It is 57 miles 63 chains (93.0 km) down the line from London Liverpool Street[1] and is situated between Wivenhoe to the west and Great Bentley to the east.

In official literature it is shown as Alresford (Essex) in order to distinguish it from the station of the same name in Hampshire.

After sectorisation was introduced, the station was served by Network SouthEast until the privatisation of British Rail.

The crossing gates were replaced with automatic barriers as part of an upgrade of the line in 2008 and 2009.

In 2016 it was reported that the line franchisee, Abellio Greater Anglia, planned to demolish the station building and provide platform shelters in its place.