We have visited Harold Wood to see what it’s like, below in our quick area guide we tell you all you need to know.
If you would like to jump to any sections please do so here.
Table of Contents
- About Harold Wood
- Harold Wood Area Guide – Transport Links
- Harold Wood Area Guide – Population and Demographics
- Harold Wood Area Guide – Crime
- Harold Wood Area Guide – House Prices
- Things To Do In Harold Wood
- Verdict – Is Harold Wood a nice place to live?
About Harold Wood
Harold Wood is a decent sized area in the London Borough of Havering.
It is located approximately 15 miles northeast of Central London and borders Romford.
The area gets it’s name after King Harold Harefoot, who is said to have hunted deer in the forest that covered the area in the 11th century.
Harold Wood remained a rural area until the late 19th century.
This was when the railway station opened and led to the development into a residential area.
The area is home to a variety of amenities, including schools, shops, restaurants, and parks.
Harold Wood is also a popular destination for commuters, as it is within easy reach of both Central London and the M25 motorway.
Harold Wood Area Guide – Transport Links
As we mentioned above Harold Wood has good connections by various means.
The first option of note is the fact that Harold Wood has immediate access to the A12. This can take you into Central London or out into Essex and crucially the M25.
It takes about 7-8 minutes to reach the M25 from Harold Wood station.
This leads us onto travel by rail and Harold Wood is served by a well used mainline station.
As per places like Ilford it is reliant on the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail).
We have mentioned in previous area guides that the Elizabeth Line didn’t really change much for residents.
There was always a slow train into Liverpool Street from Harold Wood.
It must be noted however that the air conditioned carriages are a welcome addition.
For those looking to travel on to Paddington, the line has made that possible.
But a trip into London Liverpool Street still takes 35 minutes as it stops everywhere on the way in.
In terms of busses there are a number of routes which travel through Harold Wood.
It must be noted however that if you’re looking to travel deep into London you may have to change at Romford.
Harold Wood Area Guide – Population and Demographics
The population of Harold Wood is 12,680 according to the most recent census data.
In terms of ethnicity breakdown makeup of Harold Wood is as follows:
White: 86.0%
Asian: 7.0%
Black: 2.0%
Mixed/multiple ethnic groups: 4.0%
Other: 1.0%
In terms of religion the breakdown is as follows;
Christian: 56.0%
No religion: 33.0%
Muslim: 4.0%
Other religions: 7.0%
Harold Wood is a relatively affluent area, with a median household income of £58,700 per year.
This is higher than the median household income for England and Wales (£36,900 per year).
Harold Wood Area Guide – Crime
In terms of a crime rate per 1,000 Harold Wood falls close to the London average. According to data from the Met Police and comparing that to census figures the crime rate is 97 crimes per 1,000 residents.
This compares to the London average of 95 and the Romford average of 114.
It must be noted however that the Romford figures are influenced by shoplifting in the town centre.
The most common types of crime in Harold Wood are violence and anti social behaviour.
Harold Wood Area Guide – House Prices
According to Rightmove properties in Harold Wood had an overall average price of £417,191 over the last year.
This is slightly cheaper than nearby Romford where prices average around £450,000.
The most commonly sold type of properties are semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £504,904.
Terraced properties sold for an average of £420,255, with flats fetching £262,901.
In terms of a trend, sold prices in the area over the last year were 6% up on the previous year and 15% up on the 2020 peak of £363,391.
Things To Do In Harold Wood
On the face of it Harold Wood is a relatively small area, dominated by nearby larger Romford and Brentwood.
With that said however there are still a few options which we found.
Explore the Harold Wood Greenway
One option is to go for a walk or cycle along the Harold Wood Greenway.
This traffic-free path runs from Harold Wood to Brentwood and is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the scenery.
Visit Harold Wood Park
Harold Wood Park is a well maintained and enjoyable 48-acre park.
It is a popular spot for walking, running, cycling, and picnicking.
The park also has a children’s play area, a teenage area, tennis courts and football pitches.
What did we make of Harold Wood?
Verdict – Is Harold Wood a nice place to live?
In our experience of Harold Wood it is fine whilst being quite forgettable.
In all truth there isn’t much there but on the face of comparing statistics you can make a strong case for it.
House prices are reasonable, transport links are good and the crime rate is lower than surrounding areas.
Ultimately if you are looking for entertainment then Harold Wood is sandwiched between Romford and Brentwood.
Both are around ten minutes by train and road giving you plenty of options.
There is a Tesco’s Supermarket and a large B&Q but other than that your retail options are limited.
