The report, by property buying agents Garrington Property Finders, ranked areas based on natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs, and value for money.
Havering came in at number 1,265 out of 1,447 towns and cities with a population of more than 5,000.
But stats aside, there is loads to be proud of about Havering and lots of things that make it a great place to live.
1. Heritage and history
Havering has a fascinating history, with markets and museums keeping this alive to this day.
Those wishing to learn more about the history of the Greater London borough don’t have to look far.
In the old Romford Brewery building on the ground floor, Havering Museum can be found.
The volunteer-led venue explores the area’s history shaped by how the towns that make up the borough were formed.
Meanwhile in Upminster resides London’s oldest thatched building, the medieval Upminster Tithe Barn Museum of Nostalgia.
The museum pictured in Upminster (Image: Chris Redgrave) The 15th century structure has been acknowledged by Historic England as a significant heritage site containing more than 14,000 items.
The museum’s curiosity corner helps shed extra light on the history behind specific items and will be open to visitors again in 2026 following roof restoration works.
As well as this, for three days of the week in Romford’s town centre, shoppers can browse the stalls of the Romford Market.
Stalls have been popping up on the site since the mid 13th century, after it was first opened by Royal Order as a livestock market.
Earlier this year, the market town was named as one of England’s best thanks to its offerings.
2. Pubs
The history of the area goes beyond museums, with a host of watering holes across the borough with incredible stories and some with intriguing names.
Havering Libraries keeps a detailed record of the history belonging to some of the borough’s best known pubs, including those that have been lost to time as well as those still standing.
One of Britain’s oldest pubs, The Golden Lion, can be found in Romford’s High Street dating back to the 15th century.
3. Nature
Havering is one of London’s greenest boroughs with a wide array of woodland areas, parks and nature reserves.
A number of parks in the borough have been given Green Flags for accessibility and gold medals as part of the London in Bloom awards aiming to promote caring for green spaces.
Nature reserves in the borough such as the Rainham Marshes have also been credited with helping foster a diverse range of species, including rare animal sightings.
READ MORE: Havering named the worst place to live in Greater London
Just recently, the reserve celebrated its first wild otter sighting in more than 25-years.
4. Leisure
Havering has a respectable shopping scene, with a number of well-known shopping centres in Romford.
These include The Liberty Shopping Centre, The Mercury Shopping Centre, The Brewery, and Romford Shopping Hall supporting independent and chain businesses.
