Walthamstow

Walthamstow Village is the ancient nucleus of present day Walthamstow, and is situated between Leyton and Chingford, 6.5 miles from the City. The parish lay wholly in the Royal Forest of Waltham (later Epping Forest), on the route from London to Waltham Abbey - but there is no connection between the names. The Western boundary is the ancient course of the river Lea and the Walthamstow Marshes originally stretched along its entire length. Here were settlements from the Bronze and early Iron Ages, followed by the Romans and Saxons.

Designated a Conversation Area by the Borough of Waltham Forest in 1967, it centres around the church of St Mary, which was founded in the 12th century, and by the 15th century, much of the forest had been cleared and the population consisted of Yeomen and small farmers. The timber-framed "Ancient House" that was restored in 1934 dates from around that time.

Nearby are the Monoux Almshouses that were re-built in the 18th century; the same time a number of mansions were built; including The Chestnuts, Water House (now the William Morris Gallery), home of William Morris and Cleveland House.

The local museum in Vestry House, was once used as a workhouse and police station.

Vestry House Museum documents life in Waltham Forest for the past 200 years. Free to visit, this historic building has both permanent and temporary exhibitions and is open from Wednesday - Sunday from 10am - 5pm.

For further information:  www.walthamforest.gov.uk/vestry-house

Surely one of the best kept secrets in London is the William Morris Gallery

William Morris was born in Walthamstow in 1834. The Gallery is delightfully housed in the 18th Century Water House, Morris' family home from 1848 to 1856, and set in Lloyd Park in Walthamstow.

The Gallery's internationally important collections illustrate William Morris's life, work and influence. There are permanent displays of printed, woven and embroidered fabrics, rugs, carpets, wallpapers, furniture, stained glass and painted tiles designed by Morris himself and by Edward Burne-Jones, Philip Webb, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Ford Madox Brown and others who together founded the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Company in 1861.

The collections of applied art are complemented by the Brangwyn Gift of paintings, drawings and prints by the Pre-Raphaelites and other Victorian and later artists, as well as works by Sir Frank Brangwyn himself.

The gallery is open from Wednesday - Sunday from 10am - 5pm with free admission

For further information: www.walthamforest.gov.uk/william-morris

Lloyd and Aveling Park

This local park which adjoins the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, is getting a massive £3.5million from the Heritage and BIG Lottery funds with an additional £1million from the Council that will be spent on new facilities and upgrading existing.

Facilities include the cafe, aroma garden and lots of wildlife, or simply use it to have a breather and if the weather is good, why not bring a picnic.

For further information and details on the event programme available here

Getting to Walthamstow: Two stations make this destination accessible and both are on the Victoria Line on the tube; Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Central. Walthamstow Central is also on the overground service from London Liverpool Street.