Sutton | |
---|---|
From top, left to right: The Barclays Bank Building; Thomas Wall Centre and clock; Trinity Church spire; old inn sign above town centre crossroads; multicoloured facades in Sutton High Street | |
Location within Greater London | |
Population | 58,880 (2021)[1] |
OS grid reference | TQ255645 |
• Charing Cross | 10 mi (16 km) NNE |
London borough | |
Ceremonial county | Greater London |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | SUTTON |
Postcode district | SM1–SM3 |
Dialling code | 020 |
Police | Metropolitan |
Fire | London |
Ambulance | London |
UK Parliament | |
London Assembly | |
Sutton is a town in the London Borough of Sutton in South London, England. It is the administrative headquarters of the Outer London borough, on the lower slopes of the North Downs. It is 10 miles (16 km) south-southwest of Charing Cross, one of the fourteen metropolitan centres in the London Plan.[2]
An ancient parish originally in the county of Surrey, Sutton is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as having two churches and about 30 houses. Its location on the London to Brighton turnpike from 1755 led to the opening of coaching inns, spurring its growth as a village. When it was connected to central London by rail in 1847, it began to grow into a town, and it expanded further in the 20th century. It became a municipal borough with Cheam in 1934, and became part of Greater London in 1965.[3]
Sutton has the largest library in the borough, several works of public art and four conservation areas. It is home to several large international companies and the sixth most important shopping area in London, centred on Sutton High Street. Sutton railway station is the largest station in the borough, offering frequent services by Southern and Govia Thameslink to Central London and other destinations, including Wimbledon and St Albans. It is home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research.
Future plans for Sutton as of 2024 include creating the world's second largest cancer research campus[4] and improving connectivity to central London and the London Underground through the Sutton Link tram project (currently awaiting funding).[5]