South Woodford Area Guide

UK Area Guides

South Woodford, East London

Exceptional4.3

Living in

South Woodford is a best of both worlds kind of place - it's within Zone 4 of London, and has great transport links into the centre including the Central Line, but it also has good green space and larger, semi-detached houses. It also has a great range of local amenities, including a Waitrose and several independent shops. The neighbourhood appeals to a wide range of people, including families - and it has staying power and a sense of community. 

Ratings

Exceptional4.3

Community

This is a suburban, family area with staying power. There is a good range of local amenities, including independent businesses. 

Safety

South Woodford is a safe part of London, and is rated as having average crime by the Met police. The wider surrounding area, too, has average crime. The 2014/2015 crime and violence against the person rates were both notably lower than for London as a whole.

Parking

Parking is not an issue here. The rate of car ownership is fairly high, at a little more than one car per household. South Woodford has fairly good road links, including the North Circular which lies just to the North of the station.

Nightlife

The area has a number of restaurants and gastropubs. It is on the Central Line, making late-night travel for more vibrant nightlife easy and fast. 

Family Friendly

It is fairly easy to find a family home in this area, which is known for its spacious Edwardian houses. With Roding Valley Park and the River Roding to the East, and Epping Forest to the South, South Woodford has excellent access to green and open space. Schools are generally good, contributing to this area's staying power with families. This area has a similar age distribution as London as a whole, with about 1 in 5 residents being aged 0-15.

Pet Friendly

With Roding Valley Park and the River Roding to the East, and Epping Forest to the South, South Woodford has excellent access to green and open space. Many of the houses also tend to be large Edwardians, which would be suitable for pets.

Transport

South Woodford is located in Zone 4 and has its own Central Line station, on the branch of the line that goes to Snaresbrook. The area is well-served by local buses, and has good road links - the North Circular runs through the neighbourhood, just North of the station.