Located just below the luscious green fields of the Wanstead Flats, the residential area of Manor Park sits nestled between Forest Gate and the North Circular Road. The neighbourhood lies in the London Borough of Newham and is sometimes referred to as Little Ilford. The neat rows of red terraced Victorian houses give the locality its natural community feel whilst its large Asian population adds to the area’s vibrant diversity. Romford Road is a busy thoroughfare, lined with a wide variety of shops, most of which are independent and cater to a very local catchment area. Towards the Ilford end, the road is noted for its used-car dealers, though their number has declined in recent years. Well-connected due to nearby East Ham, Manor Park, and Woodgrange Park stations, and with good access to the North Circular and Romford Road, the liveability of this area is fantastic.

This area’s land originally belonged to the manor of Little Ilford – hence its colloquial name. However, following the arrival of the train station in 1872, the neighbourhood absorbed the new title of Manor Park, after the previously existing manor house built for the lord of the manor of West Ham. The current terraced housing street plans were laid out in the 1880s, reflecting their quintessential Victorian style. After the Second World War, the mid-20th century saw the emergence of a strong south east Asian community in the area. Fast-forward to today, and Manor Park has become a relatively affluent part of the borough that has managed to retain much of its history and culture.

Little Ilford Park is immortalised in 60s band the Small Faces’ song “Itchycoo Park”. The tune, written by lead singer Steve Marriot who lived nearby, went to number 3 in the UK charts back in 1967.

Whilst very well-connected, this area’s distance from central London currently can be a pain for commuters (although the introduction of Crossrail is set to change this). Another issue that is more specific to the homes near the North Circular and Romford Road is the noise and traffic pollution.

One of the largest developments the area has seen is the opening of Crossrail, or the Elizabeth line as its now known, at Manor Park Station and Ilford station. This new high speed line is likely to increase demand for homes in the neighbourhood and boost the local community. As a result, Newham Council have supported regeneration of the local town centre whilst protecting the public green spaces.