Ilford is a large town in east London, England, 9 miles northeast of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Redbridge, Ilford is within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It had a population of 168,168 in 2011, compared to 303,858 for the entire borough. Identified as a metropolitan centre in the London Plan, Ilford's commercial and retail centre is surrounded by extensive residential development.