Chigwell

Chigwell station serves one of Essex's most affluent and historically interesting villages. The King's Head pub in the centre of Chigwell was immortalised by Charles Dickens as the Maypole Inn in his novel Barnaby Rudge, published in 1841, and the pub still stands much as Dickens would have recognised it. The village itself has the large houses, private school and manicured common that define prosperous Essex commuter country. Modern fame arrived via The Only Way Is Essex, which has featured the area extensively, though the village's more interesting identity predates the television cameras by several centuries.

Chigwell station opened in 1903 and the journey to central London on the Hainault loop takes longer than it might appear on the map - the loop route adds considerable time compared to a straight run on the main line.

Station Overview

Chigwell station opened in 1903. It sits in Zone 4 and is served by the Central line on the Hainault loop. The station does not have step-free access but has a car park. It is between Grange Hill to the south and Roding Valley to the north-west on the loop.

Lines and Connectivity

The Central line (red) serves Chigwell on the Hainault loop. Trains head south towards Grange Hill, Hainault and Fairlop, and north-west towards Roding Valley and Woodford, where the loop rejoins the main Epping branch. Journey time to Liverpool Street via the southern loop is approximately forty minutes.

Facilities

Chigwell station has free TfL Wi-Fi, a station car park and ticket machines. The village of Chigwell, about five minutes walk, has a pub, local shops and a small range of restaurants.

Accessibility

Chigwell does not have step-free access. The nearest step-free stations are at Stratford, heading westbound via the southern loop.

Travel Tips

• The King's Head pub in Chigwell village, a short walk from the station, is the original of Dickens' Maypole Inn in Barnaby Rudge. Worth a visit for the pub itself and the village atmosphere.
• Chigwell village high street has a handful of good independent shops and restaurants.
• The journey to central London via the Hainault loop is slower than it looks - allow extra time compared to main-line Central line stations at a similar zone.
• The car park makes Chigwell useful as a park-and-ride for Central line commuters from rural Essex.
• Hainault Forest is accessible from Hainault station, several stops south on the loop.

Nearby Attractions

King's Head pub - five minutes walk in the village. The original of Dickens' Maypole Inn in Barnaby Rudge. A genuine historic pub with food and drink.

Chigwell village - five minutes walk. An affluent Essex village with a well-preserved high street, Chigwell School and large Victorian properties.

Hainault Forest Country Park - several stops south on the loop at Hainault. Ancient woodland with a lake and walking trails.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Central line services at Chigwell run from approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sundays. Night Tube does not run on the Hainault loop. The village is most pleasant on a dry afternoon, particularly in spring and summer.