Loughton At The Heart Of Epping Forest

The civil parish of Loughton is remarkably well connected. Set in the heart of Essex's Epping Forest, the town is only 12 miles from central London. Its seclusion belies the fact that it is only a few miles from Charing Cross, the M25 and M11. Its neighbours are Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Chingford, Theydon Bois and Waltham Abbey.

Excellent transport links can be found in the town. Loughton Station is served by the Central Line of the London Underground. Rail services into London Liverpool Street are available from nearby Chingford. Loughton also has a good bus service, operated both by London Buses and under Essex County Council contract routes.

Loughton has a rich and interesting history. The three villages that are now Loughton were mentioned in the Domesday Book. Loughton itself came into being in the 17th century due to significant growth following the development of the road network between London, Newmarket and Cambridge. The town includes three conservation areas and a number of listed buildings. Much of the town's housing was built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, with further expansion in the 1930s.

There are a number of distinct neighbourhoods in Loughton that have developed over time. The original settlement can be found in Old Loughton along the main road. The hilly Little Cornwall area can be found to the north west, the closest area to Epping Forest. The Roding Estate was mostly developed between the First and Second World Wars. Debden can be found to the north east of the town. This area was primarily built to re-house those who had lost their homes during the Second World War. The nearby Debden Green is a hamlet set around an ancient green. Modern estates can be found at Goldings Manor and Great Woodcote Park.

Loughton has a good selection of schools. It has six primary schools, three secondary schools, two special schools and three colleges. It also has all of the facilities that one would expect in a town of this size, including a good selection of shops, health facilities and pubs and restaurants.

Loughton has a rich cultural life. It is home to the East 15 Acting School, part of the University of Essex and also the Loughton Amateur Dramatics Society. It has a well established classical music scene and is home to the St John's Festival Choir as well as an annual Youth Music Festival. The National Jazz Archive can be found in Loughton Library. The town also has an amateur orchestra, choir, folk club and operatic society. In recent years it has developed its own Annual Festival to celebrate its literary and cultural heritage.

Loughton's proximity to open countryside as well as its many green areas means that it is also home to a wide range of sporting facilities and there are many societies and clubs catering for enthusiasts of all sports. It has its own swimming complex, cricket ground, golf course and tennis courts. There are a number of local football teams, mountain biking clubs and rambling societies that operate in the area. It is also home to the first speedway racing venue in the UK.