Peggy Ashcroft (1907–1991), actress, was born in Croydon, lived in George Street as a child and attended Croydon High School (where she was a friend of Jane Drew); she is honoured in the naming of the Ashcroft Theatre, part of the Fairfield Halls.

Jon Benjamin, later Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, was born and grew up in Croydon.

Raymond Chandler (1888–1959), American detective fiction writer, lived in Upper Norwood as a schoolboy
Anne Clark (1960–), electronic music artist and poet, was born in Croydon
Roger Ward Crosskey (1930-2017), entomologist, born in Croydon
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), Scottish-born fiction writer, lived at No.
12 Tennison Road, South Norwood and featured the area in some of his Sherlock Holmes detective stories
Jane Drew (1911–1996), modernist architect, was born in Thornton Heath and was head girl at Croydon High School (where she was a friend of Peggy Ashcroft)
Havelock Ellis (1859–1939), sexologist, was born in Croydon
Paul Garelli (1924–2006), French Assyriologist, was born in Croydon
Ben Haenow (1985–), pop singer, winner of The X Factor (UK series 11), was born in Croydon
Roy Hodgson (1947–), England football manager, was born and grew up in Croydon
Tom Holland (1996–), actor in five Marvel Cinematic Universe films, was educated at the BRIT School
William Forster Lanchester, FRSE (1875–1953), zoologist, born and raised in Croydon
Rachel Khoo cook, editor-in-chief of online lifestyle magazine Khoollect, with her own BBC series
George Knowland (1922-1945), Victoria Cross recipient, went to Elmwood Junior School
D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930), novelist, lived at 12 Colworth Road, Addiscombe, 1908–1912 whilst a teacher at Davidson Road School
David Lean (1908–1991), film director, born in Croydon
Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000), singer and songwriter, was born and grew up in Croydon
David McAlmont (1967-), singer, songwriter, writer, historian; born at St Mary's Maternity Hospital, attended Broadmead Primary.

Ralph McTell (1944–), musician, composer of "Streets of London", was brought up in Croydon
Katie Melua (1984–), musician, singer and songwriter, attended the BRIT School
Kate Moss (1974–), model, attended Riddlesdown High School
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990), author and media personality, was the son of H. T. Muggeridge, a prominent Croydon Labour councillor, and taught at John Ruskin Central School in the 1920s
Lucy Porter (1973–), comedian, was born in Croydon
Jason Puncheon (1986–), professional footballer playing in midfield for Crystal Palace
Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017), singer, winner of Ivor Novello Award, lived in Croydon as a teenager
Captain Sensible (born Raymond Burns, 1954–), guitarist with The Damned, attended school in South Norwood
Dan Stevens (1982-), actor, was born in Croydon
Algy Ward (born Alaisdair Terry Mackie Ward, 1959) Bass Guitarist and Musician of The Saints, The Damned with his best friend Captain Sensible, and of course Tank was born in Croydon.

Amy Winehouse (1983–2011), singer, attended the BRIT School
Edward Woodward (1930–2009), actor, was born and for many years lived in Croydon
Wilfried Zaha (1992-), professional football player, grew up in Thornton Heath and attended Selsdon High School
Stormzy (1993-) UK grime rapper born in Croydon
Ashraf Sinclair (born Ashraf Daniel Mohamad Sinclair) (1979–2020), Malaysian actor who was born in Croydon
Peggy Ashcroft (1907–1991), actress, was born in Croydon, lived in George Street as a child and attended Croydon High School (where she was a friend of Jane Drew); she is honoured in the naming of the Ashcroft Theatre, part of the Fairfield Halls.
Jon Benjamin, later Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, was born and grew up in Croydon.
Raymond Chandler (1888–1959), American detective fiction writer, lived in Upper Norwood as a schoolboy
Anne Clark (1960–), electronic music artist and poet, was born in Croydon
Roger Ward Crosskey (1930-2017), entomologist, born in Croydon
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), Scottish-born fiction writer, lived at No. 12 Tennison Road, South Norwood and featured the area in some of his Sherlock Holmes detective stories
Jane Drew (1911–1996), modernist architect, was born in Thornton Heath and was head girl at Croydon High School (where she was a friend of Peggy Ashcroft)
Havelock Ellis (1859–1939), sexologist, was born in Croydon
Paul Garelli (1924–2006), French Assyriologist, was born in Croydon
Ben Haenow (1985–), pop singer, winner of The X Factor (UK series 11), was born in Croydon
Roy Hodgson (1947–), England football manager, was born and grew up in Croydon
Tom Holland (1996–), actor in five Marvel Cinematic Universe films, was educated at the BRIT School
William Forster Lanchester, FRSE (1875–1953), zoologist, born and raised in Croydon
Rachel Khoo cook, editor-in-chief of online lifestyle magazine Khoollect, with her own BBC series
George Knowland (1922-1945), Victoria Cross recipient, went to Elmwood Junior School
D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930), novelist, lived at 12 Colworth Road, Addiscombe, 1908–1912 whilst a teacher at Davidson Road School
David Lean (1908–1991), film director, born in Croydon
Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000), singer and songwriter, was born and grew up in Croydon
David McAlmont (1967-), singer, songwriter, writer, historian; born at St Mary's Maternity Hospital, attended Broadmead Primary.
Ralph McTell (1944–), musician, composer of "Streets of London", was brought up in Croydon
Katie Melua (1984–), musician, singer and songwriter, attended the BRIT School
Kate Moss (1974–), model, attended Riddlesdown High School
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990), author and media personality, was the son of H. T. Muggeridge, a prominent Croydon Labour councillor, and taught at John Ruskin Central School in the 1920s
Lucy Porter (1973–), comedian, was born in Croydon
Jason Puncheon (1986–), professional footballer playing in midfield for Crystal Palace
Peter Sarstedt (1941–2017), singer, winner of Ivor Novello Award, lived in Croydon as a teenager
Captain Sensible (born Raymond Burns, 1954–), guitarist with The Damned, attended school in South Norwood
Dan Stevens (1982-), actor, was born in Croydon
Algy Ward (born Alaisdair Terry Mackie Ward, 1959) Bass Guitarist and Musician of The Saints, The Damned with his best friend Captain Sensible, and of course Tank was born in Croydon.
Amy Winehouse (1983–2011), singer, attended the BRIT School
Edward Woodward (1930–2009), actor, was born and for many years lived in Croydon
Wilfried Zaha (1992-), professional football player, grew up in Thornton Heath and attended Selsdon High School
Stormzy (1993-) UK grime rapper born in Croydon
Ashraf Sinclair (born Ashraf Daniel Mohamad Sinclair) (1979–2020), Malaysian actor who was born in Croydon
Croydon