Hill is a neighbourhood located in the Borough of Havering and the county of Essex. And sits beside the areas of Harold Wood, Gallows Corner and Noak Hill. This neighbourhood is primarily residential, with lots of large post-war houses, many of which have large gardens and private driveways. Harold Hill town centre has numerous independent shops, such as a butcher’s, a baker, a green grocer, multiple restaurants, cafes and other specialist retailers – enough to cater to anyone’s shopping needs. For those who commute, though, there are few convenient public transport links, but the neighbourhood’s proximity to the A12 means that driving is favoured by many of the area’s residents.

Harold Hill is named after King Harold Godwinson who owned the manor of Havering-atte-Bower until he was defeated in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Havering-atte-Bower, also known as The Royal Liberty of Havering, was the geographical and administrative land mass that covered Havering and surrounding areas. This meant that power was centralised up until its disbanding in 1892. This led the now separated Romford municipal borough and Hornchurch urban district to merge and create the London Borough of Havering under which Harold Hill falls. Today, the area is part of the Hornchurch and Upminister Parliamentary Constituency.

A youth and community centre, Myplace, which was built in 2012, is Havering’s first zero-carbon building.

In 1814 Roman tiles were discovered in nearby Noak Hill, suggesting that the area has been populated for much longer than originally thought.

A lack of free car parking has been blamed for the decline and closure of shops along Harold Hill High Street. Thousands of local residents have signed a petition pleading with the council to make free parking available for longer to help save small businesses. Radios wew also given to local shops in a bid to curb crime levels in Harold Hill.

Plans to build a new Hornchurch leisure centre have attracted much criticism from local community members and even a Havering Councillor, as it involves the closure of the Chafford Sports Complex, which was adored by local residents until its closure by the Council in 2019. In 2021, the Council approved plans to build the new leisure centre, which will be located on the site of Rainham Recreation Ground, in Viking Way. The facility will include a swimming pool, gym and fitness/dance studios. The plans would see a loss of open space, but that existing play and outdoor gym equipment would be relocated. The scheme is also proposed to include a community orchard and sensory garden. Harris Academy Rainham was granted in early 2022 permission to build a 400-place college on their existing secondary school site. An L-shaped building, three storeys at its highest, will replace a disused swimming pool, which had formed part of the aforementioned Chafford Sports Complex.