Epping Forest is an ancient and magical woodland area that was once a royal forest. The forest is over 6000 acres and spans from the north-eastern edge of Greater London to Essex.

The remains of two Iron Age settlements, Loughton Camp and Ambresbury Banks, can be found in the forest.

It is believed that Henry III designated the area as a royal forest in the 12th century, which meant commoners were free to use the forest for gathering firewood and grazing, but that all hunting rights were reserved for the king. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I both hunted in these woods and it was not until 1878 that the royals gave up their claim over the venison of the forest.

The forest was turned over to the conservation of the City of London Corporation, to be maintained in perpetuity as a forest for the people. Commoners still have the right to graze livestock in the wood, so visitors may expect to see cattle roaming during the summer months.

There are lots of things to do in the forest, it is a popular place for horseback riding, trekking, and orienteering.

The Forest Festival takes place in September each year, complete with medieval jousting.

Epping , at the northern edge of the forest, has a large market every Monday.

You can visit Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge which was built for Elizabeth I in 1589 and is now a museum dedicated to Tudor life. The upper floors of the building afford great views of the surrounding forest, as well.

Within the forest are many varieties of wildlife including muntjacs, fallow deer, and the European adder.

You can see many unusual trees in the forest, some of which have been deformed by pollarding, a horticultural practice once popular in these woods whereby the trees are severely pruned to encourage new growth for firewood.

This vast wood is a wonderful place to get back in touch with nature after your travels in the big city of London.

Photo courtesy: peet-astn

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