Situated just outside the M25 in north London, the neighbourhood of Waltham Cross is a largely residential area, offering the choice of attractive, yet affordable, terraces, semis, and flats. With the stations of Waltham Cross and Theobalds Grove both located in this neighbourhood, and trains to central London taking just 30 minutes, it is no surprise why this area is so popular, particularly with those looking to commute. Despite the proximity of bustling London and all that it has to offer, many residents choose to spend their weekends in this quieter suburb, due to the leisure and entertainment opportunities that it offers. For example, for those who love the outdoors, there are a plethora of options available, including Bowyer’s Water, River Lee Country Park, and the Lee Valley White Water Centre, which is a particular local favourite. And for those who prefer to spend time indoors, there are a large number of shops and amenities clustered around the centre of this neighbourhood, just a short walk away from the major residential areas.

Waltham Cross is home to a tall stone monument, regarded as a local landmark, known as the Eleanor Cross; it is one of an original 12, of which only 3 can be found intact today. The Eleanor crosses were a set of ornate memorials erected between 1291 and 1294 by King Edward I, after the death of his wife Eleanor of Castile. The sites the monuments can be found are significant as they mark the locations where the body of Eleanor was laid to rest for the night as she was transported from Harby to London. It is widely understood that this practice was taken from France as similar constructions were seen there in 1271 for King Louis IX; historians believe that they were intended as sites where passers-by and those making pilgrimages could come and pray for the King’s late wife. The town got its name because of the presence of this cross.

The Lee Valley White Water Centre was constructed to provide a venue for the canoe slalom events during the London 2012 Olympic Games. It is reportedly the only venue that was purpose built for the games, but was opened and used prior to the games themselves. Also, The Victorian author, Anthony Trollope, lived in Waltham House in the late 19th Century, where he wrote 26 novels. Sadly, the building was demolished and is no longer visible, but a number of shops and a Wetherspoons, decked with literary memorabilia, can be found here instead.

To the south of this neighbourhood is the M25, which creates a number of drawbacks for those living here. One of the most notable impositions is the high levels of noise and air pollution that the road contributes, but also the barrier that it imposes is allowing residents to move between this neighbourhood and areas to the south. Furthermore, with the M25/A10 junction located so close, often during peak times there is a high level of congestion. Despite this, residents choose to accept these drawbacks, as the proximity to the motorway allows fantastic accessibility and connectivity to central and surrounding London.

While Broxbourne is typically a rural locale experiencing limited development and change, Waltham Cross acts as an urban centre, meaning that many planned future developments will take place nearby. Most notable is the local council’s redevelopment strategy to make Waltham Cross “an attractive and high quality place to live and work”. Specific plans include the regeneration of the High Street and other key sites within the town centre, public realm improvements, as well as the provision of new houses in and around the town centre. To the west of the town centre, permission has been granted for a new 100,000 square meters development providing employment and business space. To the dismay of some local residents this project will be located on what is currently greenbelt land, leading many to worry about overdevelopment.

Looking further into the future this is an area that should undergo significant change with Crossrail 2 currently planned to stop at Waltham Cross Station. The new line is currently on hold and will likely be a decades long project, but will make the commute into central London significantly quicker once completed.