It is named after the ancient woodland of Epping Forest, a large part of which lies within the district.

Neighbouring districts are Brentwood, Broxbourne, Chelmsford, East Hertfordshire, Enfield, Harlow, Havering, Redbridge, Uttlesford and Waltham Forest.

[15][16] The district straddles three parliamentary constituencies of Epping Forest, Brentwood and Ongar, and Harlow.

[18] When the council was first created it inherited four sets of offices from its predecessors and functions were initially divided between them:[19] The council subsequently built a large new building, Epping Civic Offices, adjoining the original converted house at 323 High Street in Epping.

[21] Loughton adjoins the woodland of Epping Forest to the west and is separated by farms, rivers and golf courses from other settlements in other directions.

The River Roding runs through the eastern portion of the district, with the Lea Valley in the west.

[22][27] The London Underground Central line passes through the southern portion of Epping Forest.

The M11 motorway runs northbound towards Stansted Airport and Cambridge, and southbound towards East London.

[32][33] A shared-use path runs alongside the Rivers Lee and Stort, which connect the district with other cycle routes in Hertfordshire and London.

[35] North Weald Airfield is owned by Epping Forest District Council and is open to general aviation.

[38] BBC East and ITV Anglia can also be received from Sandy Heath TV transmitter.

[42] Seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Natural England register fall within Epping Forest.

It has been owned and conserved by the City of London Corporation - the local authority which governs the Square Mile - since the Epping Forest Act 1878.