Discover Loughton: Epping Forest and local history

Planning your stay

There are several things to consider when choosing where to stay in Loughton: Epping Forest, trails through the countryside and local history. Loughton Station is served by bus routes 20, 167 and 397 and is a 15-minute walk from Epping Forest. The station therefore provides a practical reference point for planning; local destinations offer different highlights, from archaeological earthworks to buildings and natural areas.

Earthworks and trails in the forest

Loughton Camp is one of two Iron Age earthworks, both designated Scheduled Monuments and probably built around 500 BC. It is a lightly fortified, single-rampart hillfort on a south-west-facing slope below the ridge that runs through Epping Forest. Its precise position in the landscape and cautious historical dating offer two distinct points of interest. The Beech Trail leads from Loughton Camp towards Pillow Mounds. Cycling and horse riding are not permitted at the camp; bear this restriction in mind when planning your visit.

Epping Forest lies west of the town and is connected to Loughton by trails, cycle routes and bridleways. The forest is of national and international importance for nature conservation. It is home to more than 50,000 ancient pollarded hornbeams, as well as 100 lakes and ponds. Accessible paths and accessible parking spaces can be found throughout the forest. There is no charge to visit Epping Forest.

Nature trails and landscapes

Staples Hill is an area of pollarded oaks and hornbeams. You can explore Staples Hill and Loughton Brook on foot, by bicycle or with a dog. Both are 1.6 km on foot from Loughton Station. This distance is measured from the station and complements the reference to Epping Forest, for which a walking time is given.

Near Loughton, Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve is a mosaic of species-rich meadows, hedgerows, marshes, ponds, scrubland and woodland. The reserve has footpaths and wheelchair-accessible paths. These can be reached from Roding Valley Recreation Ground via several entrances on the Loughton side of the river. Access arrangements may change; check the latest visitor information before your visit. Its varied habitats make a trip to the surrounding area different from a walk along the forest trails.

Architecture and culture

Lopping Hall was built as a community building and funded by the City of London Corporation as compensation for the loss of the lopping rights. The Hall opened in 1884 to a design by local architect Edmond Egan. Above the original entrance is a terracotta frieze depicting the loppers at work. Its origins connect its community purpose to a specific local history, while the frieze adds an architectural detail to the story.

Loughton’s churches also reflect different periods of construction. The Parish Church of St John the Baptist was built by Sidney Smirke in the Neo-Norman style in 1846 and extended in 1877. It also reflects the town’s rapid growth in the 19th century. St Mary’s Church dates back to the 13th century and retains sections of the original medieval masonry. The Funeral Chapel, a timber-framed building from the late 19th century, also stands at the entrance to Loughton Burial Ground. Together, these examples span medieval masonry, a church building later extended and a funeral chapel.

Since 1997, a heritage plaque scheme has marked the former homes of individuals and significant buildings. Loughton also has three conservation areas on the town’s western edge, next to the forest. The National Jazz Archive in Loughton holds a collection of written, printed and visual materials, as well as oral histories, dating back to the 1920s. The plaques, conservation areas and collection add further cultural points of interest to the architectural history.

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For the main travel overview: Essex.