Spiritually, Romford is very much part of Essex, although it is placed within the boundaries of Greater London, and is home to the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. Romford is an old market town which celebrated its 750th anniversary in 1997, although the coaches that used to pass through in centuries past have now been replaced by the commuter trains which regularly go to and from London Liverpool Street station.
The town is an important office and retail centre for north-east London and Essex and boasts one of the largest open air markets in the country: in 2000, when the local council refused to fly the Union Jack from the Town Hall, virtually all the market traders flew the flag from their stalls in protest.
The seat is comprised of largely owner-occupied homes for middle-class, white collar workers. Many families moved out to this area from east London in the aftermath of the Second World War. With the exception of Gidea Park, most of the housing is not of the highest quality, being mainly older terrace and semi-detached houses.