Giant Elf on the Shelf coming to Croydon this Christmas in 'London first'

A elephantine Elf connected the Shelf volition look successful Croydon this Christmas successful what has been dubbed a ‘London first’.

The 15-foot festive quality volition look connected galore of the borough’s best-known landmarks, from the Whitgift Shopping Centre to Croydon Town Hall, betwixt November 29 and Christmas Eve.

The installation, successful collaboration with the Croydon Business Improvement District (BID), comes aft different palmy installations successful Bristol and Liverpool, and marks the archetypal clip it has appeared successful the capital.

At each determination seasonal displays and festive photograph opportunities volition besides beryllium established.

To people the occasion, the Croydon BID said it is launching a UK-wide contention to sanction the Scout Elf.

Those who suggest a sanction for the quality connected Instagram on with the tag @CheckOutCroydon and the hashtag #ScoutElfInCroydon volition beryllium successful with a accidental of winning a £100 Pandora acquisition card.

The winning introduction volition beryllium revealed connected November 25.

The quality has grown successful popularity since its 2005 inception from a children’s communicative publication written by Carol Aebersold which explains that Santa Claus knows who is naughty and bully done his ‘Elf connected the Shelf’.

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive of Croydon BID, said: “It’s fantastic to bring specified a unsocial festive attraction to our centres this Christmas.

“We cognize our shoppers emotion the magic of the play and we’re thrilled to beryllium hosting this joyful acquisition that adds a playful interaction to vacation shopping.

“We can’t hold to spot families bask the larger-than-life Scout Elf and seizure amusive memories successful our centres.”

Joanne Bailey, Centre Manager of Centrale & Whitgift Shopping Centres, added: “Croydon’s Scout Elf connected the Shelf not lone marks a vacation archetypal for London but besides reflects a increasing inclination of city-wide festive installations aimed astatine boosting section tourism and supporting municipality centres.

“Croydon hopes to spot accrued visitant numbers, benefitting section businesses and ensuring the municipality sparkles with seasonal joy.”

The Croydon Scout Elf volition marque appearances astatine 8 locations, including:

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