This neighbourhood sits nestled in the northern part of Hornchurch, a family- oriented suburb of London. Spoiled with green space, locals love taking their dogs for walks or simply just hanging out in Haynes Park. Families who have come to the area for affordable but quality homes, are also pleased with the schools, like Goodrington and Havering College. While it’s easy to assume that there’s little going on in this quiet suburb, there are actually multiple interesting eateries. Whether it’s the fresh baked bread at Godfrey’s of Hornchurch, impressive cake designs at K’s, or Italian feasts at Aldo and Bruno’s, there’s no shortage of great food options in the neighbourhood. When it comes to pubs though, it might seem like there’s a bit of a shortage. Still, residents looking for a pint find that The Ardleigh always welcomes them with open arms. For anyone in search of an affordable but community-centric suburban escape from London, Hornchurch is a great option.

Havering College, an anchor in the community, was formed following the passing of R.A. Butler’s Education Act in 1944. This act changed the school-leaving age to 15, which led educators to encourage London to provide more post-school training. To address this need, the Essex Education Committee acquired a good portion of the former Nelmes Estate in Hornchurch. This purchase involved the acquisition of Ardleigh House, as well as nearly 15 acres of land. By 1947, the committee had appointed a warden for the school, and allowed for part time classes to begin. It took years for the school to obtain the necessary funds to grow and outfit their classrooms fully though. Today, being a large and thriving technical school, it’s almost unrecognisable.

The late jazz musician Kenny Ball (1930-2013) called Hornchurch his home. His son still lives in the area, and play shows in his memory throughout the neighbourhood.

Despite having many interesting eateries on the neighbourhood’s high street, there are very view groceries and retail shops. Still, residents are content with the one Tesco Express - and don’t mind driving to nearby neighbourhoods to do other errands.

While there isn’t much development occurring in the area at the moment, Havering Council has announced that it will be offering funding to volunteer and community groups in the neighbourhood. They’re offering grants from multiple sources, some of which will even aid applicants with their pitches. Seeing as the neighbourhood is quite tight knit, and has multiple involved organisations like Ardleigh House Community Association, there’s reason to believe that Hornchurch will benefit from these grants greatly.