A historic commuter town – even when it was with horse and carts – Ilford has bloomed to become an important London suburb. Just 12 miles from the centre of London, Ilford is close enough to enjoy the city centre sights while offering plenty of its own, including some brilliant parks, forests and open spaces. The town is a multicultural hub, with a diverse range of coffee shops and restaurants covering everything from halal all-day breakfasts to vegan cafes, Portuguese speciality outlets, Turkish steakhouses and more. Throw in some cracking bars, pubs and clubs, one of the most active Bollywood cinemas in the UK and a vibrant local theatre and you have an East London suburb ripe for discovering. And our London hotels are in a prime location for all the best sights and attractions.
Things to do in Ilford
Shopping
With dozens of stores including Debenhams, TK Maxx, New Look and H&M, The Exchange Ilford is the leading shopping mall in the area. The three-level shopping centre next to Ilford Train Station also has seven food and drink outlets, plus the Pirate Cove mini-train, perfect for tots that need entertaining.
A few stops down the TFL railway line towards London you’ll find Westfield Stratford City, a vast, modern shopping centre in the shadow of the London Stadium. The fourth-largest shopping centre in the UK, Westfield Stratford opened in 2011 and is home to over 300 outlets including cafes and restaurants, plus a 17-screen cinema complex and 24-hour casino and our new London Stratford hotel.
Getting Around
Ilford’s town centre is easily walkable, with The Exchange, Cineworld Ilford, Redbridge Museum and the Kenneth More Theatre all within a 200-metre radius of each other.
Ilford has an integrated public transport network: it’s part of Travelcard Zone 4, giving it strong connections with inner-city London via the Underground, London Overground and buses.
Ilford Station in the centre of town is the leading train hub, with five platforms offering regular direct connections to London Liverpool Street via Stratford and out towards Shenfield.
If you’re flying into the area, the main options are London City Airport and Stansted. London City Airport is just five miles south of Ilford and takes 15 minutes via train while Stansted Airport is around 30 miles from Ilford and offers a broader range of airlines and destinations. Alternatively, stay at one of our hotels near Stansted airport to make your journey even smoother.
Shopping in Ilford
