Roydon is a village located in the north of Epping Forest and lies on the River Stort and canalised Stort Navigation.
According to Visit Epping Forest, Roydon was recorded in the Domesday Book as Ruindune which transformed into the names Reidona, Reindon, and then Roindon by 1208.
It described the village as “small but picturesque”.
Roydon has its own train station on the West Anglia mainline, with trains linking the village to London Liverpool Street and Cambridge.
Roydon train station (Image: Google) According to Google Maps, Roydon is only a 45 minute drive from Romford Market.
Acknowledging these efficient transport links, researchers Area Hive described Roydon as a village “that balances rural charm with accessibility to urban conveniences”.
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Included in this “rural charm” are the village’s two pubs: The White Hart and the 200-year-old New Inn – both located in High Street.
The New Inn has a 4.5 Google rating from 282 reviews and claims to be more than 200 years old with the pub keeping its “original character” still today.
“There are warming log fires in winter, and a lovely beer garden and play area for the summer.”
The White Hart describes itself as a “family run, historic village inn bursting with character, that sits proudly in the centre of Roydon”.
This pub offers a “mouth-watering Sunday roast” and has a 4.4 rating on Google from 293 reviews.
Area Hive also noted the Gardener’s Retreat Cafe as a spot to visit – “a charming coffee shop, perfect for a relaxing afternoon”.
They said: “If you love the outdoors, Roydon won’t disappoint.
“The village is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is home to the Roydon Playing Fields and Roydon Allotments.
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“These green spaces are perfect for leisurely walks, picnics, and even a bit of gardening if that’s your thing.
“The nearby River Stort also provides a scenic backdrop for weekend walks or casual bike rides.”
They also noted “many attractive, and some unusual, listed buildings” in Roydon such as the Grade I listed Church of St Peter-ad-Vincula which dates from 1225, and was believed to be built on the remains of an even older church.
Just south of the church and opposite Temple Farmhouse, which is listed Grade II, are the 18th century village lock-up and stocks which are also Grade II listed buildings.
Roydon Village Hall in Harlow Road was built in 1920 and has since has undergone two major refurbishments.
Every second Saturday of the month from 9.30am-1pm, the hall hosts a village market with artisan food and local crafts.
According to Rightmove, house prices in Roydon have an overall average price of £643,278 over the last year.
The majority of properties sold in Roydon during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £726,636.
Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £593,749, with terraced properties fetching £403,667.
