Romford –
a popular commuter town with a broad range of housing options from
small apartments to large family homes
BACKGROUND
Romford is
a large town in east London, sitting just 14 miles northeast of
Charing Cross. Its road links to London and the opening of the
railway station in the 1800s were key to the development of the town.
In the 20th century, it expanded significantly, becoming part of
Greater London in 1965. Nowadays it is one of the largest commercial,
retail, entertainment and leisure districts in London.
TRANSPORT
Romford
railway station has a direct connection to London Liverpool Street.
There are also Greater Anglia services to/from Southend and
Colchester Town. A branch line connects Romford to Upminster, for
London Overground and the District Line Tube station.
Romford
is a hub of the London Bus network, with services to Canning Town,
Stratford and Leytonstone.
The
A12 trunk road passes around the north of Romford while the A118 from
Stratford connects with it at Gallows Corner.
AMENITIES
As
a former market town, Romford is well served by public houses,
restaurants and shops.
Entertainment
facilities here include the Brookside Theatre, Romford Greyhound
Stadium, one of the few remaining dog racing tracks in London; and
two multi-screen cinemas. The night-time economy is almost as
significant as the daytime, with thousands of people visiting its
pubs, clubs and bars.
Romford
is home to The Liberty Shopping Centre, which is a retail hub with a
mix of high street brands and popular eateries The town market is
held three days a week, and you will find stalls selling everything
from fresh fruit and vegetables to vintage records and antiques.
Romford
and its surrounding villages have three leisure centres within reach,
one of which, the new Sapphire centre, boasts its own ice-skating
rink. Despite being a developed town on the edge of London, Romford
also isn’t short of green spaces with excellent facilities and
varied wildlife.
Three
highly rated schools in the Romford area are the Frances Bardsley
Academy for Girls in the town, The Campion School in Hornchurch, and
the Robert Clack School in Dagenham. The Concordia Academy, St
Peter's Catholic Primary and Ardleigh Green are outstanding primary
schools.
If
you are considering a move to Romford, there are several nationwide
estate agents based around South Street and Victoria Road. Chartered
Surveyors and mortgage brokers are also in close proximity to the
centre.
Romford
Town Centre
There
is no shortage of properties for sale in Romford, and the town centre
offers a selection of new and old apartments. A 1 bedroom flat within
walking distance of the town centre costs from £250,000; there
are 2 bedroom flats and penthouses at £400,000 upwards
Marshalls
Park
Better
known for the Marshalls Park Academy state school, new housing
developments have now made Marshalls Park an attractive option for
semi-detached and detached properties. Approximately half a mile from
Romford station and walking distance from the canal and Raphael Park.
You can expect to pay £800,000 or more for a 4 bedroom property
in this area.
Gidea
Park
Gidea
Park was once known as Romford’s Garden Suburb and is to the
north east of the town centre. It has its own railway station and is
home to Raphael Park with a beautiful lake and lawns. A 4 bedroom or
5 bedroom home in the Gidea Park conservation area costs between
£1.2m and £1.5m.
