The town of Purley is located within the London borough known as Croydon. The town of Purley is located about twelve miles to the south of Charing Cross. The town of Purley has a population of about seventy two thousand.

Under the 1894 Act for Local government the town of Purley was named as part of the rural district of Croydon, which was part of the county of Surrey. During 1915 the town of Purley along with the nearby towns of Coulsdon became part of the Urban District of Coulsdon and Purley.

The aerodrome at Kenley is located to the east of the town and is actually at the moment official property of the Ministry of Defence. This aerodrome was used as a fighter station and it was one of the most important. The aerodrome is currently used within granted permission, as a ground for gliding and this is a very popular location for learner drivers as it is a good practice area.

The town of Purley is home to a vast array of shops which includes a fishmonger, a card shop, a sports shop, a butchers and also a greengrocers to name a few. The Sainsbury's store was closed during the early part of the 1980's and the site has now been demolished as part of the redevelopment plans for the town. A Tesco's store moved into the town during the early part of the 1990's. Over recent years there has been a shift within the retail of the town and this has seen a lot of charity shops opening and also a lot of estate agents.