Focus On Romford
THE GATEHOUSE
Price: £189,000
Ever fancied living in a
brewery? This light and airy two bedroom apartment is worlds away from its former incarnation as part of the Romford Brewery Company.
A central location (the railway station is just a short walk away) makes this property a good bet for commuters too. Contact: Haart of Romford on 01708 730599 or go to www.haart.co.uk
PRINCES ROAD
Price: £510,000
Boasting five bedrooms, two inter-connecting living rooms, a spacious kitchen and a drive-through garage, this property has bags of room for a growing family. It oozes charm as well, inside and out: high ceilings and deep cornices reveal its turn of the century origins, while French doors open out onto landscaped gardens that include a pergola. Contact Beresfords on 01708 730255 or go to www.beresfordsgroup.co.uk.
OLD KEEPERS COTTAGE
Price: £795,000
The only thing that’s cottage-y about this grade II listed property is its name. Set over two acres of lush grassland, this former
blacksmith’s forge has been transformed into a luxurious, open-plan five bedroom country house by its present owner. Deer can be
spotted meandering through the grounds. Idyllic. Contact: Fine on 0845 899 0008 or go to www.fine.co.uk.
NEED TO KNOW | AREA INSIGHT
Commuting: There are frequent trains from Romford Railway Station to Liverpool Street with journey times as short as 20
minutes.
Education: The Cooper’s Company and Coborn School – a comprehensive in nearby Upminster – is “an exceptional school of real excellence” according to OFSTED and worth travelling to. Romford’s borough of Havering performs impressively in national primary league tables.
Crime: Havering is one of the safest London boroughs and crime rates are below national averages.
Restaurants and pubs: Numerous fast food joints and not much else, although the town is home to Britain’s official best sandwich bar – Taste – where you can find all manner of healthy, homemade goodies. The Golden Lion claims the title of Romford’s oldest pub: it has wooden beams, an open fire, a jukebox and allegedly, a resident ghost.
Leisure: Romford has something for everyone. It hosts the largest market in East London, has many parks and green spaces, a huge array of shops, an ice-rink, its own football team (Romford FC) and even a greyhound stadium.
Amy Higgins