Local Information

    Waltham Forest is conveniently located in North East London – Superb transport links means the borough is only 20 minutes from Central London and the West End with great shopping, leisure and cultural hot spots – and in close proximity to the Olympic Village!

    Waltham Forest is a mix of built-up residential development and green space, with a fifth of the borough being made up of forestland, reservoirs, open space, parks and playing fields. We are located between part of Epping Forest in the east and the River Lee in the west which form two green corridors, passing into London from the surrounding countryside. Waltham Forest is one of five London boroughs which have been designated host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

    People from all over the world live and work in Waltham Forest. The main centres of population in the borough are Chingford in the north, Walthamstow in the centre, and Leyton and Leytonstone to the south. Below is just a flavour of some of the exciting things you will find to do and see in Waltham Forest.

    The many cultures and languages that make up the borough are represented in the different restaurants, shops, religious buildings and even the multi-lingual signage which are most prominent in Walthamstow Market.

    Dating from 1885, the market is the longest outdoor street market in Europe and spans roughly a kilometer of Walthamstow High Street. The market is open five days a week (not Sunday or Monday).

    There is also currently a Sunday farmers' Market run by the London Farmers' Markets which sells fresh bread, free range eggs, organic vegetables, cheese, poultry, succulent cooked sausages and plants. This takes place on Walthamstow High Street next to the Town Square and the Mall, between 10am and 2pm. 

    Waltham Forest Libraries offer a wide range of services from books and IT to events and activities for the whole community. Libraries are much more than a place where books are stored. Libraries give us power. They provide everyone with access to knowledge, culture and information. They are an ideal place to study or relax. There are 10 libraries in Waltham Forest.

    Waltham Forest is the birthplace of William Morris, best known as one of the principal founders of the British Arts and Crafts Movement. Morris was a designer of wallpaper and patterned fabrics, a writer of poetry and fiction, and a pioneer of the socialist movement in Britain. The William Morris Gallery is delightfully housed in the 18th Century Water House, it was the Morris' family home from 1848 to 1856, and set in Lloyd Park in Walthamstow. Entry is free

    Vestry House Museum presents the history of Waltham Forest. Attractively located in the Grade II listed Vestry House, the Museum can be found in the delightful historic Walthamstow Village. Originally built as a workhouse in 1730, Vestry House has since been a police station and a private house, before it opened as a Museum in 1931. The main individual exhibit is the Bremer car, built by Frederick Bremer in 1892, and one of the claimants to being the oldest British-built petrol driven car. Entry is free.

    Walthamstow village is a delightful conservation area and recent ‘best London village’, situated in Upper Walthamstow, and also known as Church End. There was a clearing in the forest here at the time of Doomsday Book and the first church was built in 1145. Most of the village was built up in the 20 years following the enclosure of Church Common in 1850, including a new Nag’s Head on Orford Road in 1859. The village was saved from subsequent disfigurement by the opening of the station at Hoe Street, which drew commercial development away to the west. The Ancient House was lovingly restored in 1934. The council made a number of environmental improvements to Walthamstow Village in 1980 and the Ancient House was repaired again in 2002.

    Leytonstone borders Walthamstow to the northwest, Wanstead (in the London Borough of Redbridge) to the north, Leyton to the south, and Forest Gate (in the London Borough of Newham) to the east. Leytonstone tube station is on the Central Line of the London Underground and Leytonstone High Road is a London Overground railway station.

    Whipps Cross teaching hospital is located in Leytonstone. The large park to the north of Whipps Cross Road is also part of Epping Forest. The southern end of the park is mainly scrubland, though the northern half is forest; there's also a large lake, known as Hollow Pond. This is delightful walking country, and it's hard to imagine that you're only just in zone 4.

    Brooks Farm in Leyton is a wonderful visitor’s attraction based inside Skeltons Lane Park. It is a semi-working farm with traditional livestock. Farming is seasonal and therefore the animals and what you see changes throughout the year. In the months of March and April you can expect to see lambs, and plenty of other baby animals and at 5pm each day you can watch the goats being milked. Resident animals include: Dairy short horn cows, Jacob and Ryeland sheep, Dairy goats, Gloucester Old Spot Pigs, Merlin the famous llama, also a whole area designated to small animals like chinchillas, gerbils, rats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice, chickens ducks and ponies. The farm has full disabled access and two disabled parking bays (call to book).  The farm is free for visitors but for group visits there is a charge.  All group bookings should be arranged in advance. 

    Leyton also boasts the The Lee Valley Ice Centre, the regional centre of excellence for Ice Sports in the south of England. The centre has recently obtained a Highly Commended score in its recent QUEST accreditation – a leisure industry award that recognises best practice.

    The Lee Valley Riding Centre is set in the green surroundings of Lee Valley Regional Park; Lee Valley Riding Centre caters for beginners and experienced riders in a friendly environment. The Riding Centre’s 45 horses and ponies have been carefully chosen to be safe, sensible and fun and include cobs, thoroughbreds and Welsh ponies.

    In the far North of the Borough Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge is on the edge of Chingford Plain, Epping Forest. This Tudor, half-timbered, building was originally built for King Henry VIII in 1543 but was taken over, after his death, by his daughter Queen Elizabeth I. It was used as a grandstand to watch the hunting of deer, although it has been heavily altered over time. It is open to the public on some days only although you can walk around the outside at any time. There is a free car park near the lodge.

    Also popular with dog walkers, runners and families, The Highams Park and Lake is situated in Highams Park. Often known locally as "The Park", "The Field" or "The Lake". Most of the park is on a hill with a gradual rise to the north end.

    There are five Council Leisure Centres in Waltham Forest, managed by Greenwich Leisure Limited. Greenwich Leisure Limited offers a wide variety of good quality sporting facilities.

    Cathall Leisure Centre
    Kelmscott Leisure Centre
    Leyton Leisure Lagoon
    Larkswood Leisure Centre
    Waltham Forest Pool and Track
    Peter May Sports Centre

    Each Centre offers a variety of facilities such as indoor sports, swimming pools and fitness rooms to help keep you active and fit.

    Leyton Orient is Waltham Forest’s local football team. The club began in 1881 and ever since has attracted thousands of supporters young and old. With a great recently promoted team, and a recently refurbished stadium, it is the perfect place to watch a game and cheer your home team to victory this season. Leyton Orient's home stadium is on Brisbane Road, situated in Leyton, It is officially known as the Matchroom Stadium.

    2012 Olympics 
    Waltham Forest is one of five host boroughs in East London for the 2012 Olympics. Eton Manor in Leyton forms the northern part of the Olympic Park. During the Olympic Games the area will house three Olympic-size swimming pools, one synchronised swimming pool and one water polo pool. These pools will be used for athlete training. During the Paralympics Games, Eton Manor will host the Wheelchair Tennis events, with temporary seating for 10,500 spectators

    Many famous names in British history and culture have been residents of Waltham Forest; below we list just a few notable residents.

    David Beckham grew up in Chingford having been born at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone on 2 May 1975. As a child he attended Chingford School and played football for Ridgeway Rovers, a local side.

    Johnny Dankworth, jazz musician, was born in Highams Park in 1927 and attended Selwyn School and Sir George Monoux Grammar School.

    Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was born in Leytonstone and a well known English filmmaker and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in his native United Kingdom in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood. In 1956 he became an American citizen while remaining a British subject.

    Benjamin Disraeli, former British Prime Minister, attended Higham Hall School in Walthamstow.

    Sir George Edwards, aircraft designer (Concorde) and industrialist was born in Hale End Road, Highams Park, on 9 July 1908

    Jonathan Ive who designed the iPod (all generations) iMac (all generations), iBook, Powerbook, MacBook and MacBook Pro, as well as the new iPhone was born in Chingford and attended Chingford Foundation School.

    The London Borough of Waltham Forest is twinned with:    

    Saint-Mandé, France
    Wandsbeck, Germany

    Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.

    Friendship Links have also been established with:
    St John's, Antigua and Barbuda
    Roseau, Dominica                                                                   
    Mirpur, Pakistan                                                                           

    Find out more information on the Waltham Forest website: www.walthamforest.gov.uk 

    For further enquires regarding Newly Qualified Teachers, please contact Sylvia Harper on: 0208 498 4186 or email: Sylvia.harper@babcock.co.uk