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FAQ means Frequently Asked Questions, questions visitors have written in to ask me at some point and I have gone away and found the answer. If you want to ask a question, email me and I'll do my best!

To use this FAQ, click on a question below and you will jump down to the answer. Click 'go back to top' to come back here. Alternatively, just scroll your way down.

1) Is Ilford in Essex or London?

2) How do I get to Ilford by road?

3) How do I get to Ilford by Train or Tube?

4) How safe is Ilford, or indeed Clayhall or Woodford Bridge?

5) Can you recommend any hotels/guesthouses/accommodation I could stay at?

6) Have you any information on leisure/healthcare/schools etc?

7) What is the population of Ilford?

8) Who is my MP?

9) Where can I find out facts/statistics about my neighbourhood?

10) Where can I find some accommodation, acommodation, accomodation, housing, rooms to let, rooms to rent or a flat?

11) Where can I get a job?

Ilford has an telephone area code of 020 and is in Redbridge suggesting it is in London but the address is Ilford, Essex, which suggests it is in Essex. From a local history book, on October 21, 1926, the present Queen Mother visited Ilford Town Hall with King George VI, to present the Royal Charter, creating a Municipal Borough in the County of Essex from the former Urban District of Ilford. However in 1965 it was incorporated into the London Borough of Redbridge as London grew. (see History).

For government/adminitrative purposes/officially now it is in London. However, there are still some people saying Ilford's in Essex, perhaps because they were living here prior to 1965 (or maybe because they do not wish to be associated with London).

There was a poll in the Ilford Recorder in July 2001 asking people if they perceived Ilford to be in London or Essex, 419 voted Essex, 684 voted London. (I suspect major vote rigging as the following week they had a poll and only had 10 responses). Do perceptions even count or do boundaries on maps rule?

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From the North: One way is to come in on the southbound M1, get off to go on the M25 clockwise, then 24 miles later join the M11 at junction 27, and 7 miles later get off at the junction with the A406 (North Circular). Then go down Eastern Avenue. See AA for detailed directions.

From the South: See AA for detailed directions.

See Planning A Visit for additional information, e.g. minicabs, journey planning.

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Ilford has a overground railway station, called Ilford.

If you want to get here by Tube (the London Underground service), Gants Hill (central line) is probably the closest to Ilford town centre. There is the Barkingside stop on the central line too if that is closer to where you want to go.

See Planning A Visit for additional information, e.g. minicabs, journey planning.

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To help me answer this, I will give my own personal opinion and also refer to property insurance additional premiums from one insurance company taken from a leaflet in 1997. The scale is from 1 to 13 where 13 has the highest premiums.

Clayhall:
My opinion: Fairly safe, I do not known any type of crime that is of particularly high frequency.
Insurance rating:5

Ilford:
My opinion: Not very safe relatively, but still better than other parts of London. Do not walk alone at night in the very centre of Ilford if you are female especially and do not use alley-ways.
Insurance rating:12

Woodford Bridge:
My opinion - safer than Clayhall. I do not known any type of crime that is of particularly high frequency.
Insurance rating:5

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Click here for some listings.

Also, a good source to find hotels is the Yellow Pages. Do a search for 'Hotels in Ilford' or similar. Try Scoot also.

Also try: Smooth Hound

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Please look at Redbridge Council for that type of information.

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I asked a Redbridge Council officer in May 2001, who added:

"In regard to your request for the population of Ilford, it is approximately 41,300 (this is the combined population totals of the wards of Loxford, Clementswood and Valentines)."

Redbridge as a whole has approximately 238,800 people.

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Click for details of all Redbridge MPs.

To be sure which MP you currently have, go to UpmyStreet and enter your postcode and that will tell you.

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You can use UpmyStreet and enter your postcode and that will tell you some facts.

The National Statistics website is good too.

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If you are looking for people to share a house with in Ilford or East London, have a look at the A Room To Let service. There are plenty of London forums on the internet also.

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Try searching Yell for employment agencies. Also see the Job Centre.

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