Ilford used to be a nice little town, lots of local shops where you could buy the esentials which you neded and over the past few years they have made it even better! They have built up a new shopping mall known as the exchange. It's three levels of great shops such as Marks and Spencers, W H Smiths, Toy Stack and Thorntons. There are lots of well known shops aswell as the one of shops such as abracadabra's! There is a splendid water fountain in the middle of the mall which is one of the most popular meeting points. Ilford may seem that big but after spending a few hours there it can get a bit boring. It;s not the best shopping place in Essex, obviously Lakeside is.