The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a London borough in north east London, England. The local authority is Waltham Forest London Borough Council. It covers a total area of about 14.99 square miles. The borough is situated between Epping Forest and Essex towards the north, Redbridge towards the east, Newham and Hackney in the south, and Haringey and Enfield towards the west, exactly where the River Lea and Lea Valley and the surrounding parkland forms a green corridor separating north and east London. Key districts are Leyton and Leytonstone in the south, Walthamstow in the middle, and Chingford in the north.
As outlined by population estimates from the middle of 2014, Waltham Forest is a borough with a permanent population of around 268020 inhabitants. The north and south of the borough, split by the North Circular Road, contrast markedly in terms of ethnicity and socio-economic indicators, with built-up urban districts towards the south having inner-city characteristics, and more affluent residential development in the north with open spaces, parks, and playing fields.
Historically known as the seat of the Arts and Crafts Movement under the stewardship of William Morris, Waltham Forest has continued to help several modern artists and art groups. These consist of the North East London Independent Artists group, primarily based in the Changing Room Gallery in Lloyd Park, the 491 Gallery in Leytonstone, and a number of independent artists, also primarily inside the Leytonstone area. Waltham Forest was among the six London boroughs that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics.
