Acton is a district inside the London Borough of Ealing in west London. It is 6.1 miles west of Charing Cross. At 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 derives from old English. It was originally an ancient village, and as London expanded it was absorbed in to the city. Since 1965, Acton has been part of the east of Ealing, but some areas of East Acton are in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and a small section of South Acton is within the London Borough of Hounslow. Acton is one of the areas with the most stations bearing their name anywhere within the country, with seven stations including its name.
Central Acton is referred to as the hub of commerce and retail on the former major road between London and Oxford, referred to as the Uxbridge Road. The main road contains lots of inns, which date back to the late Tudor period as stopping places for travellers. Currently, the A40 dual carriageway is the major route from London to Oxford, and it bypasses central Acton. It still passes by way of East Acton and North Acton.
Acton boasts the biggest housing estate in West London, named the South Acton estate, with approximately 2,000 houses and 5,800 residents. The location is presently in phase two of a major 15-year phased regeneration which involves nearly full demolition of the existing residential units plus the building of brand new and more residences. This is likely to raise its population further.