Epping Forest
Epping Forest
4.5
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4.5
165 reviews
Excellent
111
Very good
35
Average
8
Poor
6
Terrible
5
Stay675315
2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Walking in the forest is the most magical experience but the parking has become a thorny subject. I went to Wake Valley car park at Epping forest where you now have to pay to park. Parking charges · Up to 1 hour: £1.50 · Up to 2 hours: £2.50 · 2 – 4 hours: £4.00 · Full day (over 4 hours): £6.00. These prices on top of all the other cost of living rises are just wrong. On top of this the machine only allows you to pay with cash or by phone, on our visit we were unable to obtain a phone signal or internet access. This is causing great stress to many who just want to go for a peaceful walk without all this stress and hassle . A couple went on a walk hoping to find a signal on their walk and got a parking ticket.It is wrong that people are being priced out of being able to walk in Epping forest.
Written 10 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Egyptian Queen
36 contributions
May 2021 • Solo
Connaught Water used to be a lovely place but it is being ruined by cyclists who are prohibited from cycling around the lake. The signage needs to be better as when you tell
the cyclists that they are not allowed to cycle on the accessible path you are often met with abuse. There are 1000s of acres of cycle paths throughout Epping Forest but so many cyclists choose to cycle on a path meant for disabled visitors putting them in danger especially when they cycle at speed and expect pedestrians to get out of their way. Please cycle elsewhere and leave the accessible path alone so that pedestrians can safely walk around the lake instead of falling over.
In addition visitors need to stop feeding bread to the ducks as it can kill them. There are alternatives including swan and duck food, oats, frozen sweetcorn and defrosted peas.
the cyclists that they are not allowed to cycle on the accessible path you are often met with abuse. There are 1000s of acres of cycle paths throughout Epping Forest but so many cyclists choose to cycle on a path meant for disabled visitors putting them in danger especially when they cycle at speed and expect pedestrians to get out of their way. Please cycle elsewhere and leave the accessible path alone so that pedestrians can safely walk around the lake instead of falling over.
In addition visitors need to stop feeding bread to the ducks as it can kill them. There are alternatives including swan and duck food, oats, frozen sweetcorn and defrosted peas.
Written 2 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smilgaki
London, UK2,416 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Epping Forest is a mixed bag. Some parts are sorely disappointing with ill-behaved crowds and lots of litter (I never understood why some people make the effort to see nature and then trash it). But there are some real gems, too. Connaught Lake is such a gem. It's a large-ish lake with plenty of water fowl and great boardwalks and viewing spots. It takes about 20 minutes to walk around the lake. There is a car park next to the lake off Ranger's Road near Chingford.
There are plenty of walking offshoots to walk further, both across grassland and through forest.
There are plenty of walking offshoots to walk further, both across grassland and through forest.
Written 11 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kth12764
Loughton, UK113 contributions
Feb 2021
Epping Forest is a beautiful, huge forest between London and Essex. Perfect for everyone to visit. Suitable shoes/wellies are necessary! For wheelchair or buggy users, I'd recommend the trail at high beech which has suitable paths. My favourite spots are: Connaught Waters, Chingford Plains, High Beech and the Deer Sanctuary. You can get to Epping forest by car (lots of free car parks), tube (using central line) and train (to Chingford).
Written 21 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul R
Epping, UK1,081 contributions
Feb 2020
The conditions underfoot or wheel are extremely difficult at the end of the winter. With so much rain falling in the last few months, it is no wonder that we find the trails ankle-deep in goo in lots of places.
However, this shouldn't stop many people who, if shod correctly, will be able to cope with the challenging conditions.
Plus the kiosk is there for a cup of something hot and if you are very lucky a slice of
their delicious plumb pie.
However, this shouldn't stop many people who, if shod correctly, will be able to cope with the challenging conditions.
Plus the kiosk is there for a cup of something hot and if you are very lucky a slice of
their delicious plumb pie.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robinofeppingforest
London18 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We went for a walk today and saw litter everywhere, coffee cups, bottles of beer, plastic water bottles absolutely everywhere! Given that this is an ancient forest it is sad to see this horrible litter.
The car parks have druggies sitting in their cars side by side exchanging drugs. The speeds throughout the forest and surrounding roads although 20 mph mainly are ignored and you have to swerve to get out of there way - so ridiculous.
There are some lovely walks but with dogs of all sizes mostly off the lead it was distressing seeing them chasing deer, sadly into the 40mph roads surrounding the forest. No presence of any rangers controlling the out of control dog walkers, or cyclists for that matter.
Lack of signs to alert people whilst walking through dense areas of forest to keep their dogs on a lead. We witnessed deer that were trying to doge people and dogs, it is truly sad! As these deer mostly young do not understand the danger this brings.
It is about time they had proper signage and rangers on mountain bikes taken control of this most precious forest - sadly, will it ever be looked after and respected as a once great ancient forest.
The car parks have druggies sitting in their cars side by side exchanging drugs. The speeds throughout the forest and surrounding roads although 20 mph mainly are ignored and you have to swerve to get out of there way - so ridiculous.
There are some lovely walks but with dogs of all sizes mostly off the lead it was distressing seeing them chasing deer, sadly into the 40mph roads surrounding the forest. No presence of any rangers controlling the out of control dog walkers, or cyclists for that matter.
Lack of signs to alert people whilst walking through dense areas of forest to keep their dogs on a lead. We witnessed deer that were trying to doge people and dogs, it is truly sad! As these deer mostly young do not understand the danger this brings.
It is about time they had proper signage and rangers on mountain bikes taken control of this most precious forest - sadly, will it ever be looked after and respected as a once great ancient forest.
Written 15 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
robinofeppingforest
London18 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Poor supervision of Epping Forest. I was sitting there having a picnic with my family when 25 bikes aprox came through onto the Green in between the Kings Oak and the Green parking area. I am appalled to see this happening to what is a lovely forest with families sitting down having a packet lunch. There needs to be ‘visible rangers as this is happening many times at weekends and shouldn’t be. More ‘visible’ rangers are needed to man the forest at all times during weekends.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Egyptian Queen
36 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
Many parts of Epping Forest are being frequented by people who shouldn’t be there. Connaught Water and Wanstead Park are becoming places for people to smoke drugs and ruin what used to be lovely places. Epping Forest is is a lovely place which we need to look after meaning take your rubbish with you, clean up dog mess and do not feed the waterfowl bread as it causes angel wings and can kill them. Cyclists need to stop cycling on the accessible path at Connaught Water which is a path for disabled people!! There are thousands of paths for cyclists so I have no idea why people choose to cycle on a path for disabled visitors. For the weed smokers, please go elsewhere as I don’t want to smell the disgusting smell when I want to visit the forest, I suggest you do it in your own home. Instead of having a pleasant visit Wanstead Park reeks of weed and on my last visit a man was sitting in a tree by the Perch Pond smoking weed along with another man sitting on a bench. This is disgusting and ruins the park. Visitors need to respect the places they visit instead of treating it like a rubbish tip. I have seen people use the picnic benches at Connaught Water and just walk away leaving their rubbish. The forest is also littered with beer bottles and Costa Coffee cups. Please take your rubbish with you.
Written 30 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kleedham
London, UK25 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
Incredible wilderness so close to London you can visit by tube! We went to Theydon Bois underground station on the Central Line and walked to our AirBnB on Loughton Lane (The Flat, Dorril). This is directly opposite the deer park, so you need to walk around the deer fence to get access to the forest but blimey it was worth it.
Written 13 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Egyptian Queen
36 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Epping Forest is a beautiful place to visit, however, it is being ruined by visitors going there to smoke drugs especially at Connaught Water and Wanstead Park. People need to take their rubbish with them instead of dumping beer bottles, coffee cups and dog poo bags which are all over the place. These people should leave Epping Forest to the people who actually care about the forest. People need to stop feeding bread to the ducks, geese and swans as it’s harmful. Cyclists are not permitted to cycle on the accessible path at Connaught Water but they ignore this endangering disabled visitors by cycling at speed or weaving in and out on the accessible path. There are plenty of places for cyclists so leave the accessible path alone and stop putting disabled visitors at risk.
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where's the best place to park please?
Written 16 August 2023
I usually park up by High Beech Church (Holy Innocents on the corner of church lane) then walk south into the forest towards the really big trees and meandering streams. My mother prefers to park at Fairmead Bottom (down Fairmead Lane) and walk up.
Written 18 August 2023
Zoe C
Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Is there any toilets in or near high beech as I think the visitor centre is closed until September 2020
Written 10 August 2020
Picnic allowed but no fires allowed.
Written 25 August 2019
Would it be safe for a woman in her 20,s to walk it alone?
Written 11 April 2018
I'm not in my 20's , so I'm not sure. I used to walk in the forest alone from about 12years old. Some dogs worry me when they are off the lead, I don't have a dog. I've never been scared of another human in the forest. I used to roam around as a child after school, while waiting to go to my dancing lesson, which was an hour later. My son's used to play together in the forest, one day they hid their cricket gear under a bush, when they returned after a few hours , the bat, ball and stumps had been stollen. I've had my car window broken, and a purse I stupidly left in the car stollen. There are thieves it seems and fly tippers that use the forest.As with anywhere in the UK, we have to look. Don't walk using a mobile (no signal in a lot of the forest anyway), don't jog with earphones, have your wits about you.There are horse riders, walkers, bike riders, dog walkers, parents with children all using the forest, lots of people around , on the main paths. Enjoy.
Written 11 April 2018
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