Travel Information

Epping Forest District sits in the south west corner of Essex and shares a border with Hertfordshire as well as three London boroughs. You can walk or cycle into the district via the green routes provided by Epping Forest or the Lee Valley Park or take the tube on the Central Line from London where you'll find seven stations on the section of the tube that is all above ground  travelling through our beautiful Essex countryside. Coming by car is easy with junctions on two motorways and plenty of parking in all the towns and villages.

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Coming to the Epping Forest District and travelling within:

Our district is easy to get to, whether you are coming in from London, our neighbouring districts, or from further away. The listings on this website give travel details for journeys by public transport, driving/cycling, walking and flying!

By London Underground

For those with access to London’s Underground network, visit our district via the Central Line with stations such as Chigwell, Roding Valley, Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Debden, Theydon Bois and Epping offering convenient access to points along the forest, shopping and our café culture, market towns and other attractions in our district.

By Road

For those coming by road, the district is bisected by two motorways, the M25 and the M11 and there are a number of exits. For the north of the district use junction 7 M11, south use junction 4 M11, east use junction 5 M11 (southbound only) and west use junction 27 M25.

The district has 18 council-run pay & display car parks. Find useful information here about council-provided and commercial electric car charging points within the district. 

By Bus and Rail

Local Essex bus services offer stops within the Forest and other local attractions from tube/rail stations at an attractive £2 fixed single fare thanks to Government support until at least October 2023. Explore your local bus options by downloading the Travel Essex app on Apple app store or Android/Google Play or visit www.essexbus.info/map.html

As well as running the closest heritage railway to London, Epping Ongar Railway also run a fleet of heritage double-decker buses that pick up from Epping and Shenfield stations and have regular routes across the district as well as linking to their own stations at North Weald and Ongar.

The London Overground also connects London Liverpool Street to Epping Forest at Chingford and Liverpool Street is also the starting point for Greater Anglia Main Line trains that stop at Roydon in the north of the district, and also at nearby Waltham Cross with local bus links into the Forest and beyond. 

Transport for London’s bus network extends into the south of the Epping Forest District and connecting bus services run throughout and beyond.

By Cycling

Cycling is very popular throughout the district with mountain biking in the forest, leisure cycling within the Lee Valley Park and road riding (especially following the recent Tour de France route through our district).

By Walking

Walking is also a popular way to visit the district with countless paths and trails within Epping Forest and the Lee Valley as well as a comprehensive network of paths and rights of way criss-crossing the district – the most famous of which is the Essex Way which starts outside Epping Station and ends on the coast at Harwich.

By Flying

For private pilots the district boasts two airfields – Stapleford and North Weald. For those coming from further afield, London Stansted Airport is one junction away on the M11.

By Ferry

This green corner of Essex makes an ideal rural base for exploring both the countryside and Capital for those arriving by ferry from Harwich or Tilbury.