If you’re looking for an easy, well-signposted walk on the edge of London, the Oak Trail walk from Theydon Bois is a great option. Starting directly from the Central Line, this circular route takes you through quiet village streets, open fields, and deep into Epping Forest, making it ideal for a half-day escape from the city.
At 6.6 miles, the Oak Trail is the longest of Epping Forest’s waymarked routes, yet it remains accessible and beginner-friendly, with gentle gradients, no stiles, and clear paths throughout. In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan the walk, from logistics and packing tips to a step-by-step route description and background on the places you’ll pass through, making it easy to follow
Logistics of the Oak Trail Walk
- Distance: 6.6 miles (10.4 km)
- Ascent: 324 ft (99 m)
- Highest Point: 374 ft (114 m)
- Lowest Point: 170 ft (52 m)
- Walking Estimate: 2 hours 40 min
- Difficulty: Easy
How to get there:
- Central Line to Theydon Bois (approximately 50 minutes from Oxford Street)
- This stop is in fare zone 6
For the return:
- Central Line from Theydon Bois back to Central London
What to Pack
- Essentials: Snacks, water, and a backpack.
- Weather Prep: As the walk is mainly through a forested area, bring waterproof shoes and gaiters, since the paths can become muddy, especially after rain. On sunny days, don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat.
Additional Information
- Public toilets are available at Theydon Bois station during ticket hall opening hours
- There are no public toilets along the route
- This is a stile free walk
- This is a dog friendly walk
Map of the Oak Trail Walk
Do you want to do this walk? Simply download the official Oak Trail map by clicking the button below. You can learn how to upload the map to your navigation app by following my step-by-step guide.
Highlights of the Oak Trail
- Theydon Bois
- St Mary the Virgin, Theydon Bois
- Theydon Bois Golf Club
- Epping Forester Cricket Club
- Lots of Oak Trees
The Oak Trail Walk
So now we covered the basics, let’s get to the walk!
Theydon Bois
We start our walk at Theydon Bois station on the Central Line. The village has roots stretching back well over a thousand years. It is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Teindena, meaning “the valley where thatch is gathered”, a reference to the woodland landscape that has shaped the area for centuries. The later addition of Bois may come from the de Bois family, Norman landowners who held the manor after the Conquest.
For much of its history, Theydon Bois was a small rural settlement closely tied to the surrounding forest. Farming, woodland management, and common grazing defined village life, with Epping Forest providing timber, fuel and food for local communities. This long relationship with the forest is still visible today in the ancient trees and historic rights of way that criss-cross the area.
At the heart of Theydon Bois stands the second version of St Mary the Virgin Church. The earliest church was originally located on the road between Theydon Bois and nearby Abridge, though no trace of that original building remains today, only a memorial plaque. In 1844, a new church was built on its present site following a local fundraising effort, bringing the parish church closer to the heart of the community. Its tower is capped with a distinctive copper-clad spire.
The biggest transformation came in the 20th century. With the arrival of the Central Line in 1949, Theydon Bois shifted from an isolated rural village to a desirable edge-of-London settlement.
The Oak Trailhead
Leave the station and turn left onto Forest Drive. At the end of this dead-end street you’ll find yourself at the trailhead. Continue along the footpath bordered by a wooden fence, and you’ll soon arrive at an open field.
Follow the footpath on your left uphill. Once you reach the top, you’ll spot a dead tree trunk lying flat on the ground. On the far side of the field lies Theydon Bois Golf Club, an 18-hole course stretching across 5,490 yards.
As you continue along the well-indicated trail, it quickly becomes clear why it’s called the Oak Trail. Towering oak trees line the route, creating an impressive woodland atmosphere.
You then begin a gentle descent along a path bordered by bushes, with views of a farm appearing in the distance.
Ivy Chimneys
As you reach the farm, turn left and follow the path running alongside a field with horses.
Continue along this path until you reach a footbridge crossing over the M25. On the other side, you enter the residential area of Ivy Chimneys, on the edge of Epping. Take the footpath to the left of the primary school and continue until you reach Bell Common. Here, the path makes a U-turn near a pretty house with a blue gate.
Follow the trail going along the High Road until you reach the Epping Forester Cricket Club. Cricket has been played here since 1947, when a group of local residents formed what later became Epping Foresters Cricket Club. After securing permission from the Conservators of Epping Forest, they transformed what was once marshy ground at Mill Plain into a permanent playing field, which has remained the club’s home ever since.
The ground briefly disappeared during the construction of the M25, when the club was forced to relocate for several years. Following the completion of the cut-and-cover tunnel, the site was restored and the club returned in 1986, continuing to grow from that point onwards. Today the ground remains open to the public, with visitors welcome to sit and watch matches for free.
It is now time to enter Epping Forest.
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is one of the great green lungs on the edge of London, a sprawling ancient woodland that stretches for nearly 20 km from Epping in Essex down towards Chingford and deep into east London. Covering around 2,400 hectares (nearly 6,000 acres), it is the largest forested space within Greater London. Its mix of woodland, grassland, streams, bogs, and ponds creates a patchwork of habitats that feels far removed from the urban edges surrounding it.
Unlike many forests, Epping has a long human story. Its trees and open spaces have stood since Neolithic times, and echoes of pre-Roman life remain visible in the Iron Age hill forts scattered throughout the woodland. In the 12th century, it was legally declared a royal forest, not because it was densely wooded, but because it became a protected hunting reserve where only the monarch could hunt deer. Those royal links continued for centuries, shaping how the land was used and protected.
By the 19th century, enclosure and development threatened to drastically reduce the forest’s size. Local people, including East Londoners who cherished the forest for Sunday walks, resisted landowners’ attempts to fence off common land. Their efforts helped lead to the Epping Forest Act of 1878, a landmark moment in environmental history, which placed the unenclosed forest under the care of the City of London Corporation and guaranteed it as a public open space for recreation and enjoyment.
Today, Epping Forest has ten waymarked Forest Trails, with the Oak Trail being the longest.
Back to Theydon Bois
We’re nearly at the end of the Oak Trail walk.
When you reach the Deer Sanctuary (I personally didn’t spot any deer during my visit), it’s time to leave Epping Forest behind. The trail continues on the opposite side of the road, leading to Theydon Plain, where you’ll find St Mary the Virgin Church. From here, it’s only a short walk back to Theydon Bois station.
Happy discovery!
Final Thoughts on the Oak Trail Walk
Once you’re back at Theydon Bois station, the Oak Trail is complete. Once you’re back at Theydon Bois station, the Oak Trail is complete. For your next walk, you can follow one of my other Epping Forest route or my Epping Green walk guide.
And you, what is your favourite forest walk?
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