Croydon is a large town in South London, England, located 9.5 miles (15 km) south of Charing Cross. It forms part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district within Greater London. As of the 2011 census, the town itself had a population of 192,064, while the wider borough had 384,837 residents.
The town is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, featuring an extensive shopping area that serves as a major retail hub for the region. This commercial significance has made Croydon an important economic center outside central London's traditional business districts.