Redbridge · London

Living in Ilford

Ilford sits in the comfortable middle — enough going on without the weekend chaos. It's also one of the most diverse places in the dataset, and daily life (food, shops, faith spaces) reflects it.

Average to buy
£400k
Average rent (2-bed)
£1500/mo
vs London average
-28%
Est. to central London
~53 min
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How Ilford scores

Safety5/10
Schools7/10
Parks & green space6/10
Transport8/10
Diversity & inclusion10/10
LGBTQ+ friendly4/10
Buzz & nightlife4/10

On your doorstep

Day to day, Ilford gives you a halal butcher, a Lidl or Aldi, a big supermarket (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda or Morrisons), gyms, barbers, beauticians, a street market, a mosque, churches, a synagogue, a temple or gurdwara, a big park and a pool or leisure centre.

✓ a halal butcher✓ a Lidl or Aldi✓ a big supermarket (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda or Morrisons)✓ gyms✓ barbers✓ beauticians✓ a street market✓ a mosque✓ churches✓ a synagogue✓ a temple or gurdwara✓ a big park✓ a pool or leisure centre

Who it suits

Based on its profile, Ilford tends to work best for first-time buyers watching every pound; anyone who wants genuinely multicultural everyday life.

The money side

QuestionRough answer
Buying (average)£400k — 28% below the London average of £553k
Renting a 2-bed≈ £1500 per month
Indicative household income to buy≈ £80k (10% deposit, 4.5× lending)
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Common questions

Is Ilford a good place to live?

It depends what you need: Ilford scores 5/10 for safety, 7/10 for schools and 8/10 for transport. It tends to suit first-time buyers watching every pound.

How much does a home in Ilford cost in 2026?

Around £400k on average to buy (28% below the London average) and roughly £1500 a month to rent a two-bed. As a rule of thumb, buying at that price typically needs a household income around £80k with a 10% deposit.

Is Ilford well connected?

Ilford scores 8/10 for transport; a typical door-to-door journey to central London is roughly 53 minutes.

Nearby alternatives

Barking£345k avg · safety 4/10East Ham£400k avg · safety 4/10Forest Gate£460k avg · safety 5/10
Compare Ilford against 177 other areas on the live map →