuses on the borough’s greener southern half.
Much of the film was set in Sanderstead where the director grew up, specifically in Sanderstead Recreation Ground, Limpsfield Road and Purley Downs Road.
Ms Neilson said: “All of Us Strangers is probably the best example that pointed out that Croydon can be much more than just the town centre.
“It’s nice to see that sort of leafy and suburban side of Croydon. We try and push this side as much as we can whenever we’re talking to the film industry. We try and get them to come to Croydon, for not just the Croydon they know.”
Croydon had 101 filming days in 2023. In the same year, 26 per cent of filming in London was accommodated in outer boroughs which Croydon falls under.
This is an increase from 2012 where 16 per cent of filming took place in outer boroughs.
Shoots can last a few hours, and only require a handful of people, but can also stretch on for weeks and involve an army of staff and support.
For each project, Film Fixer must coordinate with the production company and local authority, to ensure that all eventualities are catered for and the disruption to residents is kept to a minimum.
Ms Neilson said: “We had a huge shoot last year with a film called Heads of State, with Idris Elba, although it hasn’t come out yet. They filmed just off Surrey Street on Overton’s Yard for over a week.
“They did a stunt sequence with an explosion, and that was really amazing to see. There were a lot of closures for that, but because they put months of work into it we barely got any issues.”
Historic Surrey Street Market has been a particular draw for film and TV companies and is one of Neilson’s favourite spots in the borough. She says this is because Croydon’s market inspector, Fiona Woodcock, is “amazing, she knows everyone in that area and is extremely film-friendly”.
Alongside the day-to-day facilitating of film in the borough, Film Fixer tries to engage the local community via its vocational charity, Set Ready.
Ms Neilson said: “We offer courses in each of our boroughs to residents to train as location marshals. They do a free two-day training course, and once they’ve had training we get them placements onto productions we’re working on.”
Pictured top: The walkway above Surrey Street market, a popular hotspot for filming (Picture: Harrison Galliven)