The suburban neighbourhood of North Redbridge sits in the northern corner of Ilford. Serviced by the central line via the convenient Redbridge Underground station, it’s no surprise that commuting Londoners who are fed up with exorbitant housing prices are giving the area a shot. While the housing options might be on the smaller end, they still boast some desirable features like bay windows and Edwardian forms. Families and young professionals drawn to the area for these affordable options are pleased that they also get to enjoy the scenic River Roding that borders the neighbourhood. When it’s time to eat, the neighbourhood might not be a foodie haven but it does have its fair share of varied and delicious restaurants. Whether it’s Thai food at Thai Royale, Indian food at Zam Zam Spice, or Chinese food at Kim Wah, there’s really something for everyone in Redbridge.

The neighbourhood is believed to have gotten its name from when there were multiple bridges spanning the River Roding. One of the bridges, that was made of red brick, was built in 1642 and lasted for nearly 200 years. The community continued to rely on red bricks, using them to construct many terraced houses at the start of the 20th century. Once Redbridge tube station opened in 1947, the neighbourhood grew even further. However, residents were restricted in how far they could spread out, since the land near the river was and still is protected from development.

Some Londoners refer to the neighbourhood of Redbridge as Diesel Alley. The area got this nickname because of the high proportion of cab drivers that live there.

This part of Redbridge is bisected by the busy North Circular Road. It unfortunately brings a lot of traffic through the area, making the streets nearby feel unfriendly to pedestrians. For residents with cars though, this is actually seen as one of the many conveniences of the neighbourhood.

Redbridge Council has announced that they will be investing heavily in the neighbourhood over the next decade. Most of their focus will be on providing additional housing units in the area. In order to accomplish this, they have already created their own development company. Beyond the new homes, the council has committed to bringing new construction jobs to the neighbourhood in order to boost earnings among residents. By 2030, the aim is to build over 17,500 new homes (600 of which have already been completed) and generate 5,000 jobs across the borough.