What Is Living In Ilford Like? A Guide To Ilford
Last Updated November 2022
A large town in the capital, Ilford is known for its different range of schools with “good” and “outstanding” Ofsted ratings. It is also home to many public places that are used for exploring, visiting, and exercising. With great access to the city centre, Ilford is popular with having many cycle lanes and routes if you don’t fancy getting the tube to explore in and around the area. Ilford is also a very multi-cultural place to live in with a wide diversity.
Is Ilford a Nice Place to Live?
Ilford is not as cheap as other towns outside London. Even though it is not in the centre of London, it is still expensive due to the easy access to the centre of the capital. An average house in Ilford would cost £431,996 (2021) while an average room rent would cost £638 per calendar month. Ilford has an average salary of £36.9K, which compares very well to the UK’s average salary, in addition to a high employment rate.
What Is the Population of Ilford?
The population of Redbridge was recorded at over 288,000. In Ilford, it’s believed that there are roughly 168,168 residents. Other local areas with similar population sizes include Harrow with a population of 254,711 and Islington with a population of 242,467. Why not look at our area guides to find out more about them?
Is Ilford a Safe City?
The borough of Redbridge, where you’ll find Ilford, is generally not a dangerous city as its crime rate is low compared to other boroughs in London, such as Westminster. The Ilford crime however, is the highest crime rate compared to other towns in its borough, with violent and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour being the most reported crimes, followed by vehicle crime whereas Ilford’s crime rate for bicycle theft has the lowest reported incidents. Make sure you read our blog on How to Help Prevent Car Break ins.
Another safe area in London to live in is Wandsworth, with one of the lowest crime rates among all the London boroughs, why not look at our Wandsworth area guide to find out more about the place.
What is the closest airport to Ilford?
The closest airport to Ilford is London City (LCY) Airport, which is only 3.9 miles away. The second closest airport is London Heathrow (LHR) Airport, which is 23.5 miles away.
Schools in Ilford
Primary Schools
St Stephen’s Primary School and Christchurch Primary School have an Ofsted rating of “outstanding”. Vicarage Primary School and Avenue Primary School are both very popular with a “good” Ofsted rating.
Secondary Schools
Valentines High School, Seven Kings School, and Ark Isaac Newton Academy are amongst the very popular and they have an Ofsted rating of “outstanding”. Other choices include Eastbury Community School and Mayfield School with an Ofsted rating of “good”.
London School of Management Education
Offering many different facilities for prospective and international students, the LSME is the perfect choice for preparing yourself for the university as it has many different courses. Undergraduate courses and postgraduate courses are awarded by the University of Chichester, besides the teacher training courses provided.
Shopping in Ilford
Exchange Ilford is the main shopping centre in Ilford, offering more than 90 stores, including fashion brands, dining options, and department stores. There are many facilities provided that suits everyone, from kids to community events. A further choice is Ilford Retail Park, which is typically for large chain stores, such as Lidl and M&S.
Hotels in Ilford
Cranbrook Hotel –
Located only 5 minutes walking from the Ilford train station, which provides access to central London in few minutes, the hotel has a 24 hour reception service that can suit your arrival any time. Valentines Park is also few minutes walking, offering guests a relaxing place nearby.
Ilford Hotel Goodmayes –
The hotel is highly rated by couples. It offers parking, Wi-Fi, and 24 hour reception facilities.
Park Hotel –
The hotel is also within a walking distance to the train station and Valentines Park in addition to being located between two of the busiest shopping parades in Ilford.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Ilford:
- Valentines Park
- Valentines Mansion
- Kenneth More Theatres
- South Park
- Seven Kings Park
- Hainault Forest
- Redbridge Museum
- London Sri Murugan Temple
- Fairlop Waters Country Park
- Thames Barrier
Top 10 places to eat in Ilford:
- Capricho Portuguese Kitchen
- Filika Restaurant
- Elvet Steakhouse
- MyLahore British Asian Kitchen
- Cristina’s
- Sahara Grill
- Provender
- Vijay’s Virasat
- Spice
- Figo Leyton
Where is the hospital in Ilford?
King George Hospital, located in Barley Lane, is the main NHS Trust hospital in Ilford. It offers a 24 hour emergency department service for any healthcare emergencies that can happen to the residents.
Need a Locksmith in Ilford?
Covering all of Ilford, Keytek Locksmiths will help you keep on top of the safety tips. Whatever your Ilford emergency is, whether it is an Ilford lock and door issue or an advice needed for additional security, make sure you are as safe as possible. We at Keytek® Locksmiths Ilford provide a professional local mobile Locksmith service complying with British Standard and Home Insurance policies to ensure your home is as secure as can be! What’s more, is all our customers benefit from a FREE home security check on-site to ensure your home is as secure as can be!
There are many other things you need to consider living in Ilford, from moving houses to different commercial services, so check out our Moving Home Checklist to help you along the way! If you’re considering improving the security of your home further still, checking out our Ultimate Guide to Home Security here!
View our Keytek® Locksmiths Ilford page to find your local Locksmith today or call us on 020 3727 5842!
Jessica Davies
Jessica brings over six years of specialised expertise to Keytek's comprehensive UK location guides, combining meticulous research with genuine local insight. As the architect behind Keytek’s area profiles, she delivers essential intelligence on house prices, crime statistics, schools, and community character—everything you need to know about the city or town. Armed with a photography degree from the University of Brighton and an exhibited portfolio, Jessica approaches each location asking, "What would it be like to live here?" This perspective transforms dry statistics into lived experience, revealing not just what places cost, but what they truly offer. Since 2019, Jessica has partnered with Keytek®'s security professionals, weaving real-world safety expertise into every guide. Her work addresses practical realities: Is this neighbourhood genuinely safe? What security considerations matter? How does local infrastructure support daily life? From bustling cities to quiet villages, Jessica's field research uncovers authentic local character. Her commitment to accuracy and on-the-ground investigation has established her as a trusted voice—helping people navigate different locations across the UK and home security with complete confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ilford a Nice Place to Live?
Ilford is not as cheap as other towns outside London. Even though it is not in the centre of London, it is still expensive due to its easy access to the capital. An average house in Ilford costs around £431,996 (2021), while an average room rent is about £638 per month. Ilford has an average salary of £36.9K, which compares well to the UK average, along with a high employment rate.
What Is the Population of Ilford?
The population of Redbridge is over 288,000. In Ilford itself, there are roughly 168,168 residents.
Is Ilford a Safe City?
The borough of Redbridge, where Ilford is located, is generally not dangerous compared to other London boroughs like Westminster. However, Ilford has the highest crime rate within its borough, with violent and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour being the most reported crimes, followed by vehicle crime. Bicycle theft has the lowest reported incidents.
What is the closest airport to Ilford?
The closest airport to Ilford is London City (LCY) Airport, which is only 3.9 miles away. The second closest is London Heathrow (LHR) Airport, which is 23.5 miles away.