Romford between Market, Museum and Park

Romford brings together different aspects in specific places: Romford Market is a large open-air retail market in the heart of the town, Havering Museum explores the local past, and Raphael Park adds a historic landscape feature with Black’s Lake. Brookside Theatre adds to this selection with its location in the historic buildings of the Romford War Memorial. You can shape your stay around market history, exhibitions, the park and theatre. This contrast is useful when choosing a destination: it helps you decide whether to focus on shopping and town history, a park or a cultural programme.

Open-air market history

Romford Market is in the heart of Romford and is a large open-air retail market. It opened in 1247 by royal charter. This place therefore brings together two distinct interests: you can see the market as an open-air shopping destination and also note its precisely dated opening year as a historical reference. For travellers interested in the history of a place, this offers a specific point of connection. In contrast to the exhibitions at Havering Museum, the emphasis here is on the market itself; the museum explores the local past through galleries and exhibitions. This difference helps you think about Romford in terms of the kind of experience you want—without suggesting a particular order for your visit.

The past at Havering Museum

Havering Museum has two permanent galleries that explore local history through a range of themes, and hosts exhibitions about Havering’s past. Its historical focus is evident both in the themed permanent galleries and in the exhibitions. The museum is located on part of the site of the former Romford Brewery. This brings together a look at Havering’s past and a historic connection to the site at the same museum location. This sets it apart from the market: there, the historical connection is its opening year, while the museum explores history through galleries and exhibitions. If you would like to include cultural places in your travel plans, the museum offers a clear connection to local history.

Raphael Park and Black’s Lake

Raphael Park covers 44 acres. Black’s Lake is an original 18th-century water feature in the park. These two details offer different points of reference: the area indicates the size of the park, while Black’s Lake names a specific historical feature. This makes it possible to understand Raphael Park both as a landscape attraction in its own right and through a particular feature of its history. In contrast to the market and museum, the focus here is on the park itself, with the added connection to an 18th-century body of water. If you would like to include a park in your stay alongside town history and exhibitions, this combination offers a distinct theme.

Theatre and workshops

Brookside Theatre is located in the historic buildings of the Romford War Memorial. It also offers tailored workshops for pupils and school groups. This brings together a theatre venue and an offering specifically designed for these groups. For families looking for cultural experiences, this distinction is useful: the venue is associated with theatre, while the workshops are specifically aimed at pupils and school groups. Brookside Theatre thus adds another cultural perspective to the museum’s historical exhibitions and the market’s history. Its focus differs from that of Raphael Park: the theatre venue and workshop programme are what define it.

Discover more destinations

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