The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a London borough in north east London, England. The local authority is Waltham Forest London Borough Council. It covers a total area of around 14.99 square miles. The borough is situated between Epping Forest and Essex towards the north, Redbridge in the east, Newham and Hackney to the south, and Haringey and Enfield to the west, where the River Lea and Lea Valley and the surrounding parkland forms a green corridor separating north and east London. Major districts are Leyton and Leytonstone in the south, Walthamstow in the centre, and Chingford in the north.
In accordance with population estimates from the middle of 2014, Waltham Forest is a borough with a permanent population of around 268020 people. The north and south of the borough, split by the North Circular Road, contrast markedly in terms of ethnicity and socio-economic indicators, with built-up urban districts in the south having inner-city characteristics, and more affluent residential development towards the north with open spaces, parks, and playing fields.
Historically referred to as the seat of the Arts and Crafts Movement under the stewardship of William Morris, Waltham Forest has continued to support several modern artists and art groups. These include the North East London Independent Artists group, primarily based in the Changing Room Gallery in Lloyd Park, the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone, as well as a variety of independent artists, also primarily inside the Leytonstone area. Waltham Forest was among the list of six London boroughs that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics.