THE focal point for all visitors entering Epping Forest has been honoured with a museum status.

The View, in Rangers Road in Chingford, has been given a “hallmark of excellence” with its new museum status.

Arts Council England awarded the centre its new status, which means the management, the services it offers and how its collections are cared for, must all meet a high set of standards.

The View, which is run by the City of London Corporation (CLC), will display it’s a new museum logo, joining public sites like The Temple, in Wanstead, with the honour.

CLC’s museum and heritage manager at Epping Forest, Sophie Lillington said: “We are thrilled with this accreditation which recognizes the quality of the museum collection for Epping Forest.

“We hope it will encourage more people to visit and look at our wide ranging collections which interpret and celebrate Epping Forest and the lives of the people who have lived and worked in the area.”