Essex, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire

Hatfield Forest

Ancient royal hunting forest

Bush End Road, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, Essex, CM22 6NE

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View across the corner of the lake on a bright sunny day in summer, with rowing boats on the lake, a jetty and a backdrop of trees

Opening times for 1 July 2025
Asset Opening time
Forest Dawn - Dusk
Entrance car park 09:00 - 16:00
Elgins car park (Grass Car Park) 09:00 - 16:00
Shell house car park 09:00 - 16:00
Café 09:00 - 16:30
Please note that Forest access is pedestrian access only outside of car park opening times. Car park closing times shown are ‘time of last entry’. Once parked, cars are permitted to remain on site until dusk.
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Open

Partially open

Closed
Bookshop
Our second-hand books are found in the lake area hub
Café
Our cafe has no indoor seating, but there's plenty of picnic tables in the lake area to enjoy your tasty treats.
Car park
We have three car parks in the Forest. If you want to be close to the facilities head to the Shell House car park near the lake. If you're looking for a summer picnic and games you might like Elgins car park in the middle of the Forest on the other side of the lake. Or there's always the main entrance car park.
Dogs allowed
Dogs are welcome across the Forest. We ask you check out our Doggy Dos and Don'ts for further information, but please put your dog on a lead near our livestock, thank you.
Electric vehicle charging point
The closest electric charging points at in the M11 junction 8 services CM23 5QZ or Stansted airport CM24 1QJ
Toilet
Toilets are found next to the cafe in the lake area.
Blue Badge parking and drop-off point. Accessible toilet. Poor phone signal. Some uneven routes. Shell House accessible with assistance.
Hatfield Forest Access Statement
Click here to access the full Accessibility Guide for Hatfield Forest - AccessAble.co.uk
Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet in the lake area
Designated parking
There are designated accessible parking spaces in the Shell House car park near the lake and in the main entrance car park
Induction loop
Level access to food outlet
Level access/terrain
There are some boardwalks and it is possible to walk on the road through the Forest.
Powered mobility vehicle available
There is a PMV available on request. Please contact us in advance at hatfieldforest@nationaltrust.org.uk to reserve it for your visit.
Seating available
Some of our picnic tables have wheelchair accessibility
Steps/uneven terrain
Some of the terrain in the wider Forest is uneven due to being muddy in the winter months and the yellow meadow ant hills.
Wheelchairs available
Please contact us in advance at hatfieldforest@nationaltrust.org.uk to reserve it for your visit.
Map
Directions via Google Maps
By road
From the west: From M11 exit 8 roundabout, take B1256 towards Takeley. From the east: From the A120, take the junction for Takeley. Once in Takeley, turn into the road opposite the Green Man pub (at the brown sign). Follow this straight road for 3/4 mile to the entrance car park which will be on your right.
Parking: Free parking for National Trust members, please remember your card. Follow the 'P' signs to two large grass car parks and a central access-friendly tarmacked car park near facilities. Exit Gate is locked at Dusk. Smaller Entrance Car Park is open until 4pm.
Sat Nav: Our postcode is CM22 6NE, The main entrance is around 1km further down the road from the Estate Office which this post code takes you to.
On foot
Flitch Way footpath runs along nothern border of Hatfield Forest. Three Forests Way and Forest Way permissive paths pass through Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve
By train
The nearest railway stations are Bishops Stortford (5 miles) and Stansted Airport station (3 miles). From there, take a bus, Arriva service 508, to The Green Man, Takeley Street.
By bus
The closest bus stop is The Green Man, Takeley Street, on the northern border of Hatfield Forest. This can be reached by Arriva bus service 508 which runs from Harlow, via Bishops Stortford to Stansted Airport bus station. Walk through the Forest approximately 1.5 miles (2.1 km) to visitor facilities. The bus stop at the Four Ashes, Takeley is served by a wider range of buses. The Forest can then be reached by walking along the Flitch Way (about 1 mile (1.5 km)).
Cycling
The Flitch Way (a disused railway track which is now a country park, National Route 16) runs from Braintree to Start Hill (near Bishop's Stortford). There are 2 entrances to Hatfield Forest off the Flitch Way, at the eastern and western ends, which bring you into the northern end of Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve. You can leave your bike in the storage racks located in the main lakeside area
Cycling - more information
Bush End Road, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, Essex, CM22 6NE
01279870678
hatfieldforest@nationaltrust.org.uk

Opening times for 1 July 2025
Asset	Opening time
Forest	Dawn - Dusk
Entrance car park	09:00 - 16:00
Elgins car park (Grass Car Park)	09:00 - 16:00
Shell house car park	09:00 - 16:00
Café	09:00 - 16:30

Car Parking from 1st March 2025
Ticket type	With Gift Aid	Without Gift Aid
Non-member Car		£9.00

Events at Hatfield Forest

Immerse yourself in nature at Hatfield Forest and take part in outdoor wellness activities, or experience the magic of an outdoor performance as the sun sets under the stars. Discover the exciting activities you can participate in during your visit to the forest.

A small child walking through woodland at Hatfield Forest wearing a summer dress and carrying a large stick.

Article

Summer of Play

This summer, enjoy action-packed activities and outdoor adventures at Hatfield Forest. Explore leafy trails and the boardwalk as you spot resident squirrels, birds, and minibeasts, or make your family walk extra exciting with scavenger hunts and spotter sheets. Head to the Hub by the lake and enjoy a variety of traditional games such as croquet, boules, skittles, giant Jenga, Connect 4, and more. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and relax by the water, or hop into one of our rowing boats to paddle across the picturesque lake and create unforgettable summer memories.

PMV user riding on a trail through trees

Article

Accessibility at Hatfield Forest

Hatfield Forest is a woodland property with only limited hard surfaces in the central lakeside area. This is next to the main car park, with designated parking spaces. The central area has a visitor hub, an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities and an accessible outdoor cafe. Beyond this central area, the ground can be uneven and rough and gets very muddy and waterlogged in winter.

Dog walking on the Holnicote Estate, Somerset

Article

Visiting Hatfield Forest with your dog

Hatfield Forest is a two pawprint rated place. It's a perfect place for walking your dog, with 1,000 acres of woodland and open grassland to explore, trees to sniff and grass to roll around in. Professional dog walkers will need a National Trust license to walk a maximum of 4 dogs, up to three times a day.

Groups and Learning at Hatfield Forest

We are delighted that you can now book facilitated school visit with our delivery partners, the Wilderness Foundation, so head to their website to find out more. If you'd like to book a self-led visit, please email hatfieldforest@nationaltrust.org.uk.

PDF

Hatfield Forest map - Summer

Two visitors walking in the garden, both laughing whilst holding an ice cream at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire

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