Epping Forest is a personal favourite of our editor who used to live just across the road from it, and used to go on runs through its all-enveloping mud in his youth. This is the second largest expanse of green space in London after the Thames Chase. Some 12 miles long and 2.5 miles wide it covers an area of almost 6,000 acres on the London-Essex borders.
A Royal History
The ancient woodland was made a royal forest in the 12th century by Henry II and used for the royal hunt. Now it is managed by the City of London Corporation. High Beach is the highe point of Epping Forest, and it can become quite crowded around here especially on sunny summer days, but there is enough space for you to wander freely and find some solitude away from madding throng.
Close to Chingford mainline station is the Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, which might have been used by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I for hunting. Built in 1543 for Henry as Great Standing, it was renovated by Elizabeth in 1589. If you follow the path down the hill from the Lodge (to the right if facing the Lodge) then you will eventually find yourself at Connaught Waters, a pleasant pond that is easy to walk around and has much wildlife.
In 1682, Queen Victoria declared it the People’s Forest.
‘Tis But a Scratch
Epping Forest has also held a strong place in popular culture with many artists creating their homes around here, and it has been used as a backdrop for many a film and TV series, including the famous Black Knight scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
When is Epping Forest Open?
You couldn’t close it if you tried.
Map of Epping Forest
Download a map of Epping Forest here.
Getting to Epping Forest
Take the mainline train from Liverpool Street Station to Chingford then turn right and walk for 10 minutes up the hill to reach the Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge. Alternatively take the Central Line to Loughton.
