It has the feel of a village about it and the 6,000 acre Epping Forest on your doorstep re-inforce that feeling, but at the same time it's London and you are in Liverpool Street in 26 minutes. The trains run every 15 minutes and that's 7 days a week (no reduced weekend service). The bars and restaurants are good and the M25 and M11 are minutes away. It has it all, and best of all it hasn't been "discovered" so property prices are still reasonable and you can find someplace to buy and feel you haven't been ripped off.

- Tommy

This is a lovely part of London to live in. It has excellent travel links to main London (25 minutes to Liverpool St). This really is the ideal place to buy.
Gracey

If you are a keen golfer then there is a great public golf course in Chingford as well as a 9 hole course in Woodford and several others close by. The course at Chingford does get busy on weekends but if you head out early evening you can walk on without booking and find it pleasantly uncrowded.

Since we have been here a pub has opened opposite the train station and several restaurants have opened with more on the way.

Despite property increasing in value these past six years the area still represents great value for money compared to surrounding areas and the high street (Station Road) is easily the most functional high street in this part of London.

I've noticed new and refurbished restaurants being opened up recently, along Station Road, but there is still potential for budding entrepreneurs to turn around some of the other more run down business premises in this area. A couple of rumours I've heard are that Pizza Express are planning to take over the nearby Co-Op and that plans are afoot to join the railway line with Stratford, via a link near the bottom of the Lea Bridge Road.

But it's the wonderful views of sky and water, the emerging bar and restaurant life and the handy nine-screen cinema that top it all off, and you're still close to some of London's most fabulous historic churches and sites. I've been here a year and had a baby and quite honestly every day I think it gets better. Could never return to Stoke Newington (terrible transport, no atmosphere) ever again!

Starting in the south of E4 we have Highams Park with one of the last mannned level crossings in London. The area has a wide selection of value housing from flats, through terraced properties to detached homes. There are a selection of family owned businesses including what has to be one of the best butchers within 10 miles, P+SL Gibbons.

Moving further north we come to the main local shopping centre of Chingford Mount with a selection of household name outlets as well as small, mostly family owned businesses. There is a retail park at the bottom of the Mount with Marks & Spencers, Tesco's etc. available as well.

Moving up from Chingford Mount and back to the railway line we have North Chingford. The railway line terminates here and the station was originally built during the reign of Queen Victoria to provide access for the London masses to come to revel in the sunshine and breath the fresh air. The line ends and as you exit the station Chingford Plains and Epping Forest open up in front of you. There is both a public as well as private golf course available for those who wish to take their exercise outdoors as well as numerous horse and nature trails.

The highest point in North Chingford is Pole Hill and from here (one of the original sites of the meridian) there are clear vistas in all directions.

The main road, Station Road, in North Chingford is lined with a broad selection of restaurants and wine bars as well as all the amenities you would expect in what is in reality a village.

Property here in North Chingford is mostly Victorian and Edwardian with great variety: no souless boxes here. The stock ranges from one bedroom flats all the way to some exquisite 5 and 6 bedroom properties. Much of the property here retains original features.

Remember. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Some of the prime areas are Connaught Avenue, The Avenue, Frederica Road, Mornington Road and Buxton Road. If you want to move a little further from the station, The Ridgeway is a popular choice.

So what about the reality, this is a property page !

North Chingford typically, 3 bedrooom semi detached, close to station,premier road, 100 foot garden, detached garage, original features about £280K

3 bedroom terraced property, 50ft garden, close to station, good road, about £175K.

Come and have a look, its only 24 minutes out of Liverpool Street, you'll be surprised