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To be quite honest with you, there are very few things that I would deem worthy of traversing the entire length of the Central Line for. But if ever there was a decent reason to embark on the journey, it’s this. Perched on the rather blurry border of London and Essex is a huge ancient woodland that’s steeped in history, drenched in charm, and filled to the brim with gorgeous things to gawp at. Epping Forest is the largest open space in the capital city. And considering it dates all the way back to the Neolithic period, it’s surely got to be one of the oldest, too. So wrap up warm, Londoners – we’re going on an adventure.
Epping Forest
If you’re looking for the perfect spot to blow away the cobwebs and inhale some actual fresh air, but you don’t fancy venturing too far from the comfort of your sofa; allow us to point you towards Epping Forest. Stretching thirteen miles between Manor Park and (you guessed it) Epping; the rather sizeable open space is home to an abundance of ancient greenery and a whole host of rare habitats. So much so, that a large chunk of the forest is actually a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.
Credit: Fela Sanu, Shutterstock Things to see and do at Epping Forest
The forest is home to a unique blend of rare habitats. There’s sweeping meadows, ancient woodlands, grassland plains, and freshwater ponds (just to name a few). Epping Forest is also home to around 55,000 ancient trees, which is thought to be more than any other site in the whole country. Some of the trees have been growing in the forest since the Anglo Saxon times, meaning that some of the oldest living plats on the continent are in this very forest. Not bad, hey?
Home to 284km worth of pathways and trails, Epping Forest is a pretty spectacular spot to discover on foot. There are ten waymarked trails, each of which vary in length and difficulty. And there are plenty of picture-perfect spots to sit, stop, snack, and admire the scenery. Epping Forest is also home to two Iron Age hill forts (Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks) and Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge (a Grade II listed spot that was built for Henry VIII in the 16th century). So, you certainly won’t be lacking in things to explore whilst you’re there.
Credit: Michael O’Grady, Shutterstock Getting to Epping Forest
Plenty of stations towards the east end of the Central Line offer access to Epping Forest. Roding Valley, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Debden, Theydon Bois, Chigwell, and – of course – Epping are all pretty close to various parts of the forest. If you’re travelling on the London Overground, you can head to Chingford, which is the very same station that Queen Victoria alighted at in 1882, on route to declare the forest officially open. And if you plan on driving, there are various pay-and-display car parks near Epping Forest, too.
Find out more and plan your visit to Epping Forest here.