Waltham Forest
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 positioned in between Epping Forest and Essex to the north, Redbridge towards the east, Newham and Hackney towards the south, and Haringey and Enfield towards the west, exactly where the River Lea and Lea Valley and the surrounding parkland forms a green corridor separating north and east London. Key districts are Leyton and Leytonstone in the south, Walthamstow at 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 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 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 continues to support a lot of contemporary artists and art groups. The annual E17 Art Trail, which contains open studios, exhibitions and events, is the most significant art occasion within the borough, and there is certainly now a comparable event in Leytonstone. Waltham Forest was on the list of six London boroughs that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics.
