Romford, United Kingdom

Capital City

Sprawling and congested, Romford is home to 109,400 people in 41,800 households - a sizable population crammed into a 23 km radius northeast of central London. The town's heavy retail and nightlife economy sustains 12,000 daily visitors, but bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the historic liberty of Havering only recently absorbed into the London Borough of Havering in 1965. Romford may appeal to those seeking an affordable suburban alternative to the capital, but its crowded streets and diluted cultural identity are unlikely to captivate the average traveler.