Epping Forest: A Walk Accessible By Tube

If you are reading this post, it is likely that you are looking to leave the city. And you can … without leaving the city! So, take your Oyster card and jump on the Central Line with me for a walk through Epping Forest!

Logistics for the Epping Forest walk

Distance: 12.12 miles (19.5km)
Total Ascent: 886 feet (270 m)
Highest Point: 380 ft (116 m)
Lowest Point: 154 ft (47 m)
Walking Estimate: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty: Intermediate

How to get there:

Central Line to Epping, fare zone 6
It is a circular walk so you can get back to London the same way you came

What to Pack

Comfortable clothing and footwear
Gaiters if you are going during the rainy seasons because the path can get muddy
The trail is through a forested area so you are protected from the sun or the rain for most of it. But don’t forget to pack your rain gear and sunglasses and sunscreen depending on the weather on the day you are doing this walk
Backpack with water and sacks. You can add a packed lunch or go for a roast in the below recommended pub in Epping

Additional Information:

There are no public toilets available at the station
This is a stile-free walk
This is a dog-friendly walk

Where to Eat

George & Dragon, Epping, Essex

Highlights of the Epping Forest Walk

Epping town
Epping Forest
Eat at the George & Dragon

A guide through Epping Forest

Arriving in Epping

At the end of the Central Line is Epping Station. Epping is a market town, 17 miles (27.35km) away from the centre of London. It is not known when the town was first settled, though it has several Grade II and III listed buildings. As we are technically still in an urban area, we make the most of it and head to the High Street to get a takeaway coffee before starting the walk.

A beautifully sculptured place-sign in the market town of Epping — A beautifully sculptured sign in the market town of Epping

Let’s get to the Forest

With a coffee in hand, we then walk along the High Street in the direction of the Forest passing by the Ealing Cricket Club. The Forest spreads across 2,400 hectares, 1,728 of which are classified as Site Of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. We then cross over the M25 (so much for nature) and enter Epping Forest by Bell Common. From there, we follow the trail through Epping Thicks. We went After a couple of days of rain so the ground was muddy and we ran into a few flooded paths. I do recommend that you bring appropriate footwear and even gaiters if the weather conditions are not good.

We then cut across the woods instead of continuing straight to join a path called Main Path (that’s handy). We go down this path until Genesis Slade. Once we crossed the Slade, we exited the woods via The Coppace. We then enter the residential area of Theydon Bois. Just wanted to throw a bit of vocabulary class there: Bois in French means wood. Knowing we are in Epping Forest, this makes sense!

Related Content: Parkland Forest Walk in London

Then, we walk along Theydon Park Road end and enter a clearing. We follow the path on the side of the clearing all the way to the end to make a loop, re-enter the forest and follow the trail leading to Birch Wood. We can find mushrooms growing at the bottom of the trees.

After passing Copley Plain, we start climbing Jack’s Hill. From the top, we follow the trail along Long Running and Ambresbury Banks. Then, we take the Green Path to cut across the Forest the other way around from when we started. We exit the Forest following the path on the other side of Epping Thicks.

Time to eat

Once we came out of the woods, we go back to the High Street and make our way to a warm meal. My recommendation is to do this walk on a Sunday and then end at the George & Dragon for a Sunday roast. It is a very charming traditional pub and restaurant with a delicious Sunday menu. They have six different roasts to choose from! Bon appetit!