The London Borough of Waltham Forest is a London borough in north east London, England.The north and south of the borough, split by the North Circular Road, contrast markedly in terms of ethnicity and socio-economic indicators, with built-up urban districts in the south having inner-city characteristics, and more affluent residential development in the north with open spaces, parks, and playing fields. The borough is between Epping Forest/Essex in the north, Redbridge in the east, Newham and Hackney in the south, and Haringey and Enfield in the west, where the River Lea and Lea Valley and the surrounding parkland forms a green corridor separating north and east London. Waltham Forest was one of the six London boroughs that hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics. The local authority is Waltham For