South Woodford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Woodford |
|
|---|---|
 The George Pub and Odeon Cinema |
|
 South Woodford
|
|
| OS grid reference | TQ405905 |
| • Charing Cross | 8.9 mi (14.3 km) SW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | E18 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
|
| London Assembly |
|
South Woodford is a cool area in East London, England. It's part of the London Borough of Redbridge. It's surrounded by other places like Woodford Green (north), Walthamstow (west), Snaresbrook and Wanstead (south), and Redbridge (east). It's about 14.3 kilometers (8.9 miles) north-east of Charing Cross, a famous spot in central London. You'll find part of the huge Epping Forest right next to South Woodford on its western side.
Contents
South Woodford's Past
South Woodford used to be a quiet, countryside area. It was part of an old parish called Woodford St Mary in Essex. But in the 1800s, it started to grow very quickly.
In 1840, it became part of the Metropolitan Police District, which meant it got police services from London. Then, in 1856, the London postal district was created, and South Woodford became part of it. That same year, South Woodford tube station opened. This station is now part of the Central line on the London Underground.
From 1894 to 1934, South Woodford was part of the Woodford Urban District. After that, it joined the Wanstead and Woodford until 1965. That's when Greater London was created, and South Woodford became part of this bigger London area.
Until 2004, there were tall buildings here where students from Queen Mary, University of London lived. These buildings were taken down in 2007. In their place, new, shorter apartment buildings were built. Some of these are privately owned, and some are council housing, known as Queen Mary's Gate.
Things to Do in South Woodford
South Woodford has a busy shopping and business area. It's mainly found around George Lane. This is also where the South Woodford tube station is located.
You'll find many popular shops here, like Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, and Boots. There are also lots of smaller shops, places to eat, and cafes. A British bakery called Gails recently opened on George Lane.
There's a big Odeon cinema with seven screens. It first opened in 1934 and is the only cinema in the area. Right next door is The George pub. This building is from the 1700s, but there was an inn on this spot even earlier. It used to be a place where stagecoaches would stop. The George pub has many different rooms and used to have a fancy dining area upstairs.
South Woodford also has many green spaces, which are part of Epping Forest. These are great for walks and enjoying nature.
You'll find many different places of worship in the area. There are churches for various Christian denominations, several synagogues, and a mosque.
The Redbridge Drama Centre is a cool place for creative activities. It's next to Churchfields Junior School. They offer workshops for kids aged 5 and up, and for adults too. They also help local schools with drama education. The centre has its own theatre group called Vital Stages. You can often catch shows from different touring companies there at least once a week.
South Woodford is part of the London Borough of Redbridge. It includes two main areas called Churchfields and South Woodford wards. Each ward has its own team of local police officers.
Getting Around South Woodford
Road Travel
South Woodford is a key spot for roads. It's where the North Circular Road meets the start of the M11 motorway. The M11 begins at a large roundabout called Charlie Brown's Roundabout. This roundabout was made bigger in 1972 to help traffic get onto the new motorway.
You can also easily get to the A1400 from South Woodford, which then connects to the A12. The A104, also known as Lea Bridge Road, is another important road. It helps connect South Woodford to areas in central London through Hackney.
Train Travel
George Lane, the main street, is actually split in two by the Central line railway tracks. Most of the shops are on the western side. There used to be a place where cars and trains crossed at the same level. But now, a bridge (called "the Viaduct" by locals) carries traffic over the tracks.
The area is served by South Woodford tube station. It's in Travelcard Zone 4 and is on the Central line of the London Underground.
Bus Travel
South Woodford has many London Buses routes. These include routes 20, 123, 179, 549, SL2, W12, W13, W14, and N55.
Learning in South Woodford
South Woodford has a good choice of schools for different ages.
- Primary Schools: Nightingale Primary, Snaresbrook Primary, Churchfields, and Oakdale. Churchfields and Oakdale are split into separate schools for infants and juniors.
- Preparatory School: Snaresbrook Preparatory.
- Secondary School: Woodbridge Secondary School.
Forest School is an independent school very close to South Woodford. Its playing fields are actually considered to be in South Woodford.
