This lovely neighbourhood is situated in the Borough of Waltham Forest and is flanked to the west by Hackney Marshes. Leyton Jubilee Park brings a large expanse of greenery to the north of this area, offering residents an impressively equipped children’s playground, as well as pleasant walking routes down the scenic Dagenham Brook. At the southernmost tip of the park, Oliver Road allotments are carefully tended, with free plots available – a delight for any gardening enthusiasts. The Breyer Group Football Stadium is a true highlight of this neighbourhood though. Hosting regular games, it is the home of the Historic local football team, Leyton Orient FC, who are currently playing in England’s League Two. Further south, Brisbane and Balmoral Roads are composed of beautifully terraced Victorian houses that feel far removed from the hustle and bustle of London – and yet only a 25 minute ride into central London from Leyton station on the Central line. Oceano, a popular Portuguese restaurant, is also just off Balmoral Road, and an Asda superstore provides a convenient supermarket.

This area was formally named Leyton in 1921, and in 1965, the borough of Leyton was combined with those of Walthamstow and Chingford to become the current borough of Waltham Forest. Leyton had a particularly stormy history during the world wars. During World War 1, over 1,300 houses were damaged by Zeppelin raids. And during the Blitz, Leyton was hit because of its close proximity to the London Docks and Temple Mills rail yard. Subsequent industrial decline has been turned around during the past decade. In recent years, Leyton has become a cosmopolitan hub with the area labelled a ‘hot spot’ for buyers, attracting a young and diverse population.

The area is also famous for once being home to Henry Beck, who was a technical draughtsman from Leyton and designer of the London Underground Tube Map. He drew the map in his evenings while working as an engineer in the London Signals Office. They were initially very sceptical – this was after all an uncommissioned project that some punter had put together in his spare time. The map was thought to be too radical though. Rather than emphasising distance and geography as per the precedent set by previous maps, Beck’s imaginative version resembled the circuit diagrams he drew for his day job. However, the map was dubiously introduced to the public in a small pamphlet in 1933. Its popularity immediately soared and the Underground network has been illustrated using topological maps ever since. It has become a template for metro and public transport maps all over the world.

Despite the area’s up and coming feeling, some locals feel that this neighbourhood is not completely safe to walk around alone at night. There are also cases of women getting harassed on the street. However, one resident said ‘these safety concerns are everywhere, even in supposedly gentrified areas – I got my tyres slashed in Primrose Hill once!’ Leyton’s impressively large houses for comparatively low prices and speedy commute into central London ensure that the area is still quite desirable.

Over the next few years, Waltham Forest Council has several important regeneration plans in the pipeline. They include the redevelopment of the delipidated Leyton Underground Station, which will be expanded and made wheelchair accessible. Over the next 15 years, the council hopes to build around 7,000 new homes around Leyton the new station, creating jobs in new commercial, cultural and community spaces. Work is also underway on a development in Coronation Square, opposite the football stadium. Set to be completed in 2023, the scheme will include 2,250 homes, as well as 1,762 square metres of commercial space for shops and businesses.