It is on the Central line between Debden and Epping stations, and is in Travelcard Zone 6.

The station was opened as "Theydon" by the Great Eastern Railway (GER) on 24 April 1865 but in December that year it was renamed to its present name.

It opened as an intermediate station on their Loughton–Ongar extension; the GER became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923.

'Milk trains' to Liverpool Street were a regular feature in the timetable until the underpass from Leyton to Stratford was built.

In 2015, advocacy by a local group forced a proposed 80-space commuter car park to seek planning permission before being constructed on land adjacent to the station.