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 an overall area of approximately 14.99 square miles. The borough is situated in between Epping Forest and Essex to the north, Redbridge to the east, Newham and Hackney in the south, and Haringey and Enfield towards the west, where the River Lea and Lea Valley and the surrounding parkland forms a green corridor separating north and east London. Major districts are Leyton and Leytonstone in the south, Walthamstow at the centre, and Chingford in the north.
Based on population estimates from the middle of 2014, Waltham Forest is a borough with a permanent population of around 268020 inhabitants. 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 in the north with open spaces, parks, and playing fields.
Historically called the seat of the Arts and Crafts Movement under the stewardship of William Morris, Waltham Forest continues to support lots of contemporary artists and art groups. These include the North East London Independent Artists group, based in the Changing Room Gallery in Lloyd Park, the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone, and also a number of independent artists, also mainly within the Leytonstone area. Waltham Forest was one of the six London boroughs that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics.
