Is it a good idea to move to Ilford?

People have been thinking about relocating to Ilford for many reasons. The town is located in the London borough of Redbridge and has received a great deal of investment from the Good Growth Fund over recent years. It is now home to several new public spaces and has played host to various exciting community projects recently. If you’re ready to find out more about the various places to eat, drink, relax, get around and keep fit in Ilford, continue reading.

Transport and green spaces

Ilford is noted for its fantastic transport links and green spaces. It features an interesting blend of contemporary and historic buildings and has proved to be very popular with families and young professionals. Ilford’s station is part of the Crossrail Elizabeth Line. Trains to London run up to every five minutes.

Leading attractions in and near Ilford

Some of the most popular attractions in Ilford include the Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford Retail Park and Exchange Ilford. The latter two are shopping malls which are home to a variety of department stores. If you want to take advantage of even more shopping opportunities, you’ll be able to get to the Westfield Stratford shopping centre within around 12 minutes from Ilford. Relocate to or visit Ilford and you’ll also be a very short distance away from London Stadium.

Dining in the Ilford area

When it comes to places to eat in Ilford, you have a great deal of choice available to you. Leading Ilford restaurants include Portuguese, Lebanese, Indian and seafood-themed establishments. No matter what your culinary tastes are, you shouldn’t find it too hard to identify an eatery that appeals to your preferences whilst you’re in the area.

Valentines Park and the Kenneth More Theatre

Another leading attraction in Ilford is Valentines Park. This park is spread over more than 130 acres and is the Borough of Redbridge’s largest green space. The park is home to Valentines Mansion, which was first built in 1696 for Lady Tillotson. It’s also where Essex County Cricket Club play and features gardens, tennis courts, a boating lake and various cycling trails. The previously mentioned Kenneth More Theatre first opened back in 1975 and regularly showcases performances from local community groups, also offering drama lessons for young children. Many of the schools in Ilford have been rated ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ by OFSTED.

Leisure and fitness in Ilford

If you like to keep yourself fit, there are many fantastic sports facilities in and within easy reach of Ilford. The nearby London stadium is home to the Aquatics Centre and LeaValley VeloPark. What’s more, is that there many local sports clubs in and around Ilford.

Getting into central London from Ilford

You can expect to get into the centre of London from Ilford within around 30 minutes. Perhaps you want to avoid the tube? If so, you could use one of the many cycle lanes and routes in the area to get from A to B.