Ilford area?

[Violetvintage8]

What is it like? Looking to buy our first home (couple in 20s) and it is affordable for us but I’m just wondering if it’s cheap for a reason? I know it used to have a reputation that wasn’t great but has it changed? As a young woman, would it be safe to walk around at night I.e back from work?

I wouldn't be particularly keen to walk back from the station at night. I used to in the 1980s and it was OK.

If getting to the property doesn't involve walking down any alleys or very quiet places then I suppose it's OK. If you are walking past shops and homes it's safer.

As a test, you could try getting a quote for insurance on your car left in the street of the house you want to buy and then, say, the same car in a street that you know the safety of near where you live now.

If the Ilford one is signficantly higher it's an indication of the safety of the area (in my opinion).

Just an idea.

Have you looked around Chingford Station, E4? It's a lovely area and it feels much safer to me.

@fabulousathome thank you so much for the reply and good idea about the car. I will look into Chingford! Think I’ve actually passed through there before and thought it looked like a nice area!

Chingford has nice bits, Ilford...doesn't really....there are pockets of Ilford with some lovely Victorian housing stock around Valentine's park, but the bits near the station are really not very nice

Thank you

There are some lovely bits of Chingford near the station (that area is called North Chingford).

It's also got an unusually good combination of green space, nice shops and good transport links.

As well as being a little cheaper than, say Woodford, South Woodford and Buckhurst Hill.

Another place to look is Highams Park near the station. Also green and more reasonably.

DS1 is looking around Forest Gate station which is "coming up" as they say. It will have a Crossrail Station reasonably soon.

I live in South Woodford by the way. But spent a long time looking at different local areas before buying a flat two years ago.

I'd look at Newbury park or barkingside. Its quite leafy when you get off the A12.

Thanks everyone, I’ll check all these places out

Ilford really does have 2 very different areas....ilford lane and around the station used to be plagued with prostitution and there are lots of hmo houses....a lot of roma who also prowl the high st to beg and sell phones etc...but if you go up cranbrook road towards the drive, its much nicer but dearer....big houses with drives and garages etc....used to be very posh and a very wealthy jewish area but they have moved on to chigwell and golders green etc...chingford is nice near the station....south chingford is cheaper...the part nearer to walthamstow.