All of Romford’s primary schools are rated “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted. The “outstanding” primary schools are St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Towers Infant School, Concordia Academy, Ardleigh Green Infants and Juniors.

There is a wide choice of secondary schools in and around Romford. Options include The Frances Bardsley Academy (girls, 11-18), St Edward’s Church of England Academy (mixed, 11-18), Marshalls Park Academy (mixed, 11-16), Bower Park Academy (mixed, 11-16) and The Royal Liberty School (boys, 11-16).

By train… 

Romford is on the Shenfield to Liverpool Street line. Trains to Liverpool Street take half an hour and run every few minutes. Romford is also on the Elizabeth Line, providing direct services to the West End, with trains to Bond Street taking 34 minutes and trains to Heathrow Airport in 62 minutes.
Romford also has Overground trains to Upminster, where commuters can pick up the District Line Tube.

By bus… 

The area has a vast bus network with services to Canning Town, Stratford, Leytonstone, Upminster, Hornchurch, Thurrock and Dagenham.

By road… 

For those travelling by car, the main roads through the borough include the A12, A13 and A127, while the London Orbital M25 stretches along the eastern border of the borough, making travel around and out of London straightforward.

Romford is one of the largest retail centres in London. Shopping is concentrated around its high street and shopping centres. The three main ones are The Liberty, The Mercury and The Brewery. Here you will find an array of well-known brands and quirky independent boutiques.

Romford is also home to a historic market held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and dates back to the 13th century. Today the market comprises around 150 stalls selling fresh produce, clothes, furniture and more.

Romford residents benefit from plenty of open space. Raphael Park includes a lake, a café, and a children’s playground. Bedfords Park is also nearby. Here, you can explore a variety of habitats, from meadows and marshes to mature woodlands where wild deer are often spotted.

Romford has a 16-screen Vue cinema nearby, perfect for rainy days. The Brookside Theatre hosts many full-scale productions, live music, and comedy nights. For families, there is a Kids’ Space in The Old Brewery on Waterloo Road.

Romford offers both historical landmarks and modern attractions that make it an engaging place to explore for those considering the area as their home.

• Romford Market – One of the largest street markets in the South East, operating since 1247, this historic market runs three days a week offering everything from fresh produce to household goods and clothing.
• Havering Museum – Located in the former Romford Brewery building, this local history museum showcases the area’s heritage through exhibitions on archaeology, social history and the brewing industry that once defined the town.
• Raphael Park – A Grade II listed Victorian park covering 21 hectares, featuring ornamental lakes, woodland walks and the restored Black’s Bridge, providing peaceful green space just minutes from the town centre.
• Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch – This renowned regional theatre produces high-quality drama, musicals and pantomimes, serving as a cultural cornerstone for the borough since 1953.
• Lodge Farm Park – A 58-hectare country park with ancient woodland, meadows and working farm animals, offering countryside walks and educational activities within the urban area.
• YMCA Romford – More than just a sports facility, this landmark building provides extensive fitness facilities, swimming pools and programmes for all ages.
• Romford Greyhound Stadium – An entertainment venue since 1929, hosting greyhound racing alongside concerts and events, maintaining its Art Deco architectural features.
• Bedfords Park – A 215-acre historic parkland with formal gardens, deer enclosure and visitor centre, once part of the Bedfords Estate dating to the 14th century.
• The Golden Lion – A Grade II listed coaching inn from the 15th century, representing centuries of Romford’s role as a market town on the Essex-London border.
• Romford Ice Arena (historical site) – Though now redeveloped, the former ice rink site represents Romford’s sporting heritage and future transformation into Rom Valley Gardens.

Romford’s employment landscape benefits from its strategic position between Essex and London, with excellent Elizabeth Line connections making it increasingly popular for commuters. The town serves as a significant retail and commercial centre, with The Liberty and The Brewery shopping centres anchoring thousands of retail positions alongside management and logistics roles.

Queen’s Hospital represents the area’s largest single employer, supporting not only medical professionals but also administrative, technical and support staff across numerous departments.

The local economy shows strong growth in professional services, with increasing numbers of businesses establishing offices in Romford to benefit from lower commercial rents compared to central London whilst maintaining excellent transport links. Construction and development sectors remain particularly active, driven by the ongoing regeneration programmes including the Waterloo Estate project, Rom Valley Gardens, and the broader 12 Sites programme, creating opportunities in skilled trades, project management and planning roles. The hospitality sector continues to expand with the town’s growing evening economy.

Future employment prospects appear positive, with the London Plan identifying Romford as an Opportunity Area targeting 500 new jobs by 2041. The recently adopted Romford Masterplan emphasises commercial workspace development alongside residential growth, particularly focusing on creative industries and digital businesses.

Local educational institutions, including Havering College and numerous schools, provide steady employment whilst also developing the skilled workforce needed for emerging sectors. The proximity to Stratford’s tech cluster and Canary Wharf’s financial district, both easily accessible via the Elizabeth Line, means Romford residents can access broader London employment markets whilst benefiting from more affordable living costs.

Romford’s housing stock spans several eras, from Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the town centre to 1930s semi-detached properties along arterial roads. Post-war estates provide affordable family homes, whilst modern apartment developments around the station cater to commuters. The Gidea Park area showcases distinctive early 20th-century architecture, including properties from the 1910-11 Exhibition of Modern Homes, now protected as an architectural conservation area.

The most sought-after properties sit within the Gidea Park vicinity, particularly along Links Avenue and the Exhibition Estate, where substantial detached homes command premium prices. Main Road and Eastern Avenue feature period properties with generous gardens, whilst areas like Rise Park and Collier Row offer more affordable family homes. Recent developments near Romford station provide contemporary apartments appealing to first-time buyers and investors.

Developments: Romford stands at the forefront of East London’s regeneration with multiple major projects underway. The Waterloo Estate regeneration will deliver 1,380 new homes including family-sized properties, whilst Rom Valley Gardens brings £350m investment creating a contemporary urban village near the Elizabeth Line station. The Harold Hill Town Centre programme continues with 138 affordable homes on Chippenham Road, and the broader 12 Sites initiative promises thousands of additional homes across the borough over the coming decade.

Property prices: According to recent Rightmove data, the average property price in Romford stands at £434k in Romford, with terraced properties averaging £441k, semi-detached homes at £499k, and flats at £250k. Prices have shown resilience, up 5% year-on-year and 3% above the 2022 peak, demonstrating steady growth despite broader market uncertainties.

Find out more about Romford property types and the key streets in Romford using our helpful guides.