Acton is a district within 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 ten year increase of 8,791 people.
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 parts of East Acton are inside the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and a small portion of South Acton is within the London Borough of Hounslow. Acton is one of the places with the most stations bearing their name anywhere within the country, with seven stations including its name.
Central Acton is called the hub of commerce and retail on the former main road between London and Oxford, known as the Uxbridge Road. The main road consists of a great deal of inns, which date back to the late Tudor period as stopping places for travellers. Today, 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 houses the biggest housing estate in West London, named the South Acton estate, with approximately 2,000 homes and 5,800 residents. The region is presently in phase 2 of a major 15-year phased regeneration which consists of almost full demolition of the current residential units plus the building of brand new and much more residences. This is likely to boost its population additionally.