Acton is a district in the London Borough of Ealing in west London. It's 6.1 miles west of Charing Cross. In the 2011 census, Acton had a population of 62,480 - a 10-year increase of 8,791 people.
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 areas of East Acton are within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and a small portion of South Acton is in the London Borough of Hounslow. Acton is one of the areas with the most stations bearing their name anywhere in the country, 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, referred to as the Uxbridge Road. The main road contains a lot of inns, which go back to the late Tudor period as stopping places for travellers. Right now, the A40 dual carriageway is the principal route from London to Oxford, and it bypasses central Acton. It still passes through 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 area is currently in phase 2 of a significant 15-year phased regeneration which consists of virtually complete demolition of the existing residential units plus the construction of new and much more residences. This is most likely to enhance its population additionally.