Hatfield Forest in Essex lies between the parishes of Little Hallingbury and Takeley, and covers 1,049 acres (4.2 km²) of woodland, grassland with trees, lake and marsh. It is approximately 40 minutes north east of London by car, just off Junction 8 of the M11 motorway. Bishop's Stortford and Stansted Airport are nearby. The forest is not particularly near, nor related to the town of Hatfield in Hertfordshire. Rather, in common with several other Hatfields, its name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word Hoep-Field meaning Heath-field, or heathland in view of the woodland.
Hatfield is the only remaining intact Royal Hunting Forest from the time of the Norman kings, and is now maintained by the National Trust. It is open to the public. Other parts of the once extensive Forest of Essex include Epping Forest to the southwest and Hainault Forest to the south.
