Goodmayes is a part of Ilford that sits nestled just beneath the Seven Kings neighbourhood. Easily accessed by multiple bus routes and Goodmayes Station, which began operating on the Elizabeth line in 2022, the town is quickly popping up as a more affordable alternative to other parts of East London. Residents might not get to walk through tree lined streets, but they do benefit from the plethora of affordable Edwardian style terraced houses, many of which have their own private driveways. When it comes to green space, there are plenty of wonderful parks in the areas that easily offset the lack of private gardens throughout the residential area. Whether it’s a jog around the lake at South Park or a stroll through Goodmayes Park, the area offers a serenity that Central London doesn’t have space for. While Goodmayes Road and Green Lane might not have the most high end food options, locals still love the affordable and diverse eateries. Whether it’s Indian food at Dosa Rani, a pint at The Bridge House, or a kebab at Eyva Turkish Grill, there’s plenty to get excited about in Goodmayes!

Goodmayes was almost entirely undeveloped up until the late-19th century, when suburbs began to develop thanks to the opening of the station in 1901. The much-loved South Park was originally a site of 32 acres of private farmland. In 1902, the land was purchased from the farmer and opened as a public park. Upon opening, the council installed a bandstand and set up boats to be used on the lake. Later on, in the 1930s, housing began to be built around all edges of the park. Unfortunately, during WWII, the park was partially damaged by bombs and rockets. The community, taking great pride in the park, quickly repaired the pieces that were damaged. By the 1980s, the park had begun to suffer from a period of neglect. In 2008, the community began to form a group to support the revitalisation of this historic park.

The lead character in the Diaries of a Chav book series lives in Goodmayes. Written by Grace Dent, the series is extremely popular among teen readers.

Unfortunately the neighbourhood’s high streets, Goodmayes Road and Green Lane, don’t have quite as many shops and eateries as other parts of Ilford do. However, it’s really only a short walk to the dozens of cheap and eclectic food options in Seven Kings.

Redbridge Council is putting in new resources to drive the regeneration of the area, which includes the West Becontree neighbourhood. Much of these efforts are targetted at the areas most likely to benefit from the Elizabeth line, which became operational in early 2022. Improvements have already been completed at the stations where Elizabeth line trains stop, including Goodmayes Station, which benefited new furniture and seating, an improved ticket hall with new ticket machines and gates, step-free from platform to street for some of its platforms and new long platforms over 200 meters in length. In addition, in 2021 a new regeneration scheme was approved by the council for Weston Homes’ planning application for the site in High Road, Goodmayes. The plans would see the existing Tesco Extra demolished and replaced by a new store, 1,280 new high-quality homes, of which 415 would be affordable, a new primary school for 630 pupils, and new community facilities - supported by enhancements to the surrounding local infrastructure to improve accessibility.