The original station was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway on 22 August 1856 and formed the terminus of the branch from London.

The actual location of the station building was on the site of what is now the garden and emergency exit of 179-181 Loughton High Road (Aura Bar & Grill in 2024) and of No.

There was also an excursion station or platform constructed along the westernmost edge of the goods yard site; this was used for the many thousands of excursionists who arrived at Loughton to visit nearby Epping Forest.

A new station was opened on 28 April 1940 in readiness for London Underground trains, which took over the service from British Railways (Eastern Region) on 21 November 1948.

The whole building, as well as the associated disused signal cabin and sub-station, is finished in carefully bonded, incised, gault bricks.