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 about 14.99 square miles. The borough is located in between Epping Forest and Essex towards the north, Redbridge to 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. Significant districts are Leyton and Leytonstone in the south, Walthamstow in the centre, and Chingford in the north.
In line with population estimates from the middle of 2014, Waltham Forest is a borough with a permanent population of about 268020 individuals. 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 in 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 numerous contemporary artists and art groups. These include the North East London Independent Artists group, based at the Changing Room Gallery in Lloyd Park, the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone, and 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.