Perhaps Epping’s most famous former resident is rock legend Rod Stewart who were often spotted in the High Street of this pretty Essex market town.

Wood House is a short distance from Copped Hall which is a local landmark. This listed mid-18th century Palladian mansion was rescued from unsympathetic development in 1995 and is now run by a charitable trust which has spent the intervening years carefully restoring it with the help of a dedicated band of volunteers.

The house dates from 1758 but a previous Tudor house on the site was visited by Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Tudor lived there for a while before her five-year reign began in 1553.

The house is open for guided tours on the third Sunday of each month and for drawing classes and study days.

Surrounded by countryside, it is a few miles beyond the M25 but few of its residents realise that it falls within Britain’s officially designated Innovation Corridor, which runs all the way from north-east London, past London Stansted airport to Cambridge and beyond to Peterborough.

The property scene

Epping has large, detached houses in spacious grounds in the surrounding countryside, while in the town itself there are period cottages, Victorian and Edwardian semi-detached and terrace houses, along with detached houses from every era since.

Lifestyle

Epping High Street is a pleasant place with a mix of chain and independent shops, cafés and restaurants.

Epping is all about the outdoors and there are numerous sports clubs and nearby golf courses. There are two cricket clubs, Epping Cricket Club in Lower Bury Lane, and Epping Foresters Cricket Club in High Road. Epping Tennis Club is also in Lower Bury Lane.

Epping Golf Course is in Fluxs Lane and there are two golf clubs: Blakes Golf Club in Epping Road in North Weald, and Theydon Bois Golf Club in Theydon Road.

Open space

Epping is surrounded by countryside and there is easy access to Epping Forest at High Beach.

Schools

Schools include Epping primary, Ivy Chimneys and Theydon Bois. Comprehensive schools include Epping St John’s CofE and Davenant Foundation School.

Travel

Epping Underground station is the last stop on the Central line and for the motorist, it is close to the junction of the M11 and M25 and

Postcode

Epping falls under the CM16 postcode and the local borough is Epping Forest.