Coulsdon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon on the Brighton Road (A23).

The pronunciation of 'Coulsdon' is a matter of some debate. It is usually pronounced as "Cools-don" (IPA but many locals insist that it should be said as "Coals-den" /'kəʊlsdən/.

Part of Coulsdon is the estate marked on maps as Clockhouse but always referred to locally as The Mount after its central road. Administratively The Mount is part of the London Borough of Sutton but to reach the rest of Sutton from The Mount by road one must leave the borough.

Around Coulsdon are attractive and important open spaces, largely chalk downland, the beginning of the North Downs. Farthing Downs and Happy Valley are managed by the Corporation of London and are popular with walkers. The London LOOP path around London passes through on the route between Hamsey Green and Banstead . The Coulsdon section was the first of the 24 to be opened.

Nearest places

• Purley
• Kenley
• Banstead
• Caterham

Nearby stations

The railway stations in the Coulsdon area are:

• Coulsdon South
• Smitham
• Woodmansterne

There was previously a station at Coulsdon North, adjacent to Smitham station.

External links

• The village of Old Coulsdon - well illustrated site - although captions such as "country lane" leave something to be desired.