Living in Wanstead – Area Guide

If you love the East End of London but like the idea of a more ‘village’ feel than some of the other local areas, living in Wanstead could offer the perfect balance – but before you make any decisions about your next move, our Wanstead area guide will give you a little more insight into this sleepy little suburb.

Wanstead lies in the London Borough of Redbridge and the E11 Leytonstone postal district. While the gentrification of the East End has transformed the broader area and the local property market in recent years, not everyone is looking for that busier type of lifestyle on their doorstep.

Wanstead plays perfectly to this, providing a warm welcome to families and those looking for a nice neighbourhood but with a slightly simpler feel than some of the more ‘hipster’ areas that surround it – and it often tops the tables of the best places to live in London thanks to its useful location and strong sense of community spirit.

Property in Wanstead is mostly Victorian and Edwardian period in varying sizes, with terraces, semi-detached and detached homes available. There are also properties built in the 1920s, flats that were constructed in the 30s and period conversions across the area.

Wanstead has had its fair share of celebrity residents too, with much loved actor and presenter Tony Robinson a past pupil at the local high school, and with several EastEnders actors calling it home over the years including Jessie Wallace, Tamzin Outhwaite and Sid Owen.

Here at Trading Places, we’re proud to serve the Wanstead community, sharing our vast experience and knowledge of the local property market. We hope our Wanstead area guide will provide you with the key information you need to get a feel of what the area offers, and help you to decide if living in Wanstead would be a good choice for you.

Schools in Wanstead

Schools will always be a critical component of the local housing market because where there are good quality schools, buyers will always follow. Even those who don’t have or plan to start a family - or whose days of children in schools have long gone - should always consider the impact that great schools have on property demand and prices.

When you consider the volume of young families settling down in and around Wanstead, the presence of reliable schools is an even more important factor to consider, and we’re pleased to say that Wanstead has a range of highly-regarded schools to choose from.

Here are the local schools you’ll find within walking distance or a short commute from the heart of Wanstead, along with their most recent Ofsted rating:

Primary schools in Wanstead

• Wanstead Church School – Outstanding
• Aldersbrook Primary School – Outstanding
• Nightingale Primary School – Outstanding
• Snaresbrook Primary School – Good
• Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School – Good

Secondary schools in Wanstead

• Wanstead High School – Good
• Leytonstone School – Good (in nearby Leytonstone)

You can see all the local schools on our map to help you pick the perfect property.

Getting around – transport in Wanstead

Transport links and the ease of getting from A to B also impact property demand and prices, so it’s important to consider local transport hubs, and in London specifically, access to tube and railway stations.

Luckily, living in Wanstead puts you right on the Central line of the London underground, allowing locals to commute into the city centre, the West End and other local areas with the minimum of hassle.

For travel by car, you’re just moments away from the North Circular Road for an easy drive into London and can easily link up with the M25 and M11 for journeys north.
 

Tube, rail and bus

For added convenience, you have the choice of two Zone 4 tube stations at either end of the local High Street, with Wanstead station one end and Snaresbrook at the other. Both stations are on the Central underground line.

Here are some of key travel times from Wanstead tube station to various destinations around the city:

• Hainault Station – 13 minutes
• Stratford Station – 8 minutes
• Liverpool Street – 19 minutes
• Oxford Circus – 30 minutes
• Holland Park – 39 minutes
• Ealing Broadway – 57 minutes

While Wanstead doesn’t have many commuter buses that will take you directly anywhere of note, the main No 308 bus route heads through nearby Stratford, which opens up a variety of different bus services to help you get around.

Parks and green spaces

Buying anywhere near Central London can mean a lack of decent outdoor leisure spaces, with land at a premium and continual development overtaking the city’s greenery – and with garden space also harder to find near the capital, access to parks and nature is another factor that can increase property prices and demand.

If having places to walk, exercise, socialise, relax and revive yourself are important to you, there are a few good options available when you live in Wanstead – plus you’ll get a little peek back at the past, with one of its more prominent parks and green spaces having its roots in local history: George Green used to be part of Wanstead House, a mansion built back in the 1700s but demolished in 1825. The green is open to all nowadays, and is a key feature of the local area.

Of course, when it comes to local greenery, it’s the municipal Grade II listed Wanstead Park that really takes centre stage, covering 140 acres including woodland, walking paths and wide open spaces for picnics and ball games. The park is a local hub with many events and activities taking place throughout spring, summer and autumn, and during the fishing season anglers can take advantage of the Wanstead Park pool.

Other parks, gardens and playgrounds in Wanstead include Christ Church Green and Wanstead Flats - the southernmost part of beautiful Epping Forest - and there’s also a local golf, tennis and cricket club in Wanstead itself.

Events and activities in Wanstead

With a slightly more laidback pace of life compared to some of the more hip and upcoming neighbourhoods nearby, Wanstead tends to take its main entertainment from the stunning outdoor spaces and its bordering suburbs.

That said, there are a few annual events that take place here that bring the brilliant local community together. During September there’s the week-long Wanstead Fringe, where you can enjoy arts and culture, take part in a trail or simply party! The week is finished off with the Wanstead Festival on the last day which offers live music, kids’ activities, crafts and performances to name but a few of its many attractions.

Wanstead also hosts a fantastic Christmas market every year, and there’s plenty of additional activities and events in nearby Leyton, Leytonstone, Walthamstow, Forest Gate and of course Central London.

Shopping, pubs and restaurants

As is the case in so many areas of London, the abundance of local convenience stores ensures Wanstead residents have all of their day-to-day needs and necessities on hand, with a range of major names such as M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury and Spar featuring alongside local and independent outlets such as a bakery, butcher and greengrocer.

You can also enjoy the wares on offer at Wanstead Farmers Market, which usually meets on the first Sunday of the month. This is a fantastic opportunity to buy organic food, craft products and to meet with the producers – all while supporting the local community.

For those relaxing weekends or nights out with friends, there are some great pubs and bars in Wanstead offering a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere:

• The Cuckfield
• The Duke
• Nightingale on the Green
• The George
• The Bull

Foodies are also well catered for in the area, with many pubs serving up hearty treats and a range of restaurants to choose from too, such as:

• Luppolo Pizzeria
• Provender
• Piccolo Ristorante
• Dama de Elche
• The Lane
• The Wanstead Tap
• Filika Restaurant
• Le Marmiton

Your personal, local Wanstead area guide

With our extensive knowledge of this gorgeous part of the East End of London, we think that Wanstead offers a really unique balance between city living and a sleepier, more family-orientated feel – a genuinely friendly suburb for you to enjoy for many years.

We hope that our Wanstead area guide has given you a good taste of what to expect if you choose to make a move here, but if you’d like any more information on living in Wanstead or available property in the area, please feel free to contact our experienced estate agents who will be delighted to offer you their expert advice.