Woodford

Woodford is the collective name for the suburban areas of Woodford Bridge, Woodford Green and South Woodford. The district is situated in north east London, forming part of the borough of Redbridge. As the boundary between urban London and more rural Essex, Woodford combines the amenities of London living – such as tube links and regular bus routes – with the green, open space of the country.

Attractions

For people with an interest in nature and horticulture, Woodford will be particularly appealing because of its attractive cricket green and its links with the famous Victorian landscape gardener, Humphry Repton. Epping Forest also passes through the area.

Winston Churchill is only one of the famous people associated with Woodford. He represented the district in Parliament for forty years, and his service to the area is marked by a bronze statue located on Woodford Green. The number of blue plaques which can be spotted on a short walk through Woodford shows how many other notable names have been born in the area, or have made it their home. The former Prime Minister Clement Atlee, the suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, the poet Coventry Patmore, and authors Hari Kunzru and James Hilton are just a few examples.

Woodford is also notable for its landmarks. The area includes a number of listed buildings, including the 18th century Hurst House, and Clayhall Hospital, a former asylum which has been noted as a prime example of Victorian architecture.

Shopping

George Lane in South Woodford is the shopping haven of the area, where stores catering for everything from daily groceries to home furnishings can be found. Laura Ashley, Aveda and numerous local boutiques are located on this road. Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and a recently opened Marks and Spencer’s all also lie within walking distance of each other on George Lane.

Nightlife and Eating Out

South Woodford has a seven screen Odeon Cinema, which shows all the latest films and has provisions for wheelchair access and the hard of hearing. The cinema is yet another feature that can be found on George Lane. The Woodford area has a massive variety of places to eat in the evening. Pizza Express, Pizza Hut and Nino’s serve Italian food on George Lane. Amici Mei, the Bel-Sit and Unico can be found on Snakes Lane. Razza is a recently opened Indian restaurant with stunning interiors on Woodford Green High Road, and other local favourites for Indian food are The Rose and Bhangra Beat. Ho-Ho’s and Dynasty are popular for Chinese food.

There are also many pubs in the area which are often open during the afternoons as well as in the evening. The George, The Hogshead, The Rose and Crown, The Railway Tavern and The Three Jolly Wheelers are just a few examples of popular establishments. For nightclubs, one may have to journey to areas outside Woodford, with Faces in Gant’s Hill being a particular favourite of the younger residents.

Tourist Information

The City of London website provides information on the Royal status accorded to many parts of Epping Forest, and landmarks including the Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge are easily reachable from Woodford. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Airport

The closest airport to Woodford is London City Airport, which is about 45 minutes away by road. Gatwick is 1 hour 20 minutes away, whilst Heathrow is an hour and 15 minutes away.