A Guide to Living in Borough of Redbridge

Where is Redbridge?

The London Borough of Redbridge is located in east London, bordering the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Waltham Forest. It covers an area of 31 square miles (80 sq km) and has a population of 312,000.

Areas in Redbridge

There is a great variety of areas to choose from in Redbridge, each with its own unique character. Some of the most popular include:

Ilford – Located in the northeast of the borough, Ilford is home to a large Pakistani community and boasts excellent shopping facilities.

Woodford – A leafy suburb situated in the southwest of Redbridge, Woodford is ideal for families looking for quiet living away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

Loxford – Situated in the centre of Redbridge, Loxford has a diverse ethnic community that includes many people from Eastern Europe.

Wanstead – Wanstead is located in the southeast of Redbridge and is one of London’s best-kept secrets; it boasts an array of independent shops and eateries as well as having excellent transport links into central London via South Woodford tube station or Westfield Stratford City shopping centre (which can be reached via Snaresbrook Overground Station).

Universities in Redbridge

Although there are no universities within the borough itself, there are two institutions nearby:

Queen Mary University Of London (QMUL) – Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is located in Stratford, East London, and has around 17 000 students. Queen Mary University of London is a Russell Group university, which means it is one of the 24 most prestigious universities in the UK.

University of East London (UEL) – The University of East London (UEL) is located in Stratford, East London and has around 17 000 students. UEL specialises in creative arts, health and social sciences.

Both universities have excellent reputations and offer a range of courses that appeal to students from all over the world.

Top Schools in Redbridge

Redbridge is home to a number of good schools, both state-run and private. The best performing state secondary school in the borough is Wanstead High School, which achieved an “Outstanding” rating from Ofsted in 2014. Other notable schools include:

AGBIS Independent School (a top independent school rated as “Excellent” by Ofsted) – The AGBIS Independent School is a co-educational day school for children aged between three and eleven. It was founded in 1982 as the Ilford Jewish Primary School, but changed its name to reflect that many of its pupils are not Jewish.

Dixons Trinity Academy (an academy with a “Good” rating) – located in Ilford, the school has over 1800 pupils on role and offers GCSEs and A Levels.

The Forest School (a “Good” rated secondary school) – located in Walthamstow, the Forest School takes students from 11-18 years old and specialises in Performing Arts, Science and Sport.

Valentines High School (rated as “Good”) – a mixed secondary school located in Ilford with over 1500 pupils on their roll, Valentines High School offers GCSEs and BTEC courses.

Population of Redbridge

The population of Redbridge is estimated to be around 278,000 people, making it the fourth most populous borough in London. The population is ethnically diverse, with 38% of residents belonging to an ethnic minority group.