Ilford | High Road and The Exchange Shopping Centre Walkthrough | Summer 2026

A walk through Ilford, on the edge of East London, exploring the streets, shops and atmosphere of this bustling and diverse town. We begin our walk outside one of Ilford's most distinctive historic buildings, the old Woolworths, which opened in Ilford in 1912. The building was later remodelled in 1938, giving it the attractive white Art Deco facade that can still be seen today. From there, we walk towards Ilford town centre, heading inside The Exchange, Ilford's impressive three-level shopping centre. Built as part of a major redevelopment of the town centre in the late 1980s, The Exchange opened in September 1991. Its distinctive design is very much a product of the early 1990s. We exit The Exchange and take a turn down Oakfield Road, passing the imposing Kenneth More Theatre, a substantial concrete building dating from the 1970s and a striking example of the period's modernist architecture. Just beyond it is Redbridge Central Library, an imposing 1980s modernist building whose distinctive tiered rooflines give it an almost Japanese-inspired appearance. We circle back to the High Road and continue all the way to the underpass beneath Griggs Approach, finishing up at the Police Station.