Acton is a district in the London Borough of Ealing in west London. It is 6.1 miles west of Charing Cross. In the 2011 census, Acton had a population of 62,480 - a ten year increase of 8,791 inhabitants.
Acton means 'oak farm' or ''farm by oak trees', and originates from old English. It was originally an ancient village, and as London expanded it was absorbed into the city. Since 1965, Acton has been part of the east of Ealing, but some parts of East Acton are inside the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and a small section of South Acton is inside the London Borough of Hounslow. Acton is one of the places with the most stations bearing their name anywhere in the UK, with seven stations including its name.
Central Acton is called the hub of commerce and retail on the former principal road between London and Oxford, generally known as the Uxbridge Road. The main road contains a great deal of inns, which go back to the late Tudor period as stopping places for travellers. Today, the A40 dual carriageway is the major route from London to Oxford, and it bypasses central Acton. It still passes via East Acton and North Acton.
Acton boasts the biggest housing estate in West London, named the South Acton estate, with approximately 2,000 homes and 5,800 residents. The region is presently in phase two of a significant 15-year phased regeneration which involves almost total demolition of the existing residential units along with the building of brand new and much more residences. This is likely to boost its population additionally.