Find your bearings in the town centre
Ilford is an east London town in the London Borough of Redbridge. The High Road is a useful starting point, with the Exchange shopping centre, places to eat and everyday services close together. Cranbrook Road and Ilford Lane lead to further independent shops and businesses beyond the main shopping streets.
Allow time to explore the different streets rather than treating Ilford as one shopping centre. A jeweller, a café, a repair shop and a professional practice may be only a short journey apart, but their entrances, visiting arrangements and opening hours can differ.
Make room for Valentines Park
Valentines Park provides a green counterpoint to the busy town centre, with paths, a lake, gardens and spaces for play and sport. Valentines Mansion stands within the park, with historic rooms, exhibitions and gardens that give a visit a different focus.
The house and the park have separate visiting arrangements. Choose whether you want a walk, a garden visit or time inside the mansion, then use the current visitor information to plan that part of the day. The hero artwork shows an artist's impression of the mansion's brick rear elevation.
Search the neighbourhood that suits you
Gants Hill, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Newbury Park and Barkingside have centres and services of their own. Clayhall, Cranbrook and Hainault add further local choices. A business based in one area may also travel to customers elsewhere, so read its actual coverage.
Our directory focuses on Ilford and nearby neighbourhoods, rather than assuming every business in the wider borough is in Ilford town centre. Use the area filters and plan travel to the address shown. Ilford's rail station and the Underground stations nearby serve different journeys.
Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
More local guides
- Things to do in Ilford: park walks, local history and art
- Ilford community contacts: local support, volunteering and activities
- Shopping in Ilford: the Exchange, Ilford Lane and neighbourhood specialists
- Where to list your business in Ilford: directories and local promotion