Harold Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harold Wood |
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 Terraced housing at Queens Park Road |
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 Harold Wood
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| Population | 12,650 (Harold Wood ward 2011) |
| OS grid reference | TQ545905 |
| • Charing Cross | 16.5 mi (26.6 km) WSW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ROMFORD |
| Postcode district | RM3 |
| Dialling code | 01708 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Harold Wood is a neighbourhood in East London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Havering. Harold Wood is about 16.5 miles (26.6 km) east-northeast of Charing Cross, which is a central point in London. This area used to be part of an older parish called Hornchurch. It is also quite close to the border between Greater London and Essex.
Contents
History of Harold Wood
How Harold Wood Got Its Name
The name Harold Wood was first written down around the year 1237. Back then, it was called Horalds Wood. The area was named after King Harold Godwinson. He was an English king who was defeated in the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by William the Conqueror. King Harold owned the land around this area. Some of the streets in Harold Wood are even named after other old Anglo-Saxon kings, like Æthelstan and Alfred the Great.
Building Up Harold Wood
There used to be a hospital in Harold Wood called Harold Wood Hospital. It was on Gubbins Lane. The hospital closed on December 13, 2006. All the patients were moved to Queen's Hospital in nearby Romford. The land where the hospital stood was planned to become a large housing area with 470 homes. Many local people were against this plan. However, by February 2023, the new housing estate, called Kings Park, was finished.
Schools in Harold Wood
Harold Wood has three schools for young people:
- Secondary school: Redden Court School
- Primary schools: Harold Wood Primary School and Harold Court Primary School
Where is Harold Wood?
Harold Wood is located next to several other places:
- Ardleigh Green
- Gidea Park
- Harold Park
- Harold Hill
- Hornchurch
- Brentwood
Who Lives in Harold Wood?
According to a census from 2011, about 86% of the people living in Harold Wood are White British.
Getting Around Harold Wood
Buses
Harold Wood has many London Buses routes that help people travel around.
- Buses that run every day include routes 256, 294, 346, 496, 498, and 499.
- Route 347 runs from Monday to Saturday.
- There are also special school bus routes: 646, 656, and 608.
Trains
Harold Wood railway station is on the Great Eastern Main Line. You can catch Elizabeth line trains from here. These trains go between Shenfield and Paddington. They stop at places like Whitechapel, Liverpool Street, Farringdon, and Tottenham Court Road. The closest underground (tube) stations to Harold Wood are Upminster Bridge and Hornchurch. Both of these are on the District line.
Roads
The M25 motorway runs along the eastern edge of Harold Wood. The A12 and A127 roads form the north-west and south-west borders of the area. These main roads help people travel to and from Harold Wood by car.
