Romford, United Kingdom
Region: London Borough of Havering
Geographic Coordinates: 51.576800, 0.180100
Temperature Range: -10.0°C to 30.0°C (14°F to 86°F)
Climate: Cold winters and mild summers with rainfall throughout the year.
Population: 122854
Language: English
Romford is a large town situated in East London, United Kingdom. It serves as the administrative center of the London Borough of Havering and is located about 14 miles northeast of Charing Cross. The town has a fascinating history that dates back to the Roman era when it was known as Durolitum. Romford gets its name from Romfords, Which means wide ford over the River Rom. Over time, Romford has undergone significant changes and now serves as a bustling commercial hub with excellent transport links to other parts of London and beyond.
It offers an extensive range of shops, Restaurants, Bars, And cafes that cater to all tastes and budgets. One of the most popular attractions in Romford is its market that dates back to 1247. The market operates on Wednesdays, Fridays, And Saturdays selling everything from fresh produce to clothing and electronics. Visitors can also enjoy street food stalls serving delicious cuisine from around the world. For those interested in art and culture, Several galleries showcase local talent alongside touring exhibitions from renowned artists in Romford. Additionally, Queen’s Theatre hosts regular theater productions attracting audiences from across East London.
Sports enthusiasts have plenty to do in Romford with several gyms offering fitness classes for all levels along with swimming pools for those who prefer aquatic exercise. There are also numerous parks nearby including Raphael Park featuring beautiful gardens, Lakeside walks tennis courts, And children’s play areas. In terms of education facilities, Romford boasts several primary schools along with secondary schools such as Marshalls Park Academy which consistently achieves excellent results in academic performance tables year after year. Lastly, The nightlife scene here caters to everyone whether you’re looking for a quiet drink or an all-night party atmosphere.
From traditional pubs serving real ale, Trendy cocktail bars playing live music there’s something for everyone here! Overall, Romford offers a lively town experience with excellent transport links, A rich history, And plenty of things to do.
- Romford Market is one of the largest street markets in London with over 150 stalls selling everything from fresh produce to clothing and electronics.
- Queen’s Theatre is a historic theater that hosts a variety of shows including musicals, plays, and comedy acts.
- Havering Museum is a local museum that showcases the history of the borough through interactive exhibits and displays.
- Raphael Park is a beautiful park with a lake, gardens, and sports facilities including tennis courts and a skate park.
- Liberty Shopping Centre is a modern shopping center with over 100 stores including popular high street brands like H&M, Primark, and River Island.
- The Brewery Shopping Centre is another popular shopping destination featuring a mix of shops, restaurants, bars, cinema complex & gym.
- Harold Wood Park Country Park is ideal for nature lovers or those who want to escape the hustle-bustle of city life; this park has several walking trails along with picnic areas & fishing lakes
- Brookside Theatre is an intimate theatre which hosts various events such as plays , musicals , comedy shows etc
- Harold Hillier Gardens are an award-winning garden located on 180 acres land; it features various plant species from around the world along with ponds & waterfalls
- Upminster Windmill – This historical landmark dates back to early 19th century ; it is one of few remaining windmills in Greater London area
- Retail: Romford boasts a bustling town center with numerous shops, supermarkets, and department stores.
- Healthcare: The area is home to several hospitals and healthcare facilities.
- Finance: Many banks and financial institutions have branches in Romford.
- Construction: There is a significant amount of construction activity taking place in the region, including housing developments and infrastructure projects.
- Manufacturing: The manufacturing industry is also present in Romford, with companies producing goods such as electronics and machinery.
- Hospitality: The town has many restaurants, cafes, bars, and hotels catering to tourists as well as locals.
- Education: There are several schools and colleges located within Romford providing education to students of all ages.
- Transport & Logistics: With good transport links to London City Airport & other cities like Cambridge through railways & highways this sector also plays an important role here.
- Romford Market: The market has been operating since 1247 and is one of the oldest in the country.
- Harold Wood Hospital: The hospital was opened in 1909 as a tuberculosis sanatorium and later became a general hospital.
- Sir Anthony Browne: He was born in Bickley Hall, Romford in 1500 and served as Master of the Horse to Henry VIII.
- Edward North: He was born in Gidea Hall, Romford in 1496 and served as Lord Chancellor under Edward VI.
- St Edward’s Church: The church dates back to the 12th century and is dedicated to St Edward the Confessor.
- RAF Hornchurch: The airfield played an important role during World War II as a base for fighter aircraft defending London from German bombers.
- David Essex: The singer, songwriter, and actor was born in Plaistow but grew up in East Ham near Romford.
- Arthur Conan Doyle: The author of Sherlock Holmes visited friends who lived at Gidea Park House (now demolished) several times between 1892-1907.
- William Harvey Hospital: Opened in 1970, it is named after William Harvey who discovered how blood circulates around the body.
- John Keats: The poet spent time at his grandparents’ house on Market Place while studying medicine at Guy’s Hospital between 1815-1816.
- Havering Museum
- Romford Market
- Queen’s Theatre
- Raphael Park
- Romford Greyhound Stadium
- St Edward the Confessor Church
- Gidea Park War Memorial Hall
- Liberty Shopping Centre
- Harold Wood Park and Playground
- Brookside Theatre
- Romford FC was established in 1992 and participated in the Isthmian League until its dissolution in 2018.
- The Romford Raiders were a professional ice hockey team that played in the British National League from 1987 to 2003.
- Havering Mayesbrook Athletics Club is a track and field athletics club based at Hornchurch Stadium, which has produced several national champions and Olympians.
- Romford & Gidea Park Rugby Football Club was founded in 1928 and plays its home games at Crow Lane East, where it has been since the early 1950s.
- The Essex Crusaders are a semi-professional basketball team that competes in the National Basketball League Division One.
- The Havering Hurricanes are an amateur American football team that competes in the British American Football Association’s Division Two South-East Conference.
- Havering Show is a two-day festival held annually in August. It features live music, food stalls, a funfair, and other family-friendly activities.
- Romford Market is a historic market that dates back to the 13th century. It’s open every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
- St George’s Day Celebrations are held on April 23rd each year to celebrate England’s patron saint with parades, street performances, and traditional English food.
- The Romford Film Festival is an annual event showcasing independent films from around the world at the Premiere Cinema in Romford.
- Diwali Festival of Lights is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in October or November with fireworks, lanterns, and traditional Indian food.
- Christmas Lights Switch-On marks the festive season with a switch-on ceremony of the Christmas lights along South Street in late November or early December.
- Hornchurch Carnival is a summer event featuring live music performances, carnival floats and procession through the streets of Hornchurch.
- Remembrance Sunday Parade is held annually on Remembrance Sunday to commemorate those who lost their lives serving their country during wartime through a parade from St Edward’s Church to Coronation Gardens War Memorial for wreath-laying ceremonies followed by refreshments at Hornchurch Royal British Legion Club.
- The Fat Turk – Turkish cuisine
- Nando’s – Portuguese chicken dishes
- Frankie & Benny’s – American and Italian cuisine
- Prezzo – Italian cuisine
- The Golden Curry – Indian cuisine
- Cafe Maxims – British and European cuisine
- The Goose Romford – British pub food
- Zizzi – Italian restaurant chain
- Creams Cafe – Desserts and drinks
- Pizza Express – Pizza chain
- Raphael Park is a large park that boasts a lake, gardens, playgrounds and sports facilities. Visitors can enjoy tennis courts and a skate park.
- Harrow Lodge Park is another large park with plenty of amenities for visitors to enjoy. The park features a lake, woodland areas, playgrounds and sports facilities including football pitches and cricket grounds.
- Romford Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course located in the heart of Romford.
- Central Park Leisure Centre is an indoor leisure centre that offers visitors access to swimming pools, gym facilities and fitness classes.
- Havering Country Park is a vast open space with walking trails, picnic areas and wildlife habitats for visitors to explore.
- Victoria Road Stadium serves as home to Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club where visitors can watch live matches during the season.
- Rom Skatepark has been used by professional skateboarders for over 40 years making it one of the oldest skateparks in the world.
- The Brewery Shopping Centre provides shopping opportunities as well as restaurants and cinema entertainment options for visitors to enjoy after their recreational activities in any of the above mentioned parks!
