Havering Area Guide [Updated with 2024 Data]

What’s it like to live in Havering?

Havering is a large borough that offers a mix of urban and suburban living. It has an abundance of green spaces, including Harrow Lodge Park and Ingrebourne Valley, but also has its fair share of shopping centres and leisure facilities.

Although housing costs are typically higher than most other parts of the UK, the borough is one of the most affordable to buy or rent in London, due in part to its location on the outer edges of the capital. However, due to its underground station connections, travel into central London can be relatively quick, with journeys typically taking 25-30 minutes from Upminster station.

For families with children, Havering has many good schools, including primary and secondary schools, academies, and specialist schools. Some of the top schools in Havering include The Campion School, Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School, and Havering Sixth Form College.

This guide provides an overview of important statistics about the borough and how it compares to other boroughs in London.

How much does it cost to buy a house in Havering?

Properties in Havering on average cost £420,055.00, ranking the borough as the 6 most affordable borough in London, according to data from HM Land Registry. 

Buying a property in Havering is typically less expensive than the London average.

How much does it cost to rent in Havering?

The cost of renting in Havering is below the London average, though rent prices vary depending on the specific area. According to data from the ONS:

• A studio costs on average £826 per month to rent which ranks 3 as the most affordable borough in London
• A one bedroom property costs on average £1,055 per month to rent which ranks 1 as the most affordable borough in London
• A two bedroom property costs on average £1,299 per month to rent which ranks 1 as the most affordable borough in London
• A three bedroom property costs on average £1,555 per month to rent which ranks 2 as the most affordable borough in London
• A four or more bedroom property costs on average £2,039 per month to rent which ranks 3 as the most affordable borough in London

How many people live in Havering?

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, it has 103000 in total, ranking 23 of London boroughs by number of dwellings.

According to data from the ONS:

• 39.8% of households are owned outright
• 30.3% of households are being bought with a mortgage
• 14.5% of households are rented from the local authority of housing association
• 14.5% of households are privately rented

Is Havering a good place to live?

Although determining whether an area is a good place to live is subjective, we can use data on personal wellbeing collected by the ONS through the Annual Population Survey as an indicator to compare boroughs:

• Havering ranks 11 of 32 boroughs in terms of life satisfaction (i.e. ‘how satisfied are you with your life?’)
• Havering ranks 6 of 32 boroughs in terms of ‘worthwhile’ (i.e. ‘to what extent do you feel things you do in your life are worthwhile?’)
• Havering ranks 22 of 32 boroughs in terms of happiness (i.e. ‘how happy did you feel yesterday?’)
• Havering ranks 12 of 32 boroughs in terms of anxiousness (i.e. ‘how anxious did you feel yesterday?’)

What schools are there in Havering and are they good?

In total Havering has 91 schools, which are broken down into:

• 61 state primary schools
• 18 state secondary schools
• 8 independent schools

For a breakdown of all schools in the area and their latest ratings, search Ofsted’s reports.

Is Havering polluted?

According to data from the GLA and TFL Air Quality:

• Havering ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest NO2 concentration
• Havering ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM2 concentration
• Havering ranks 1 of 32 boroughs in terms of lowest PM10 concentration

What is the employment rate in Havering?

The employment rate in Havering is 85.4% which ranks 2 of 32 boroughs in terms of highest employment rate.

Employment rate is important to know for those considering moving to the area, as it can provide an indication of the job market and economic opportunities available in the borough.

Is Havering a wealthy area?

The average income in Havering is £40,000 according to data from HMRC. This ranks 29 of London’s boroughs (ranked by highest average income). 

The borough of Havering is not typically considered to be one of the wealthiest areas of London, but it does have some affluent pockets. The cost of living can vary depending on the area, with some parts being more expensive than others. Overall, the borough is considered to be more affordable than most boroughs in London.

Is Havering a religious area?

Like the rest of London, Havering has a mix of cultures and religions, though it’s perhaps less diverse than other boroughs in London. According to the ONS:

• 57.4% of the resident population identifies as Christian
• 2.2% of the resident population identifies as Muslim
• 1.5% of the resident population identifies as Hindu
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Sikh
• 0.0% of the resident population identifies as Jewish
• 3.2% of the resident population do not identify as religious

How large is Havering?

Havering is 112.3 km2, making it the 3th largest borough in London.

Its population is estimated as 271,368 according to data from the GLA, ranking it 20 as the most populous borough.

Its population per km2 is 2,415, ranking it 31 as the most populous per km2 borough.

Is Havering safe?

According to data from the Metropolitan Police Service, in the last two years there were:

• 15,628 total reported crimes and 57.59 total crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 14 of boroughs with the least total number of crimes
• 689 total reported burglaries and 2.54 total burglaries per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 7 of boroughs with the least number of burglaries
• 1,165 total reported cases of criminal damage and 4.29 total cases of criminal damage per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 17 of boroughs with the least number of cases of criminal damage
• 710 total reported drug related crimes and 2.62 total drug related crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 25 of boroughs with the least number of drug related crimes
• 507 total reported robberies and 1.87 total robberies per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 9 of boroughs with the least number of robberies
• 385 total reported sexual offences and 1.42 total sexual offences per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 17 of boroughs with the least number of sexual offences
• 7,651 total reported thefts and 28.19 total thefts per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 15 of boroughs with the least number of thefts
• 4,347 total reported violent crimes and 16.02 total violent crimes per 1k of the population, ranking Havering as 9 of boroughs with the least number of violent crimes

What public transport options does Havering have?

The borough of Havering has several public transport options available, including tube, overground, rail, and bus services.

Havering is served by the District and Elizabeth lines. On the District lines there are four tube stations in the borough: Upminster Bridge, Hornchurch, Elm Park, and Dagenham East. The newly opened Elizabeth line cuts through the north of the borough and stops at the stations of Romford, Gidea Park and Harold Wood.

There are also several rail and overground stations. One of the main overground stations in Havering is Romford station, which is located in the heart of the town centre. Romford station is served by the TfL Rail line, which runs between Liverpool Street station in central London and Shenfield in Essex. This provides commuters with direct connections to Liverpool Street station and the City of London, as well as other destinations in Essex and beyond.

Another overground station in Havering is Harold Wood station, which is located in the south of the borough. Harold Wood station is also served by the TfL Rail line, and provides connections to Liverpool Street station, as well as Shenfield, Brentwood, and other locations in Essex.

In addition to Romford and Harold Wood, there are several other overground train stations in Havering, including Upminster, Gidea Park, and Emerson Park. These stations are served by the London Overground line

In addition to these options, there are also several bus routes that run through the borough. Some of the bus routes that operate in Havering include the 174, 252, 256, 370, and 499. The 174 bus runs from Dagnam Park Square in Harold Hill to Tottenham Court Road in central London, passing through Romford, Stratford, and Holborn on the way. The 252 runs from Collier Row to Hornchurch, and then on to Romford and beyond to Barkingside. The 256 operates between Hornchurch and Queen’s Hospital in Romford, before continuing to Barking and Stratford.

The 370 bus provides a direct link between Romford and Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, while the 499 connects the borough to Gallows Corner in Harold Hill and Ilford. Additionally, there are several night bus services that operate in Havering, including the N8, N86, and N296, which provide 24-hour services between central London and various locations in the borough.

Finally, as it is situated on the outskirts of London, Havering has easy access to the M25 motorway, which runs along a large stretch of the borough’s eastern border.

What places are in Havering?

There are several distinct areas in the borough of Havering, each with their own unique characteristics and attractions. This includes:

• Romford – A bustling town centre with a wide range of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
• Upminster – A suburban area with a village-like feel, known for its historic architecture and excellent schools.
• Harold Hill – A residential area in the north of the borough, with a mix of council and private housing.
• Hornchurch – A suburban town with a thriving high street and several green spaces, including Harrow Lodge Park.
• Rainham – A former industrial area that has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, with new housing and amenities.
• Collier Row – A suburban area on the edge of London, with a mix of private and council housing.
• Gidea Park – An affluent residential area with tree-lined streets and grand period properties.
• Cranham – A quiet suburb with good transport links and several green spaces, including the Cranham Marsh Nature Reserve.

What is Havering famous for?

Havering isn’t an area that typically gets much of the spotlight, but it has several cultural landmarks, venues and events, plus an abundance of green spaces. This includes:

1. Romford Market, one of the largest street markets in the south of England.
2. The Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford, which has over 100 shops and restaurants.
3. The Upminster Golf Club, a popular golf course that has hosted several professional events.
4. Upminster Windmill, a historic windmill that is open to the public.
5. The Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch, which hosts a range of plays and performances.
6. The annual Havering Show, a two-day event featuring music, entertainment, and food.
7. The River Ingrebourne, a local river that runs through the borough.
8. Hornchurch Country Park, a large green space that includes a lake and wildlife.
9. The Hornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps, a marching band that has performed at events across the world.
10. The Old Chapel, a historic building that has been used as a church, school, and community centre.
11. The Rom Skatepark, a historic skatepark that was the first of its kind in the UK.
12. Havering-atte-Bower, a historic village that is home to a Grade II listed church.
13. The Harold Hill Festival, an annual event featuring live music, food, and activities for all ages.
14. The Romford Greyhound Stadium, a popular venue for dog racing.
15. Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve, a large wetland area that is home to a wide variety of bird species.

What boroughs are next to Havering?

Havering is bordered by several other boroughs:

• The London Borough of Bexley is to the south
• The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is to the west
• The London Borough of Redbridge is to the west

To the north and east, Havering is bordered by the county of Essex.