A giant Elf on the Shelf will appear in Croydon this Christmas in what has been dubbed a ‘London first’.
The 15-foot festive character will appear on many of the borough’s best-known landmarks, from the Whitgift Shopping Centre to Croydon Town Hall, between November 29 and Christmas Eve.
The installation, in collaboration with the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID), comes after other successful installations in Bristol and Liverpool, and marks the first time it has appeared in the capital.
At each location seasonal displays and festive photo opportunities will also be established.
To mark the occasion, the Croydon BID said it is launching a UK-wide competition to name the Scout Elf.
Those who suggest a name for the character on Instagram along with the tag @CheckOutCroydon and the hashtag #ScoutElfInCroydon will be in with a chance of winning a £100 Pandora gift card.
The winning entry will be revealed on November 25.
The character has grown in popularity since its 2005 inception from a children’s story book written by Carol Aebersold which explains that Santa Claus knows who is naughty and nice through his ‘Elf on the Shelf’.
Matthew Sims, Chief Executive of Croydon BID, said: “It’s wonderful to bring such a unique festive attraction to our centres this Christmas.
“We know our shoppers love the magic of the season and we’re thrilled to be hosting this joyful experience that adds a playful touch to holiday shopping.
“We can’t wait to see families enjoy the larger-than-life Scout Elf and capture fun memories in our centres.”
Joanne Bailey, Centre Manager of Centrale & Whitgift Shopping Centres, added: “Croydon’s Scout Elf on the Shelf not only marks a holiday first for London but also reflects a growing trend of city-wide festive installations aimed at boosting local tourism and supporting town centres.
“Croydon hopes to see increased visitor numbers, benefitting local businesses and ensuring the town sparkles with seasonal joy.”
Where you can see the Croydon Scout Elf
The Croydon Scout Elf will make appearances at eight locations, including:
BOXPARK Croydon – 29th November – 3rd December – 99 George Street, CR0 1LD
Centrale Shopping Centre – 4th – 6th December – North End, CR0 1TY
LSBU Croydon Campus – 7th – 9th December – 3 Wellesley Road, CR0 2AG
Streeter Marshall Solicitors – 10th – 12th December – 74 High Street, CR9 2UU
Fairfield Halls – 13th – 15th December -Park Lane, CR0 1JD
Croydon Town Hall – 16th – 18th December – Katherine Street, CR0 1NX
Surrey Street / OurSpace Community Hub – 19th – 21st December – 50 High St, CR0 1YB
Whitgift Shopping Centre – 22nd – 24th December – North End, CR0 1TY
