... The refurbishment of the old shopping area into an undercover shopping mall and the Brewery development has attracted some fantastic shops and restaurants. It has a lovely park (Raphael's) which has outdoor theatre in the summer and a new fortnightly farmers market is making Romford a great town to live in.

Yes, it's not quite gentrified yet - the area around the railway station in particular lets it down - but it is improving all the time and with plans for a new station square and the Crossrail and Olympic development over the next ten years, I believe Romford will only improve.

With close proximity to central London, a nice community atmosphere, shops and restaurants on your doorstep and the coast and countryside up the road,  I'm glad I bought a house here before prices go astronomical!
Kat

... It is a relatively rich area and although the town centre is busy like any other, the roads are quiet and very clean.

In terms of living in the east of London, it is one of the best areas (Zone 6) and has low crime, great schools, parks, etc.
A Khan

It has loads of facilities and amazing shopping complexes. It is a relatively rich area and although the town centre is busy like any other, the roads are quiet and very clean.

In terms of living in the East of London, it is one of the best areas (Zone 6)- with low crime, great schools, parks, etc.

Mr A Khan

Don't be fooled by its proximity to Dagenham - it's much, much nicer, and the centre of Rainham 'village' is actually quite picturesque. The rail link into central London isn't the greatest late at night, but the rush hour commute is easy, not too crowded and surprisingly reliable. A large supermarket is handy, and it's just a short journey from Lakeside and the M25. I've lived here a year or so, and my mortgage payments are the envy of my friends.

...and it's a nightmare getting a cab home so living close by is a bonus. However, lots of fights and lager louts, not a place to walk alone at night.. in summary, great to go out in, wouldn't want to live there!

What with the redevelopment of the brewery site into a shopping/other stuff complex and the explosion in the number pubs and clubs in the town, a hell of a lot of money has been invested.

I agree with the person above who mentioned its 'attitude', but feel it's getting better, it's getting a little less 'Darren, leave it!!' and a bit more chilled out. Maybe it seems to be orientating a bit too much towards your twenty/thirty something part of the population, but I suppose they are the ones with the disposable income so I can understand it.

Overall I'd thoroughly recommend living here, it's a doddle to get to the City but also 10 minutes drive from the country and has most of the amenities you'd expect within moonwalking distance.

Over the past ten years they have redeveloped under-used areas of the town centre and made them into a Night 'Boulevard'. There is now a huge range of clubs, pubs and nightlife. If you travel 10 miles north east, you are in the middle of lush green countryside, with great parks like South Weald, full of wildlife.

A few major companies have based themselves in Romford, including Save & Prosper and Polygram Records. Shopping's not too bad, but with Lakeside and Bluewater a 15 minute drive away, there's always somewhere else to look.

There are downsides to Romford, and I would probably say one was attitude. You won't find much community love in the town centre on a Saturday night.

I've had the chance to move away and haven't.

A relatively good service to Liverpool Street (20 mins) and a good shopping centre that is about to be boosted by the re-development of the old Brewery. Oh yeah, it also has the best market in the east.