Walthamstow is a district in East London located within the Borough of Waltham Forest. It comprises several distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character. These include the bustling centre around Walthamstow Central, the historic Walthamstow Village, leafy Higham Hill, and Upper Walthamstow with Wood Street at its centre. Other notable spots are Blackhorse Lane, St James Street, and Lea Bridge. All of these areas are easily reachable by public transport, with the Victoria line and Overground services connecting the area to central London.
Walthamstow Central | Walthamstow Central Station | Busy Hub with Street Market
The High Street is home to Walthamstow Market, running Tuesday to Saturday. It’s one of Europe’s longest outdoor markets, with stalls selling food, fabrics, clothing and home essentials. The Walthamstow Farmers’ Market takes over on Sundays from 10 am until 2 pm.
For chain stores and big brands, head to 17&Central, on Selbourne Road, where you will also find street food, a social space to hang out and soft play for the kids at Crate.
Hoe Street, just off the market, has an independent edge with Today Bread baking organic loaves, Yard Sale Pizza drawing crowds, and Perky Blenders and Green Area Café serving great coffee. Also, on Hoe Street is The Soho Theatre, which stages comedy, cabaret and theatre inside a Grade II listed building. Around the corner, Hatherley Mews has Sodo Pizza, East of Eden yoga and Pilates, Skandihus Pottery Studio and other creative businesses.
Walthamstow Village | 10 Minute Walk from Walthamstow Central Station | Village Vibe with Historic Buildings
Orford Road is its heart, with independent cafés, restaurants, shops and pubs creating a lively yet community-minded feel. Eat 17 is known for coffee and pastries, The Good Egg for Middle Eastern brunches, and Ruff’s Bistro for dinner. Drinks range from cosy wine bars to traditional pubs with roasts. Shops include Pavement, The W Store and WORD for kids, while Here on Earth and The Little Mandarin focus on art and handmade goods. Antique fans can browse Finamore for unique finds.
Historic highlights include St Mary’s Church, dating back to the 12th century, which features a café inside. The seventeenth-century Almshouses and the fifteenth-century Ancient House stand nearby, alongside the famously slim Narrow House. Vestry House Museum, set in an eighteenth-century workhouse, chronicles Walthamstow’s history and has a walled garden.
Ravenswood Industrial Estate adds a creative edge with God’s Own Junkyard’s neon gallery, along with distilleries and a furniture maker.
Wood Street (Upper Walthamstow) | Wood Street Station | Indoor Market and Coffee Shops
Wood Street Market, located at numbers 98 to 100, is an indoor arcade featuring vintage stalls, antiques, and records.
Wood Street is dotted with independent cafés and brunch spots. Dudley’s is known for French toast, while Sunny’s and Rebel Coffee serve coffee, cakes and more.
Higham Hill | Walk from Walthamstow Central or Blackhorse Road | Lloyd Park and William Morris Gallery
Lloyd Park is the main attraction, with lawns, gardens, tennis courts, sports pitches and a skate area. The William Morris Gallery, located within the park, celebrates the designer’s life and work, with a café offering views of the grounds.
The Warner Estate, spanning Higham Hill and extending into Highams Park, was constructed between the 1880s and 1930s. Its red and yellow brick houses with tiled roofs and neat gardens remain some of East London’s most recognisable homes.
Blackhorse Lane | Blackhorse Road Station | Breweries and Creative Businesses
Around Blackhorse Lane, you’ll find breweries and more on industrial estates. The Blackhorse Beer Mile features Signature Brew, Exale Brewing, Pretty Decent Beer Co, Wild Card Brewery and 40FT. Big Penny Social is a lively spot for groups.
Renegade Urban Winery caters to wine lovers and offers a Sunday roast, while Hermanos serves Colombian coffee at Gnome House. The food options include Wild Grains Bakery, SlowBurn, and Blackhorse Workshop Café.
Creative ventures thrive here, too. Blackhorse Lane Ateliers makes denim jeans, Blackhorse Workshop supports makers, and Yonder combines climbing, yoga and co-working.
St James Street | St James Street Station | Crate and Independent Businesses
Crate St James Street, a colourful container park with small shops, food stalls, bars and workspaces, has revitalised the area. Independent businesses, such as coffee shops and cocktail bars, are also emerging.
The Walthamstow Pumphouse Museum, which explores transport and local history, is open only on Sundays.
Lea Bridge | Lea Bridge Station | Gateway to Lea Valley and Marshes
The area is located next to the River Lea, where Walthamstow Marshes and Tottenham Marshes extend north into the Lea Valley. These grasslands and waterways form a wild corridor for cycling, walking, and birdwatching.
Walthamstow Parks and Green Spaces
Walthamstow is blessed with an impressive variety of green spaces. Lloyd Park on Forest Road is the community’s mainstay with lawns, gardens, sports courts, a playground and the William Morris Gallery at its centre. Walthamstow Wetlands on Forest Road is Europe’s largest urban wetland, offering reservoirs, bird hides, and long walking trails, while nearby Walthamstow Marshes on Coppermill Lane form part of the Lea Valley Park and preserve one of London’s last remaining stretches of natural marshland. To the south, the Tottenham Marshes continue the Lea Valley landscape, featuring wildflower meadows and riverside paths. Smaller neighbourhood parks include Higham Hill Park, located off Folly Lane, with its sports facilities and playground, Stoneydown Park on Pretoria Avenue, featuring tennis courts and lawns, and Coronation Park, near St James Street, which has playing fields. At the eastern edge, Epping Forest begins at Upper Walthamstow, opening into miles of ancient woodland. At the same time, Selborne Park, situated near Walthamstow Central, offers a pocket of green space adjacent to the station.
If you want to explore the area, you may find these articles of interest:
Walthamstow Village Area Guide
Ten Reasons To Visit Orford Road Walthamstow Village
Ten Things To Do Near Blackhorse Lane Walthamstow
William Morris Gallery Walthamstow
God’s Own Junk Yard Walthamstow
River Lea Springfield To Tottenham Marshes
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. To avoid disappointment, please check that the places I referenced in this article are still in business before you visit.