Havering: 2nd Worst London Borough? Residents Disagree 2026

Key Points

• Havering was ranked 1,138th out of 1,447 towns, cities, and villages across England and Wales in Garrington Property Finders’ ‘Best Places to Live 2026’ guide, making it the second lowest borough in Greater London after Barking and Dagenham.​
• The Garrington ranking factored in five categories: natural environment, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, and house quality and value.
• Despite the low ranking, local residents highlighted numerous positives about living in Havering, including its beauty, parks, community facilities, safety, and access to countryside and central London.
• Catherine Whitehouse praised the light, skies, parks, views, and Christmas decorations in Havering.
• Terence Mustoo, a lifelong Upminster resident, called it a “lovely place” and noted the windmill and great theatre in Hornchurch.
• Josh Ryder described Romford as “outstanding” with facilities like cinemas, bingo, bowling, arcade, theatre, ice rink, swimming pool, ice hockey, cricket, tennis courts, parks, soft play areas, shopping centres, restaurants, supermarkets, pubs, market, churches, and St Kilda Children’s Centre, plus additional attractions in other parts of Havering such as car drome, marshes, Queens Theatre, and gardens.
• Daniel Cordery, who moved from Dagenham to Hornchurch, loved the friendly people, country parks, and excellent schools like Hacton Primary and Abbs Cross.
• Linda Taylor, a lifelong Hornchurch resident, always felt safe and enjoyed a trouble-free life.
• Christine Watts agreed on safety, stating she visits Hornchurch and Romford regularly without trouble.
• Sylvia Smith noted that, like any borough, some areas may be undesirable, but Havering benefits from proximity to the countryside and easy access to central London by road or public transport.

Havering (East London Times) February 14, 2026 – Havering has been named the second worst borough to live in London according to Garrington Property Finders’ ‘Best Places to Live 2026’ guide, ranking 1,138th out of 1,447 towns, cities, and villages across England and Wales. Despite this lowly position—just above Barking and Dagenham—local residents have rallied to defend their borough, citing its natural beauty, abundant parks, community facilities, safety, and convenient access to both countryside and central London. The guide evaluated locations based on five key categories: natural environment, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, and house quality and value.​

Why Did Garrington Rank Havering So Low?

Garrington Property Finders released its comprehensive ‘Best Places to Live 2026’ guide, which assessed 1,447 towns, cities, and villages across England and Wales. Havering’s position at 1,138th placed it second from the bottom among Greater London boroughs, with Barking and Dagenham ranked even lower. As detailed in the Romford Recorder’s coverage, the methodology incorporated five critical categories: natural environment, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, and house quality and value.​

The report’s findings sparked debate locally, prompting the Romford Recorder to seek reader input via Facebook. This public response provided a counter-narrative to the Garrington assessment, emphasising aspects of life in Havering that residents value highly.

What Do Residents Say Makes Havering Beautiful?

Catherine Whitehouse, as quoted in the Romford Recorder’s reader comments section, stated:

“Havering is actually very beautiful. The light, the skies, the parks, the views, and people make a huge effort with their Christmas decorations.”

Her observation underscores the borough’s aesthetic appeal, particularly its open skies and green spaces, which stand in contrast to more urbanised London areas.

Terence Mustoo, who has lived in Upminster all his life, echoed this sentiment, describing it as a “lovely place”. He specifically highlighted the windmill and “great theatre” in Hornchurch, pointing to distinctive landmarks that enhance the area’s charm.​

These personal accounts from residents like Catherine Whitehouse and Terence Mustoo illustrate a deep appreciation for Havering’s visual and cultural assets, which may not have been fully captured in Garrington’s data-driven analysis.

What Facilities Does Romford Offer Residents?

Josh Ryder provided an extensive list of Romford’s attractions in his Facebook comment reported by the Romford Recorder. He said:

“Romford itself as a place is actually quite outstanding. It’s just not got a good community anymore. But if you actually look at Romford we have two cinemas, bingo, bowling, arcade, theatre, ice rink, swimming pool, ice hockey, cricket, tennis courts, parks, two soft play, small businesses, two shopping centres, a family complex full of restaurants, multiple supermarkets, a gaming club, multiple nice pubs, what’s left of the market, games bar, beautiful churches, St Kilda Children’s Centre.”

Ryder went further, adding the broader Havering offerings:

“Then on top of that everything the other parts of Havering have to offer – car drome, marshes, Queens Theatre, pubs and restaurants, the windmill, more parks, the gardens in Hornchurch, arts centre, etc…”

His detailed enumeration paints Romford and Havering as a hub of leisure and family-oriented amenities.​

This comprehensive inventory from Josh Ryder challenges the notion of Havering as a deprived area, showcasing a diverse range of entertainment and recreational options available to locals.

How Do Newcomers View Havering’s Community?

Daniel Cordery, who relocated from Dagenham to Hornchurch, expressed strong positivity in his comment covered by the Romford Recorder. He wrote:

“I love it. People so friendly, country parks on doorstep, Hacton Primary and Abbs Cross school fantastic.”

His experience highlights the welcoming atmosphere, natural surroundings, and quality education as key draws for those moving into the borough.​

Cordery’s transition from neighbouring Dagenham—a borough ranked below Havering in the Garrington guide—suggests that Havering offers tangible improvements in lifestyle and community feel.

Is Havering a Safe Place to Live?

Safety emerged as a recurring theme among respondents. Linda Taylor, who has lived in Hornchurch most of her life, said: “I have always felt safe and enjoyed a lovely, trouble free life here,” as reported in the Romford Recorder.​

Christine Watts reinforced this, agreeing with Linda Taylor’s assessment and adding:

“I go to Hornchurch and Romford regularly and have never had any trouble in either place.”

Her frequent visits without incident bolster claims of a secure environment in these key towns.​

These statements from Linda Taylor and Christine Watts provide reassuring testimonials amid broader concerns about urban living in London.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Havering’s Location?

Sylvia Smith offered a balanced perspective in her Facebook response, noted by the Romford Recorder: “Like any other borough, there are certain areas which may be considered undesirable but on the whole Havering benefits from being close to the country with easy access to central London either by road or public transport.” She acknowledged imperfections while emphasising strategic advantages.​

Smith’s view aligns with Havering’s geography on London’s eastern fringe, offering a blend of rural proximity and urban connectivity.

How Does Garrington’s Ranking Compare to Other Boroughs?

In Garrington’s ‘Best Places to Live 2026’ guide, Barking and Dagenham ranked as the worst London borough, with Havering just above it at second lowest. The full list spanned 1,447 locations across England and Wales, with Havering at 1,138th overall. This positioning reflects challenges in the evaluated categories but does not account for subjective resident experiences.​

Why Did the Romford Recorder Seek Reader Views?

Following the Garrington report’s publication, the Romford Recorder posted on Facebook asking readers: “to have their say and give us some reasons why they believed Havering was a good place to live in.” This initiative captured a groundswell of positive feedback, countering the guide’s negative portrayal and amplifying local voices.​

The engagement demonstrated strong community spirit, with detailed responses from residents across the borough.

What Role Do Schools Play in Havering’s Appeal?

Education featured prominently in resident praise. Daniel Cordery specifically named Hacton Primary and Abbs Cross school as “fantastic,” attributing them to his satisfaction after moving to Hornchurch. Garrington’s criteria included schools as one of five categories, suggesting this strength may mitigate other weaknesses in the ranking.​

How Does Havering Balance Urban and Rural Life?

Residents repeatedly cited parks, country parks, marshes, and gardens as assets. Catherine Whitehouse mentioned parks and views, Josh Ryder listed multiple parks and marshes, and Daniel Cordery noted country parks on his doorstep. Sylvia Smith’s reference to closeness to the country further emphasises this dual identity.​

This balance appears central to why many choose to stay in or move to Havering.

What Cultural and Heritage Sites Stand Out?

Terence Mustoo pointed to the Hornchurch windmill and theatre, while Josh Ryder highlighted Queens Theatre, arts centre, beautiful churches, and the market. These elements contribute to Havering’s heritage and culture score in Garrington’s assessment, though evidently not enough to lift its overall rank.​

Are There Enough Jobs and Economic Opportunities?

Garrington factored in jobs alongside schools, but resident comments focused more on lifestyle than employment. Josh Ryder’s mention of small businesses, shopping centres, and family complexes implies local economic vibrancy, particularly in Romford.

What About Wellbeing and House Value?

The guide’s wellbeing and house quality/value categories likely influenced the low ranking, yet residents like Linda Taylor reported trouble-free lives, suggesting personal wellbeing remains high. Proximity to amenities and safety contribute to perceived house value.