South Woodford’s retail and business area is centred on George Lane (the location of South Woodford tube station) and Woodford Green High Road.

The George pub is an 18th-century building on the site of an earlier inn and originally a stopping point for stagecoaches.

South Woodford station, on the Central Line, was originally called George Lane. The station opened on 22 August 1856 as part of the Eastern Counties Railway branch to Loughton. The station was renamed twice: South Woodford (George Lane) on 5 July 1937; and South Woodford on 14 December 1947 on the day it became part of the Central Line.

The Odeon cinema opened in 1934 as the Majestic and is now the only cinema in the area. As of November 2017, its freehold is for sale.

This area was until 2004 home to the student residences of Queen Mary, University of London, but the distinctive tower blocks were demolished in 2007 and replaced with lower-rise privately owned apartments, as well as some council housing, known as Queen Mary’s Gate.

Other local amenities include a number of green areas, many of which form part of Epping Forest.