London Borough of Waltham Forest Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Geography
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Shown within Greater London
Official website	http://www.lbwf.gov.uk/
Status	London borough
Area — Total	Ranked 323rd 38.82 km²
ONS code	00BH
Admin HQ	Walthamstow
Demographics
Population — Total (2005 est.) — Density	Ranked 52nd (of 354) 224,100 5,773 / km²
Ethnicity	64.5% White 15.4% African-Caribbean 14.8% South Asian 5.3% Mixed Race or Other
Politics
Leadership	Leader (Cllr Clyde Loakes) & Cabinet
Mayor	Cllr Liaquat Ali
Executive	Labour / Liberal Democrats
MPs	Harry Cohen Neil Gerrard Iain Duncan Smith
London Assembly — Member	North East Jennette Arnold

The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a special area, or "borough," located in east London. It's a place with a mix of busy city life and peaceful green spaces.

In the southern parts of Waltham Forest, you'll find lively urban areas, similar to what you might imagine in a big city. As you travel north, the area becomes more residential with many homes. This northern part is also home to lots of nature, including large reservoirs, open areas, and even small parts of the famous Epping Forest. About one-fifth (20%) of the borough is covered by these green spaces, parks, and playing fields, making it a great place for outdoor activities.

Greater London • London • City of London
London Boroughs: Barking and Dagenham • Barnet • Bexley • Brent • Bromley • Camden • Croydon • Ealing • Enfield • Greenwich • Hackney • Hammersmith and Fulham • Haringey • Harrow • Havering • Hillingdon • Hounslow • Islington • Kensington and Chelsea • Kingston • Lambeth • Lewisham • Merton • Newham • Redbridge • Richmond • Southwark • Sutton • Tower Hamlets • Waltham Forest • Wandsworth • Westminster Sui generis: City of London (Exclaves: Inner Temple • Middle Temple) See also: Greater London Authority • London Assembly • Mayor of London

Welcome to Waltham Forest!
Green Spaces and Nature
How Waltham Forest is Run
- Local Leaders
- Your Representatives
A Diverse Community
Famous Faces from Waltham Forest
Images for kids
See also

Welcome to Waltham Forest!

Waltham Forest is one of the 32 London boroughs that make up Greater London. It was created in 1965 by combining three smaller areas: Leyton, Walthamstow, and Chingford. The main office for the borough, where many important decisions are made, is in Walthamstow.

Green Spaces and Nature

Even though Waltham Forest is part of a huge city, it has many wonderful green spaces. These areas are perfect for exploring nature, playing sports, or just relaxing outdoors.

Epping Forest: A small part of this ancient woodland stretches into the borough, offering trails for walking and cycling.
Walthamstow Wetlands: This is a large nature reserve with reservoirs that are home to many different birds and wildlife. It's a fantastic place for birdwatching.
Parks and Playing Fields: Many local parks and fields provide space for sports, picnics, and community events. These green areas help keep the air clean and give everyone a chance to enjoy nature close to home.

How Waltham Forest is Run

Like all London boroughs, Waltham Forest has its own local government called the Waltham Forest Council. This council makes decisions about local services like schools, libraries, parks, and rubbish collection.

Local Leaders

The council is led by a group of elected people called councillors. They work together to improve the borough for everyone who lives there.

The Leader of the Council is a councillor who helps guide the council's plans and projects.
The Mayor of the borough is a special ceremonial role, often representing the borough at events and welcoming visitors.

Your Representatives

People in Waltham Forest also have representatives in the national government and the wider London government:

Members of Parliament (MPs): These are people elected to speak for Waltham Forest in the UK Parliament in London. They help make laws for the whole country.
Greater London Assembly (GLA) Member: This person represents Waltham Forest and other nearby areas in the Greater London Assembly. The GLA makes decisions that affect all of London, like transport and policing.

A Diverse Community

Waltham Forest is a very diverse place, meaning people from many different backgrounds and cultures live there. This mix of people makes the borough a vibrant and interesting place to live, with different traditions, foods, and languages. For example, a significant number of people with African-Caribbean and South Asian heritage call Waltham Forest home.

Famous Faces from Waltham Forest

Did you know that some famous people have connections to Waltham Forest? One well-known person is the football superstar David Beckham, who grew up in Leytonstone, part of Waltham Forest.