Guide to Leytonstone
Leytonstone is a colourful and lively part of East London with a main street that feels a bit like an overgrown village. Within the E11 postcode are a number of neighbourhoods with homes to suit almost any requirement – from small studio flats, to spacious maisonettes, to enormous family villas – in streets brimming with property from the Victorians, Edwardians and the 1920s & 30s.
We hope you find our guide to Leytonstone’s various neighbourhoods useful. But if you’d like to know more, simply drop us a line.
Upper Leytonstone
If you’re looking for space to stretch out, head for Upper Leytonstone, extending from Cavendish Drive all the way up to Whipps Cross Road. Here is where the streets get wider and quieter with terraces of large family houses – Victorian, Edwardian, 1930s – and easier parking.
This peaceful pocket is where you’ll find the biggest properties in E11, with Forest Glade taking the crown for the most exclusive road. Among other notable streets are Preston Road, Maple Road, Fladgate Road, Ashbridge Road and Lytton Road, while a special mention goes to Forest Drive East and Hainault Road for their monster size double-fronted houses. Hainault Road is also where you’ll find Gwyn Jones Primary School, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.
Although Upper Leytonstone is slightly further from Leytonstone’s town centre and Central Line station, there is a nearby London Overground station at Leyton Midland Road where trains run between Gospel Oak (at the tip of Hampstead Heath) and Barking, with a useful connection to the Victoria Line at Blackhorse Road. That makes a journey into the West End pretty simple.
There’s a small local shopping parade on Hainault Road and also a few convenience stores dotted around the neighbourhood – including a sub post office – so popping out in pyjamas for a pint of milk or postage stamp is all perfectly possible.
Upper Leytonstone borders onto beautiful Epping Forest and Hollow Pond; great for nature lovers, dog-walkers, cycling enthusiasts and boating types.
Barclay Estate
Just above Upper Leytonstone, and somewhat more affordable, the Barclay Estate runs from James Lane all the way up to Lea Bridge Road. It’s named after the Barclay Park Estate, a large house and grounds that once stood here and that was owned by J G Barclay of Barclays Bank fame.
Today, the Barclay Estate is a family-friendly collection of wide avenues and some of the best Edwardian property in the neighbourhood. A shout out here to Sandringham Road and Colchester Road for their general prettiness and leafy qualities, but also to Abbots Park Road for some truly hefty houses and its namesake local park.
The Barclay Estate has two schools: Barclay Primary School, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in March 2016, and Leyton Sixth Form College with an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’.
An extensive group of bus routes runs through the neighbourhood, including a night bus service.
South Leytonstone
When it comes to affordability, South Leytonstone wins hands down. Forming the southern tip of the E11 postcode, this neighbourhood offers some truly excellent value for money and is great for first time buyers, or simply those looking for as much space as possible at the best possible price.
Locations to look out for include the Cann Hall Estate with row upon row of archetypal Victorian terraced houses of the 2 and 3 bedroom variety – brilliant for couples and young families.
While most of the headline hipster action is happening at the northern end of Leytonstone High Road, there are a few gems to be found in these parts: excellent craft beers at The Wanstead Tap; pub grub and Sunday Roasts at the Holly Tree; and arguably London’s – perhaps the world’s! – best pie’n’mash shop, Eel Pie House.
Plenty of buses run along Leytonstone High Road from where it’s less than 10 minutes to Stratford’s major transport interchange and the retail therapy of Westfield shopping centre.
Bushwood
When it comes to community spirit, neighbourliness and even hard cash benefits for residents, it doesn't get any better than Bushwood. Its residents association, BARA, is the most active in E11 and subscribed to by almost 50% of Bushwood inhabitants.
Rows of Victorian terrace houses – anything from 2 to 5 bedrooms – line the streets of this small, peaceful and extremely in-demand pocket. In fact the neighbourhood takes its name from the most expensive road in E11, Bushwood, where large properties directly overlook the lush greenery of Wanstead Flats.
Sitting between that verdant parkland and Leytonstone High Road, Bushwood is not only ideal for anyone seeking proximity to Leytonstone town centre and Underground station, but can also count The Red Lion boozer extraordinaire as its local. And being within a mile of very lovely (and much more expensive) Wanstead, you get two lifestyles for the price of one.
Davies School Catchment area
Obviously this is not an official neighbourhood, but for those looking to get their children into Davies Primary School (effectively the best school in E11, rated “Outstanding’ by Ofsted), these are the streets to focus on: Malvern Road, Ferndale Road, Lister Road, Davies Lane, Cotton Close, Montague Road (north of Malvern Road) and Mornington Road (south of Lister Road).
The streets are classic Leytonstone: terraces of 2 and 3 bedroom Victorian and Edwardian houses along with some larger semi-detached pairs.
