property, homes and houses for sale in Wanstead

Wanstead is attracting young professionals and families to a leafy, suburban way of life just a stone’s throw from the City.

Living in Wanstead

Wanstead is in the London Borough of Redbridge and is first mentioned in official records around 1050 as ‘Waen stede’ – Anglo-Saxon for ‘settlement by a hillock’.

Almost a thousand years on and Wanstead retains much of its village atmosphere, thanks to its traditional village green, 18th century church and the stunning, Grade II listed Wanstead Park with its golf course, tennis courts, boating pond, cricket club, waterways and woodland.

South of the park is the vast expanse of Wanstead Flats – ideal for riding horses, flying model aircraft or having a picnic. North of the park is the rich woodland of Epping Forest.

Wanstead’s picturesque high street is lined with independent shops and a few high street chains. It also offers a good selection of restaurants, wine bars, traditional pubs and cafés and a library and Leisure Centre.

Much of the property in Wanstead is either between the wars semi-detached houses or stylish, modern developments. A notable landmark towards the northern edge of Wanstead is the former Wanstead Hospital, which has been redeveloped into a housing complex.

Wanstead has a good choice of state and private schools including Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Primary School, Wanstead Church School, St Joseph’s Convent School and Wanstead High School. Award-winning Godwin Junior School is near Wanstead Park.

Life in Wanstead is good: there’s an abundance of green spaces, parks and woodland, complemented by excellent local amenities, including Whipps Cross Hospital in neighbouring Leytonstone.

Transport

Wanstead tube station is on the Redbridge branch of the Central Line, which provides a direct route to Stratford, Liverpool Street, Bank and Oxford Circus.

At Stratford you can change to the Docklands Light Railway for Canary Wharf, Lewisham, Bank, Beckton and London City Airport. In 2010 it will also connect to Canning Town.

The railway station in Stratford is served by National Express East Anglia trains, which provide a direct link to stations en route to Norwich.

Stratford International Station is part of the Eurostar Channel Tunnel Rail Link and is scheduled to open in 2009.

For information regarding bus, tube and DLR please visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx For information regarding flights from London City Airport please visit http://www.londoncityairport.com/ .

For details of train services throughout the UK please http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ .

The A12 passes through Wanstead and links to the A406 north of Wanstead Park and due south of the M11.

History and culture

Wanstead Park was originally part of the estate of Wanstead House, one of the finest Palladian mansions in Britain. Because of its size and splendour it was known as the English Versailles and was the architectural inspiration for the design of Mansion House in the City of London.

Following the bankruptcy of the house’s owner, William Wellesley-Long, the house was sadly demolished in 1824 after all its contents were sold by auction.

Today, Wanstead Golf Club shares the beautiful park, which has been lovingly preserved as a public park by the Corporation of London since 1882.

For current information about Wanstead please visit http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/ .