It’s another day off and I’m heading to Epping Forest for a hike. I started the walk from Theydon Bois Station, and the route was around 11 kilometres.
Epping Forest stretches for almost thirteen miles from East London into Essex and covers more than 8,000 acres of woodland, grassland and ponds. The Theydon Bois side, where I walked, is one of the quieter parts.
The Walk, Leg by Leg
Leg One: Roads Before Woods
The walk started with quite a bit of road and residential areas, which honestly wasn’t my favourite part. It felt like I was spending more time walking along the roads than actually being in the forest. It was a really warm day, and after just about 1 kilometre, I was already thinking about when I was going to eat.
Leg Two: A Surprise, Then the Green Starts
I did come across some horses along the way, which was a nice little surprise. After a while, though, I finally started getting into the greener parts of Epping Forest. Once I was surrounded by trees and open countryside, the walk became much more enjoyable. It was quiet, peaceful and felt completely different from the roads at the beginning.
Leg Three: The Picnic Clearing
Eventually, I found a really nice big clearing that was perfect for a picnic. I stopped there, had something to eat and relaxed for a while. It was exactly what I needed.
Leg Four: The Best Four Kilometres
After the picnic, I felt much more refreshed, and I still had around four kilometres left before getting back to the station. The rest of the walk was really lovely. There were lots of trees, greenery and quiet paths, and it was nice to just take my time and enjoy being outside. There were other people out walking too, but it never felt too crowded. I really enjoyed this part of the forest.
My verdict: after around four hours, including plenty of time for the picnic and relaxing, I made it back to the station. The whole walk was around 11 kilometres. I’d give the trail about 4.4 out of 5. The beginning wasn’t the best because of all the residential areas and roads, but the route coming back was much nicer, and it was a lovely way to spend my day off, get some fresh air and have a proper break from everything.
About Epping Forest
Epping Forest has been kept as public open space since the Epping Forest Act of 1878. Today it is a charity, with the City of London Corporation acting as Conservators and Trustee. It stretches about thirteen miles from East London into Essex and covers around 8,000 acres (roughly 3,240 hectares), with more than 284 km of paths and other trails. That scale is why a single circular walk like mine only shows one small corner of it.
Waymarked trails
The City of London lists nine circular waymarked trails: Chestnut, Gifford, Golden Hill, Holly, Hornbeam, Lime, Rowan, Warlies Park and Willow. Each has signposts and starts and ends near parking or stations where possible.
From the stations
Signs at Epping and Loughton stations welcome visitors, and waymarkers lead from them into the Forest. My own route started at Theydon Bois on the Central line.
London Loop
Sections 18 and 19 of the 150-mile London Loop, which has 24 sections in total, pass through Epping Forest.
Maps and visitor centres
The official map and a book of short walks are sold at the Chingford and High Beach visitor centres.
Groups such as Epping Forest Heritage Trust, West Essex Ramblers and Orion Harriers run regular walks or runs, and Wanstead Flats hosts a Parkrun, so there are easy ways to join other people if you would rather not walk alone. The Epping Forest Team is based at The Warren, Loughton, Essex IG10 4RW, and the 24-hour line is 020 8532 1010. Problems in the Forest can be reported using a what3words location.
A note on my route: the Oak Trail waymarker I photographed is the one I followed on this day. It is not one of the nine City of London trails listed above, so if you want to repeat my walk, rely on a downloaded map of the Theydon Bois circuit and check the waymarks on the ground rather than assuming a trail name.
Before You Go
Getting there
Theydon Bois is on the Central line, and the walk starts and finishes at the station. Expect some road walking before you reach the woods.
Finding your way
The Oak Trail is waymarked, which helps a lot. Phone signal can be weak in the forest, so download the route before you set off.
Underfoot
It was dry on my walk, but the forest paths are clay and get very muddy after rain. Wear proper shoes.
What to bring
Water and food. There is nowhere to buy anything once you are in the woods, and a picnic in a clearing is half the fun.
Horses graze in parts of the forest, and fallow and muntjac deer live here too, but you can’t count on seeing them. If you want an easier first visit with a visitor centre, the Chingford side is a better starting point than Theydon Bois.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Theydon Bois circular route?
Around 11 kilometres. It took me about four hours, including a picnic stop.
Is the start of the walk through the forest?
Not straight away. The route from Theydon Bois begins with residential roads before you reach the woodland.
Can you see wildlife on this route?
Sometimes. I saw horses along the way. Deer live in the forest, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Is Epping Forest muddy?
It can be very muddy after rain, and shaded paths stay wet for longer.
How This Guide Was Put Together
This guide is based on my own circular hike from Theydon Bois Station through Epping Forest. All photographs are my own. Trail and access information was checked against the City of London’s official Epping Forest pages.
Last checked: 20 October 2026
Nearby guides: Lloyd Park, Walthamstow Wetlands and Hainault Forest Country Park
Author
Steve visits every park featured on EKS Parks in person, checking practical details against councils, park operators and official sources. Every guide is based on a personal visit, and the photographs published with it are his own.
About Steve