Auction House London’s Area Guide to Walthamstow
Auction House London’s Area Guide to Walthamstow
Auction House London has a number of interesting properties listed for auction throughout the City and surrounding areas. Our property auction experts are knowledgeable about the different areas in and around London, such as Walthamstow, and are sharing a series of London area guides to help investors make more informed decisions.
This latest addition to the Auction House London series takes us to the town of Walthamstow within the London borough of Waltham Forest in East London. Walthamstow is renowned for its market and street art, as well as its section of Epping Forest and the Walthamstow Village conservation area. There can be a wide variety of investment opportunities in this part of London, so it’s always worth keeping tabs on what’s available at any given time.
Where is Walthamstow?
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an outer London borough positioned in the North-East of the city. It was first formed in the 1960s after the merger of the municipal boroughs of Walthamstow, Leyton, and Chingford. The town of Walthamstow borders Chingford to the north, Leyton and Leytonstone to the south, Snaresbrook and South Woodford to the east, and Tottenham to the west.
Located in Zone 3, Walthamstow has excellent transport links. The Walthamstow Central bus and railway station is served by trains on the London Underground, Overground, and National Rail networks and multiple bus routes throughout the town. The London Underground line is the Victoria, which can take travellers directly to nearby Tottenham, the West End of London, and Brixton in the south.
Walthamstow Forest Town Hall
The history of Walthamstow
Walthamstow was originally a manor owned by the Anglo-Saxon nobleman Earl Waltheof. After the Norman conquest of 1066, Waltheof joined the Revolt of the Earls to rebel against the Normans and was beheaded for his trouble. His estate thus passed to his wife, Countess Judith, who just happened to be a niece of William the Conqueror himself. The area’s name was recorded in the Domesday Book as Wilcumestowe, meaning the ‘Place of Welcome’.
The town has had some historically significant residents and guests, including King John, who stayed there for two nights in 1208. Then there is the influential textile designer and artist William Morris, whose Georgian mansion home is now a museum to his wondrous works. There are also former Prime Ministers Benjamin Disraeli and Clement Attlee, the former attending high school there while the latter was the town’s local MP. Alongside these illustrious names of historical import, we can add Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale in EastEnders.
What does the architecture and property market look like in Walthamstow?
Walthamstow is quite varied in its architecture, with the development of ten ‘carbon negative’ two-storey homes just off Orford Road recently winning a National Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. There are also build-to-rent development plans in place for some of the neglected areas of the town.
Some examples of the variety of homes around Walthamstow include this second floor studio flat on Green Pond Close, and this three bedroom mid terrace house on Walpole Road.
What are the amenities like in Walthamstow?
In addition to Walthamstow Market, the town has plenty of amenities, such as supermarkets and mini-markets, several food outlets, gift shops, and clothing stores, giving local residents easy access to life’s necessities.
Open spaces in Walthamstow
Walthamstow doesn’t boast many green open spaces, except for Lloyd Park behind the William Morris Gallery, which has a formal garden and pond, and Aveling Field, which has a children’s play area and a skate park. It also has some sports facilities for tennis, basketball, and an outdoor gym.
However, Walthamstow’s proximity to Epping Forest, including a section of it separately known as Walthamstow Forest, means residents can enjoy plenty of nature without travelling far away from home.
What are the schools like in Walthamstow?
Walthamstow offers a wide choice of schools and colleges, with secondary schools such as Frederick Bremer, Kelmscott, and Willowfield. For further education, students can continue their studies at Waltham Forest College, the Big Creative Academy, or Sir George Monoux College.