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 individuals.
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 part of South Acton is in the London Borough of Hounslow. Acton is one of the locations with the most stations bearing their name anywhere in the UK, 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, generally 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 key route from London to Oxford, and it bypasses central Acton. It still passes by means 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 region is currently in phase two of a significant 15-year phased regeneration which includes almost full demolition of the existing residential units and also the construction of brand new and much more residences. This is most likely to boost its population even more.