Arguably the most bourgeois part of Walthamstow, this little neighbourhood is sometimes quaintly referred to as Walthamstow Village. The area is littered with good schools, hipster cafes, and trendy bars such as the popular Gods own Junkyard. This neighbourhood is a strange amalgamation of a few period homes, renovated industrial estates and old Victorian terraces. As this postcode is a previous winner of the “best London village” award, it’s no surprise that the area is now hot property in outer London!

The history of Walthamstow can be summarised in three key stages. Prior to the 1800s, the area was simply marshy rural land, settled by small communities that produced food for the city. During the industrial revolution the area’s working class population grew and Walthamstow saw a period of urbanisation. Lastly, after falling into disrepair and neglect for much of the 20th century, the area’s popularity has been reinvented in the mould of many other formerly deprived areas of east London. It is now a hip and affluent new spot for young professionals seeking to buy property close to London.

Locals in the area all remember the incident back in 2015 where a unicyclist was pulled under a double decker in a road accident on Hoe Street. Luckily, he was saved after over 100 people helped to pull the bus off the cyclist. An anecdote that is often seen as testament to Walthamstow Village’s community spirit.

Clement Attlee was the MP for Walthamstow when he served as Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951, under a Labour government. He swept into power with an unprecedented 12% swing (still the largest ever in British electoral history). He was responsible for creating the National Health Service and nationalising Britain’s major industries and public services, as well as overseeing the decolonisation of India, Pakistan, and many other countries following the Second World War. Depending on who you ask, he is sometimes portrayed as the most successful British Prime Minister of all time.

Yet this postcode is quickly becoming unaffordable to the types of people Attlee’s reforms tried to help. While Walthamstow was once a refuge for families who were priced out of more central parts of London the housing market is making this increasingly untenable. Partly as a result of this new demand for housing many of this postcode’s more working class residents have had to find a home further from the city.

While planned future developments will undoubtedly increase the amount of available housing in the area it is unclear whether they will serve to bring prices down or simply make Walthamstow more attractive to investors. St Mary’s Church is one example of these redevelopments. Sitting within the Walthamstow Village conservation area, this sympathetic new scheme seeks to create a thriving community hub that includes cafes, an art centre and an education space, as well as a working church. Nearby, a new commercial development on the site of the old Wood Street Library has been approved and will see 67 new homes created in an 11-storey building.