Most housing dates from the 19th and 20th centuries, with large detached properties along the ridge and smaller, semi-detached and terraced dwellings on the slopes.

There are some more modern areas of social housing that date from the 1970s, as well as the recent construction of larger apartment buildings on Beulah Hill.

For centuries, Upper Norwood was occupied by the Great North Wood, an extensive area of natural oak forest which formed a wilderness close to the southern edge of the ever-expanding city of London.

Local legend has it that Sir Francis Drake's ship, the Golden Hind, was made from timber cut from trees in this area.

It was also a haunt of Gypsies, with many local street names and pubs recording the link, notably Gipsy Hill.

[4] The Crystal Palace was rebuilt nearby on Sydenham Hill in 1854, following its success at The Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park.

In March 1966, shortly before the World Cup tournament, the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from an exhibition at Central Hall Westminster.

[5][6] St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary school which was first established in Upper Norwood in 1855.

Designed in the Gothic Revival style, this Grade II* listed red brick building features some significant interior stone decoration and a stained glass window by Ninian Comper, who lived in the area.

[citation needed] The Croydon transmitting station, a TV transmitter tower, stands on the hill at Upper Norwood and a second larger TV transmitter, the Crystal Palace transmitting station, stands in Crystal Palace Park.

The disconnection from the capital's rail/tube network has led to it having lower house prices than other areas possessing scenic views of London.