Acton is a district within 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 individuals.
Acton means 'oak farm' or ''farm by oak trees', and derives from old English. It was initially 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 sections of East Acton are inside the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and a small part of South Acton is within the London Borough of Hounslow. Acton is one of the locations with the most stations bearing their name anywhere in the country, with seven stations including its name.
Central Acton is generally known as the hub of commerce and retail on the former main road between London and Oxford, known as the Uxbridge Road. The main road contains lots of inns, which go back to the late Tudor period as stopping places for travellers. Nowadays, the A40 dual carriageway is the main route from London to Oxford, and it bypasses central Acton. It still passes by means of East Acton and North Acton.
Acton is home to the largest housing estate in West London, named the South Acton estate, with around 2,000 homes and 5,800 residents. The location is at the moment in phase 2 of a significant 15-year phased regeneration which includes virtually full demolition of the existing residential units and the building of new and much more residences. This is most likely to enhance its population further.