Plaistow, Newham

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Plaistow
latitude= 51.5243
longitude= 0.0245
constituency_westminster= West Ham
post_town= LONDON
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ405825
postcode_area= E
postcode_district=E13
london_borough= Newham

Plaistow (IPAEng|ˈplɑːstoʊ or "plaa-stow" - and not as sometimes heard "play-stow") is a place in the London Borough of Newham in East London. It formed part of the County Borough of West Ham in Essex until 1965.

Plaistow is a mainly residential area, including several council estates; the main road is the A112, and is alternately named Plaistow Road, High Street, Broadway, Greengate Street and Prince Regent Lane. It contains relatively few shops and amenities, but does boast the historic Black Lion public house, said to have links to the infamous 18th century highwayman Dick Turpin. The Black Lion was also a regular haunt of legendary West Ham United players such as Bobby Moore in the 1960s and 70s. Essex Lodge Doctor's Surgery on Greengate Street is also believed to stand on the site of one of King Henry VIII's hunting lodges.

Plaistow is currently undergoing extensive urban re-generation. Older council estates are slowly being replaced with new council accommodation. Plaistow's parent borough, Newham, is one of the most deprived in the UK, and with an ethnically diverse population; it is hoped the staging of the Olympic Games at nearby Stratford in 2012 will bring additional prosperity to the area.

Places of interest in the area include Plaistow Park, the East London Cemetery and Newham General Hospital.

Other amenities in the area include Newham Leisure Centre and Balaam Street Leisure Centre (pronounced "Baylam"). Singers Ronnie Lane and Sandra Kerr were born in Plaistow. Joe Brown (singer) was born in Lancashire but lived in Plaistow from the age of 2. Record producer Norman Newell was born here.

Education

:"For details of education in Plaistow see the List of schools in the London Borough of Newham"

Transport and locale

A walking path called "The Greenway", runs on top of Joseph Bazelgette's Northern Outfall Sewer from Hackney Wick to its end point in Beckton - connects several locations in Plaistow to areas including Beckton, East Ham, Upton Park (for East Ham Jewish Cemetery), West Ham, Stratford, Bow (via Temple Mills) and Hackney. A pleasant, if distinctly smelly walk or cycle path in summertime, it is a handy way to get from "A-B" quickly.

In terms of travel connections, both local and international, Plaistow is well positioned. A 10-30 minute bus ride from almost anywhere in Plaistow will allow you to easily reach London City Airport and, from there, many places in Western Europe. The journey time to the City of London is approximately 15-20 minutes from Plaistow Station.

Nearest places

* East Ham
* West Ham
* Forest Gate
* Stratford
* Canning Town
* Upton Park

Nearest stations

* Beckton DLR station
* Custom House station
* East Ham tube station
* Stratford station
* Plaistow tube station
* Prince Regent DLR station
* Royal Victoria DLR station
* Canning Town station