Officially, since 1965, Romford has been part of the London Borough of Havering. That makes it, on paper, unarguably London. But try telling that to a taxi driver, a postman, or your own soul.
Geographically, Romford sits over fifteen miles from Charing Cross, deep in the Essex hinterland. It feels more like a market town than a concrete jungle. You’re more likely to see a tractor than a Routemaster bus, and the local accent leans toward East Anglian drawl rather than Cockney rhyming slang.
Think of it like a teenager who lives with their parents in London but really, really wants to identify with the cooler, more outdoorsy Essex kids. It’s an identity crisis in motion.
