Waltham Forest Area Guide
Waltham Forest is a neighbouring borough to Hackney and Redbridge. Waltham Forest is an ancient name for what we now presently call Epping Forest. Waltham meant a ‘forest estate’, and it contains Walthamstow which was originally called Wilcumestowe meaning a welcome place. The borough is famous for many things such as being the London borough of Culture 2019 and is the first borough to hold this accolade. The borough is also famous for its Walthamstow Market which is Europe’s longest daily street market; and being home to fledgling British film industry with four film studios.
Waltham Forest boasts rich natural resources including vast areas of marshland in the Lea Valley to the west, and Epping forest to the north east. The borough is also home to Britain’s very first car with an internal combustion engine produced in the 1980s, and the first all-British aircraft assembled in 1909. Waltham Forest is also home to many rich and famous residents such as David Beckham, Sir Alfred Hitchcock, Sir Derek Jacobi and iPod designer Sir Jonathan Ive.