Living in a London borough is not about geography. It is about being part of one of the world’s most dynamic urban tapestries, stitched together by history, culture and community. London is a city of distinct villages, wards and parishes, each with its own unique personality. Some exude a bohemian buzz, some a leafy calm and others a multicultural vibrancy, individually representing and contributing to the vast metropolis as a whole. Seen by the world as a single entity, it is In reality more like 32 talented, but quite different siblings with their own agendas, attributes and ambitions.
So, if the idea of living in a London borough is appealing to you, what has the town of Ilford, at the heart of Redbridge, got to offer today and in the future? Plenty to get excited about, is the encouraging answer.


Right now, as we see the town’s centenary year fast approaching, the borough itself could be described as the ultra-green sibling with a very colourful past and extremely bright future. In fact, it’s not just green but lush, boasting over 35 parks and green spaces, with multiple awards already in the trophy cabinet. It is the place to walk amongst ancient oaks and still hear the hum of London life. Close enough to feel the energy, but far enough to breathe comfortably.

Credits – Wikipedia

Nestled conveniently between the jerkier inner-city neighbourhoods and the less vibrant outer ones, Ilford has an enviable location with Liverpool Street a mere 20 minutes away on the new and much heralded Elizabeth line. Less than the length of your favourite soap, from birdsong and border plants to the very gateway of London’s glitz and glamour.

Credits – Mr Malde

As a town centre, residents and visitors alike are spoilt for choice with an enviable selection of bars and restaurants, nightspots, a multi-screen cinema, library, museum and the Kenneth More Theatre all within walking distance of each other.

Credit – Vision RCL

When it comes to shopping. From the bustling, pedestrianised High Road, encompassing the modern and well facilitated Exchange Shopping Mall, to the lively and colourful Ilford Lane area and the slightly more traditional but interestingly varied Cranbrook Road. The perfect mix of household names, specialist shops, local traders, market stalls (on certain days) and seasonal sellers both indoors and out is enough to satisfy designer label fans, bargain hunters and everyone in between.

From a resident’s perspective, the Goldilocks factor kicks in again. Compared to those boroughs closer to London, the roads are less congested, properties and gardens are generally larger without that claustrophobic, concrete jungle feel. Go further out of the city where space isn’t generally an issue and public transport options become more limited, travelling in can be problematic with much longer journey times.

There is no heavy industry anywhere near the centre of town which means next to no dangerous heavy goods vehicles or larger lorries clogging up the roads. This in turn ensures that traffic pollution is kept to a minimum and unlike many town centres there are plenty of parking options including the enormous multi-storey car park serving the Exchange and beyond. This ensures that if your personal preference is for driving over the more than adequate public transport choices, your experience should be relatively straightforward compared to other parts of the city.

These days, the area benefits enormously from a wide variety of ethnic representation. In fact, it is well-known for the splendid diversity of its multi-cultural mix. Once people get a taste of what living in the borough has to offer, they tend to put down roots for the long term, including growing their families. There are good reasons for this.

In a ‘Quality of Life’ detailed analysis carried out this year by Essential Living, Redbridge has outperformed Newham, Barking & Dagenham, Enfield, Havering, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Hackney in the key area of safety, claiming a place in the top 10.  

Credit -Ilford BID

Other pluses for local families to benefit from are a number of highly rated schools with a very strong showing in educational achievement, more affordable housing and rents and relatively low council tax compared to others. A perfect mix of village and city living is how they put it.

A CBRE Living in London Area Guide confirmed that compared to the rest of the capital, this borough has below average house prices (around 10% less) as well as rents (around 25% less), while projected housing growth is higher than the average at +8% compared to 6.

In terms of population density, Tower Hamlets and Hackney have between 2 and 3 times more people per square kilometre than Redbridge, which can certainly lead to overcrowding and increased tension. Even life expectancy for both men and women is above the London average.

Credit – O’Neill’s Ilford

An example of this is the Ilford born family who have just celebrated a 3rd sister reaching 100 in August, which is an extremely rare event anywhere and at any time. As all three spent their entire childhood and much of their adult life in the area, the town can take pride in this achievement.

Expanding on the safety theme, according to the Redbridge Crime Snapshot using Met Police data based on ‘volume and severity’, this borough has a rating 7% lower than the London average. In fact, it is only 0.32% higher than the average for the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Despite this, the motivation is not about chasing headlines, but building a future rooted in community, connectivity and calm ambition. There are flashier boroughs it’s true, but living in these normally comes with an expensive price tag, short termism and a lot more stress. Redbridge is becoming the ideal place for attracting young professionals and families that have been priced out of Inner London, especially as the Elizabeth line has made commuting virtually seamless.

Ilford’s diversity is its superpower creating a place where tradition meets innovation and change isn’t just coped with but celebrated. Where nature meets nurture to form an environment that both respects the past and embraces the future.

One such example of this is the planned opening of the new Valentine’s Lido. The original and very popular outdoor venue sadly closed in 1995 after serving the borough for over 70 years. It is due to reclaim its rightful place in the centre of the park for this and future generations to enjoy as it did so successfully in the past. It is one of many proposed projects that are helping to secure the town’s continued growth and wellbeing for decades to come.

Credit – Redbridge Council

In the meantime, as mentioned earlier, the Ilford Centenary is now within touching distance and will present the perfect opportunity to show the rest of London how far the town has come. Local pride will extend outwards offering the chance to enhance its reputation and increase awareness like never before. It should showcase the borough’s heritage and evolution in the best possible light, attracting new visitors, customers and presenting opportunities aplenty. If you love Ilford, don’t be coy. Be part of it and get involved!

As Ilford steps proudly towards its centenary, the celebrations have already begun with each one reflecting the town’s creativity, community spirit and growing sense of pride.

This summer saw Ilford inColour, a two-day street art festival during which the town centre was turned into a living canvas. Over a dozen artists brought striking designs to key locations, including Clements Road, Cranbrook Road, Station Hill, the High Road and outside the Town Hall.

Artist – Rice Barcelona / Photo Credit – Event Capture

The result was a burst of colour and imagination that showcased Ilford’s diversity and positivity in spectacular fashion. Residents, visitors and businesses came together to enjoy live painting, music and activities that reminded everyone just how vibrant and forward-looking this town truly is.

Artist Abraham O. Photo Credit – Event Capture

As the year draws to a close, the momentum continued to build. Ilford saw the return of Christmas inIlford on Friday 22nd November when the High Road, Clements Road and Cranbrook Road shimmered under a festive lights scheme. It was a full day of entertainment, seasonal markets, family fun, live performances and of course, the eagerly awaited light switch-on ceremony accompanied by fireworks. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the time of year and the spirit of togetherness that defines Ilford.

Credits – Event Capture

On Wednesday 4th December the Ilford and Redbridge Business Awards took place, honouring the achievements of local businesses and organisations that make the borough prosper. From family-run independents to innovative start-ups and long-established enterprises, this annual awards evening shines a light on those who make Ilford a great place to work, trade and invest.

Credits – Event Capture

Together, these events capture exactly what Ilford stands for. It’s a place where heritage and innovation meet, where community spirit runs deep and thrives in harmony with local businesses. More than that, it’s a place which holds its proud past in one hand, whilst reaching for a promising future with the other.

Credits – Event Capture