Laud comes from Essex to London (5)
I believe the answer is:
extol
'laud' is the definition.
(I know that laud can be written as extol)
'from essex to london' is the wordplay.
'from' indicates a hidden word.
'EXTOL' is hidden within 'essex to london'.
'comes' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for extol that I've seen before include "Speak highly" , "Lavishly praise" , "Highly commend" , "Proclaim" , "Cry up" .)