Thoughts on Harold Hill, Havering

[Bushra385]

Hi all , just wanting your insights on us moving to Harold Hill in Romford Havering please . What’s the area like ? What are the people like and what about the schools ? I really liked the house we visited , great value for money, great green spaces and the local school is Good . However I understand there are some social problems etc , I’m used to that being from East London anyway , I don’t like to judge an area too harshly but would appreciate experiences from people who currently live here . Also I understand it’s not a very diverse area , would we being visibly Muslim be ok .

I couldn't tell you about the schools but I like the area. It's certainly better than a few of the areas that surround it.

It's got a bit of a bad rep but not an awful one.

Actually, there's a couple of Romford/Havering community groups on FB you might want to join.

Thanks ! I’ll have a look c

It's a shit hole.

Sorry OP, but it is.

Better than it used to be, but still a shit hole.

Go across the A12 to Harold Wood, it's so much better.

I'll pm you.

It has a bad reputation but depending on where you buy it’s not as bad as it once was. I’d recommend the area around ‘The Manor’ or similar and not down by Hilldene. Speak to the neighbours and visit at different times to get a feel of the area.

The council has invested a lot of money into new play areas, youth clubs and social/recreation. The transport links are good. At least one school is outstanding afaik. Largely because a lot of children have low attainment when they start and the schools do a good job adding value.

It’s become a lot more diverse over the last decade but there’s still a fair amount of racism there unfortunately. Harold Wood and Noak Hill are a bit nicer, but they’re also more expensive.

Thank you so much everyone, we decided to visit the area after 9pm and boy was it an eye opener … all was quiet and fine… until we came across some young men who reminded me of the National Front from the 90s. They gave us some hostile glares and we just felt so unsafe even in our car . One had a mask on covering his face - and it wasn’t because he was being cautious of covid ! Don’t get me wrong we grew up in council estates our selves and detest snobbery . We can deal with a bit of hidden prejudice (that’s the life of brown people ) but not open racism !
We have decent jobs and degrees but it seems unless you have family wealth your options are sadly limited.
We are trying to look elsewhere within our budget .

I'm sorry you experienced that OP but in just about every single London borough, you'll experience the same sort of thing from hostile teenagers unfortunately who are black, white, mixed race and Asian, no matter what your skin colour is.

I do agree with a PP though that Harold Wood is probably a much better option.

Hi I wanted to ask how safe harold hill is for diverse ethnic minority people. we are looking to move to the area and have small children but have read up on a lot of bad reviews. please advise

@Rb1843 you'd be better off joining the Havering groups on FB. Type 'Havering' and/or 'Romford' into the search bar.

Thoughts on Harold Hill,

He's a fake, and he doesn't know the territory!

Hi ,
we ended up moving to Harold Wood , not Harold Hill .
i would say avoid Harold Hill if you can , the reviews are right .

Hi Bushra,

Me and my wife are seriously considering to purchase a house in Harold Hill.

I understand you have moved into Harold Wood now, Congratulations.

Being visibly Muslim also do you still believe Harold Hill is not as safe or suitable for people like us?

Harold Hill isn't safe for anyone.

Mizan ,
we have been here for several months now . The first halal meat shop has opened in harold hill area called Omar’s Halal meat and it’s great ! There is also a small mosque too . I’d say definitely avoid the Hilldene area of H.H if you can avoid it , I think that’s the worst part.
All my neighbours on my street are white British and everyone is seems lovely .
i have downloaded the Nextdoor App to see what’s happening in the area - wanted to
see if there are any local children’s activities etc . Anyway it seems it doesn’t matter where you buy in Havering , there are outright racists saying the most awful things . It’s quite horrible and does make you wonder how safe it really is ??? But then I think it’s all part of the change process right ? We dealt with far worse in the 90s … I like to tell myself .

I might be one of those lovely white British ones you mention. Instead because I live in Havering I'm an outright racist who says the most awful things - thanks for that😡

I meant on the Nextdoor app, you should see the stuff that’s written in there it’s not nice and it’s not just coming from White British . It’s general xenophobia.
And yes I am telling everyone to be aware, at the roundabout on Gallows Corner I was racially abused , it was a barrage of horrible insults and name calling , i was in my car , had i not been I’d have felt really unsafe . But that was one incident in months , am I generalising his behaviour to all people who are white British ? Absolutely not .