Upminster is a leafy town in eastern London, in the borough of Havering, which is on the border with Essex.
Locals enjoy an easy commute when working into central London as there’s the Upminster Rail Station (with Overground services to the City taking just 25 minutes) as well as two Underground stations. Upminster Bridge (in the western side of town) and Upminster are the last two stops on the Underground’s District line, so you’re always going to get a seat. There are plenty of local bus services, and for those that travel by car, the M25 is just 1.5 miles away. The A127 sits just above the town and joins the A12, which is the main route into central London from here.
One of the main reasons families like to settle here is because of the good, local schools. Upminster has a great selection of preschools, primary and secondary schools (including sixth forms) within the town itself. Upminster Junior School and Branfil Primary School are great local options that have both been rated good by Ofsted. Sacred Heart of Mary Girl's School is a local high school and sixth form that’s been rated outstanding by Ofsted, as is Hall Mead School. There are private schools available within the town and surrounding areas too, such as Oakfields Montessori School and Brentwood School (which is for children aged 3-18yrs, with day and boarding options for the older children).
Upminster has some great shopping options for locals, especially along the tree-lined Station Road. Roomes is the town’s very own department store, which also has a restaurant, and there are other fantastic independents too, such as Cherry Cards. National brands are available here, including Clarks, United Colours of Benetton and Hobbs. There’s a variety of supermarkets in the area, including Waitrose, M&S Simply Food and ALDI. In addition to all this, Lakeside Shopping Centre is just seven miles away, with hundreds of brands to choose from.
Locals enjoy eating out at the gorgeous independent cafes and restaurants in Upminster. Coffee Bloom Café is a popular choice due to its great service and quality food, and Sweet Rose Cakery serves delicious lunches and afternoon teas. The restaurants here provide various cuisines to choose from; Osteria Due Amici is a popular Italian, LEFKE restaurant serves Turkish food and Korat Thai Upminster provides authentic Thai food. When meeting friends for a drink, Upminster TapRoom Micropub serves up great ales, and Fete Lounge has tasty cocktails on offer.
Upminster Medical Centre provides healthcare and GP services to locals, and there are plenty of pharmacies too. The nearest hospital is Queen’s Hospital in Romford, which is just a few miles away.
There’s some lovely greenspaces to make the most of; Upminster Park won a Green Flag Award, and it’s very popular with families due to its playground, sports grounds and outdoor gym. Parklands provides woodlands and a fishing lake, and it’s a lovely place for a walk and picnic. There’s an impressive grade II listed bridge there that was built in the late 18th century.
Upminster has lots of local sports clubs, including Upminster Golf Club, two tennis clubs, Upminster Cricket Club and Upminster Hockey Club.
