It is on the Hainault Loop of the Central line between Wanstead and Gants Hill stations, and is located in Zone 4.

The station opened on 14 December 1947 as an extension of the Central line to form the new part of the Hainault loop.

The extension of the Central line eastwards from Liverpool Street was first proposed in 1935 by the London Passenger Transport Board.

During the war, the completed train tunnels at Redbridge were used by the Plessey company as an aircraft parts factory between 1942 and 1945.

Redbridge is often described as the shallowest deep level (as opposed to cut-and-cover) station on the network, as it is only 5.2 metres (17 ft) beneath the surface.