Ilford North West
Redbridge 029 · 4 sub-areas · 9,196 residents
Redbridge 029 is a residential corner of the London Borough of Redbridge, home to around 9,200 people and sitting just 6–7 minutes from a major employment hub by public transport. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for around £1,680 a month — above the UK national median but considerably below central London rates. Over half of residents rent privately, and the area carries one of the higher deprivation scores in Greater London.
Ilford North West is a commuter neighbourhood within Redbridge — train into London runs in around 8 minutes, and the rhythm of weekday mornings is shaped by it. The demographic profile leans family-aged, with a clear share of households with school-age children; the rental market is active and turnover is high — people move through rather than stay.
Overview
What's it like to live in Ilford North West?
Greenspace is on the doorstep — a park or playing field is within walking distance of most homes; food and drink within walking distance is workable but not dense — around 17 restaurants and 2 pubs in five minutes; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; Public transport is genuinely strong; most errands and a fair share of social life don't need a car; rents sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £1,720 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Ilford North West in Redbridge
Living in Ilford North West
Redbridge 029 has the feel of a dense, working outer-London neighbourhood — predominantly rented, highly diverse, and with a population skewing younger than much of the borough. Around a quarter of residents are under 18, which gives the area an active, family-present character, and couples with children account for roughly one in four households. It's not a neighbourhood that trades on quiet leafiness; it's busy, practical, and significantly more affordable than inner-London equivalents.
On rent, it sits firmly in the middle tier for Greater London. A one-bedroom flat runs around £1,360 a month, a two-bedroom roughly £1,680, and a three-bedroom approaches £1,970. Those figures are well above the UK national median of around £1,200 for a two-bed, but meaningfully cheaper than equivalent-sized flats in inner boroughs. One note: these rent figures are estimates scaled from borough-level data using local sale prices — the official ONS rent series doesn't go down to neighbourhood level.
Over 56% of households rent privately — a notably high share even by outer-London standards — with just under 33% owner-occupied. The IMD deprivation score of 38.4 places this area in approximately the second decile nationally, meaning it's among the more deprived neighbourhoods in England. That's reflected in an unemployment claimant rate of 6% and a workplace median salary of around £28,100 — well below what residents themselves typically earn (around £37,200), suggesting most people commute out for better-paid work.
There's good connectivity to support that commute: the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 520 metres away — around a 6-minute walk — and central London is reachable in minutes by public transport. For anyone working in the City or Canary Wharf, the transit links are a genuine asset. See the streets and sub-areas below for more on how the neighbourhood breaks down locally.
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Frequently asked
- Is Redbridge 029 a nice place to live?
- It depends what you're after. The transport links into central London are excellent — roughly 6–7 minutes by rail — and rents are lower than inner London. But the area carries a high deprivation score (IMD decile 2.2 nationally), crime runs around three times the UK average, and the school quality picture is below the national norm. It suits commuters prioritising connectivity and value over neighbourhood prestige.
- What is the rent in Redbridge 029?
- A one-bedroom flat runs around £1,360 a month, a two-bedroom around £1,680, and a three-bedroom roughly £1,970. Rents rose about 3.7% in the past year. These are estimates scaled from borough-level data using local sale prices, not a direct neighbourhood survey.
- Is Redbridge 029 safe?
- Crime runs at around 232 incidents per 1,000 residents a year — roughly three times the UK national rate. That's elevated. Street-level and property crime are the main drivers. It's worth checking street-level crime maps for specific roads before choosing where to live within the area.
- What's the commute from Redbridge 029 to London?
- Very fast. The nearest mainline rail station is around 520 metres away — about a 6–7 minute walk — and central London is reachable in roughly 6–7 minutes by public transport. It's one of the stronger commuter connections in outer east London.
- Who lives in Redbridge 029?
- Predominantly younger residents — over half the population is under 35 — with a strong family presence (around one in four households are couples with children). The community is ethnically diverse, with around 41% born in the UK. Most residents rent privately, and a significant share commute out to better-paid work.
- What schools are near Redbridge 029?
- There are 95 schools within 2km, so there's no shortage of options. However, only around 34% are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted within typical catchment distance — well below the national average of about 89%. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is roughly 980 metres away. Families should check individual school ratings before deciding on a street.
- Is Redbridge 029 affordable compared to the rest of London?
- It's cheaper than inner London, but it's not cheap. A typical two-bedroom rent of around £1,680 a month is above the UK national median of roughly £1,200. The rent-to-take-home ratio for local earners is around 77%, which is high. You're paying for the transport links more than the neighbourhood itself.