Morden Area Guide

OVERVIEW
Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately 8 miles (13 km) South-southwest of central London between Merton Park and Wimbledon (to the north), Mitcham (to the east), Sutton (to the south) and Worcester Park (to the west).
DINING OUT
A mix of independent restaurants, cafes, fast food and coffee shops dominate Morden Town Centre which offer eat-in or takeaway at good value prices.
CULTURE & HERITAGE
Human activity in Morden dates back to the Iron age period when Celtic tribes are known to have occupied areas around Wimbledon, but the first significant development in Morden was the construction of the Roman road called Stane Street from Chichester to London.
Despite the rapid suburban development of nearby Wimbledon occasioned by the arrival of the new railways constructed in the mid 19th century, Morden remained a rural parish throughout the 19th century.
The Baitul Futuh, is one of Europe’s largest Mosques and is a complex of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Several events are held at the Baitul Futuh Mosque to serve the greater community. The complex hosts school tours, local college exams, local community events, multi-faith conferences, the annual National Peace Symposium, and visiting dignitaries. In addition to regular congregational prayers, its services include weekly homeless feeding across London, volunteering events, local community events and the 'Merton Youth Partnership Annual Conference’.  
COMMUNITY & EVENTS
The new Morden Leisure Centre is a state-of-the-art, cashless facility overlooking Morden Park. The gym has the latest equipment for cardio, resistance and functional training, plus a spacious fitness studio offers a variety of classes and doubles up as a community space for local groups and organisations. The 25m, 6-lane main swimming pool is ideal for fitness swimming, while the secondary pool is perfect for lessons and diving, with its moveable floor and several diving platforms.
Several events take place in Morden Park trhoughout the year such as the Merton Dog Watch (one of our personal favorites) along with Eastern Electrics serving up an energty mix of underground house and techno in a weekend festival in August. And for the brave and fit amongst us there is Tough Mudders world class obstacles coming to Morden Park for October 2021.
SHOPPING & AMENITIES
Morden’s town centre has few independent cafes and coffee shops such as Metronome, Coco Beanz and Costa. Superdrug and Boots for all your health & beauty requirements with supermarket shopping being catered for by Sainsbury’s, Iceland and Lidl. Several independents offer a wide and international array of fruit, vegetables and spices at value prices.
GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL
Despite London's suburban expansion, a little of the earlier rural nature of Morden has survived; for instance, several grand period buildings remain, especially within Morden's parks. The area retains a good provision of parks and green spaces, many of them created from former country estates. The 125 acre Morden Hall Park is of particular note and is run by the National Trust. Morden Park and Cannon Hill Common add to the options of green open space.
FROM HERE TO…..
Morden is the most southerly station on the Northern line Tube. There are train stations at Wimbledon Chase, South Merton, Morden South and St Helier on the Thameslink Wimbledon loop line with Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras services. Direct trains from South Merton to Blackfriars take 38 minutes. Trains to Waterloo require a change at Wimbledon and take about 30 minutes. In addition Tramlink stops at Merton Park, Morden Road and Phipps Bridge with trams to Wimbledon and Croydon, and there are plans to extend the line to Sutton through Morden
EDUCATION
Excellent local schools such as Hillcross Primary School, Merton Park Primary School, John Fisher R.C School, Raynes Park High School, Ricards Lodge High School, Ursuline High School, Wimbledon College, South Thames College and the Harris Academy.