The Leyton neighbourhood is a quickly evolving pocket of Eastern London and is just walking distance from the Olympic park facilities. Although real estate is becoming more desirable, prices are still relatively affordable compared to Central London. Residents enjoy the diverse range of homes - from the Victorian style terraced houses to the post-war council flat towers. While there are many families in the area, young professionals are beginning to catch on as well. Despite being so close to Central London, there are still so many ways to enjoy the outdoors. Typical weekends will bring residents to Leyton Jubilee Park for a picnic, children to the WaterWorks Centre Nature Reserve, and many families to the Lee Valley Ice Centre and Lee Valley Riding Centre. With all that it has to offer, it’s no surprise that so many different communities have chosen to settle there. As a result, the neighbourhood is home to a wide array of delicious food offerings from around the world. Between the Indian food at Saffron Kitchen, kebabs at Bodrum, and the trendy flat whites at Lighthaus Cafe, there’s something for everyone in Leyton!

Before Leyton became the hip neighbourhood it is today, it was a farmstead along the River Lea back in the 11th century. However, much of the land would have still been marshland at the time. Later on, in the 18th century, a good portion of the marshland had been converted into working farms - many of which were also home to mansions. It wasn’t until the railway arrived in the 19th century that development in the village really picked up though. The area grew into not just an industrial neighbourhood but a dormitory suburb for middle class Londoners commuting into the city. Unfortunately, a good portion of the neighbourhood was damaged during WWII - leading to a large council led reconstruction project. Today, the area is continuing to change quickly - as more and more Londoners move there in search of more affordable housing.

Looking further back, some argue that Leyton holds the key to a debate about the early Roman occupation of Britain. Camulodunum – now Colchester - was the first place the Romans settled when they invaded Britain in 43AD. However, a decade later, another Roman settlement sprang up. It was called Londinium. It soon began to eclipse Camulodunum in importance and became Britain’s foremost city. A lively interchange was struck up between the two settlements as commerce and trade started to flourish. To facilitate this, a fort named Durolitum was built between the two – a place where tired travellers could rest and from where the trade route lifeline could be defended. Historians believe that Leyton might have been the site of this fort as Durolitum can translate as ‘water of Ley’, which perhaps references the nearby River Lea.

The area’s historical roots are tied to the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Wiseman, who once lived locally. Having lived at present day Etloe House, today, locals take great pride in his connection to the area.

While there’s a lot going for it, this part of Leyton unfortunately lacks its own tube station with Leyton underground around a 30 minute walk south. Even so, it is serviced by Greater Anglia trains at Lea Bridge Station which has connections to Stratford International and Liverpool Street. Residents also find that the area has enough bus lines going through it to make it convenient enough.

Being so close to the Olympics regeneration zone, developers are continuing to invest in the uplift of the area. Lea Bridge Station will be renovated in a scheme set for completion in 2025, which includes a new public plaza and 345 new homes. In a joint venture with the Peabody Trust, Hill Construction are currently in the construction phase of a new development on Beck Square which will include 300 homes, a gym, and 21,000 square feet of ground floor retail space.