Epping Hotels
Mini guide to Epping
Located in the southwest corner of Essex, Epping is the centre of the Epping
Forest District, which covers Epping, Loughton, Chigwell, Buckhurst Hill, Waltham
Abbey and Ongar. The town has some interesting architectural heritage, pleasant
scenery and great shopping.
The centrepiece of the town's historic structures is the great Gothic St John's
tower, built in 1872. From the base of the tower, stairs lead up to the belfry,
where you can ask permission to examine the mechanics of the church bells. It
is possible to climb up past the clock chamber to the bell chamber and the battlements.
The staircase ends at the top of the tower, where fantastic views of Epping
Forest, Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome await. On a fine day, it is possible
to see the dome of St Paul's cathedral on the far horizon.
Take time to explore the parish church, built in 1889 in the 14th century East
Anglian tradition. The town is famed for its Monday Market, where all kinds
of goods are traded at great prices. Nearby lies remnants of the ancient Epping
Forest, which once covered the whole of west Essex. The remains of Roman villas
have been excavated near Epping, reputed to have been where Boudica was defeated
by the Romans after she destroyed Colchester, London and St Albans in 61 AD.
Despite being mainly a commuter town for London workers, Epping has some quality
accommodation and reasonable restaurants. The nightlife is subdued, centred
around the few pubs and bars near the town centre.
There are a few interesting day trips from Epping to locations in Essex, the
most famous being charming Colchester, with its magnificent Norman castle. To
the north of Essex lies Suffolk, whose undulating southern reaches, straddling
the River Stour, are home to a string of picturesque, well-preserved little
towns such as Lavenham and Kersey. Elsewhere, Bury St Edmunds can boast not
just the ruins of its once-prestigious abbey, but also some fine Georgian architecture
on its grid-plan streets. The north Suffolk coast is breathtaking, with the
elegant Georgian resort town of Southwold providing excellent seaside recreation
and entertainment. Further north is Norfolk, which boasts Norwich, renowned
for its Norman cathedral and castle and for its high-tech Sainsbury Centre,
and Blakeney Point, one of England's top nature reserves. Cambridge is also
within easy reach, just to the northwest, and is famed for its world-renowned
university town and the cathedral town of Ely.
The town is well placed for the M11 and M25 roads and Epping is the last station
on the London Underground's Central Line. The nearest airports are London City
and London Stansted.
www.essexcc.gov.uk
Selection of hotels in this region:
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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