The residential locale of East Epping Forest benefits from being the best of both worlds. Situated on the eastern border of ancient Epping Forest, the area is defined by its relationship to the local ecology and the sprawling woodland. Aside from the forest, the area is almost completely covered in green space, such as meadows, fields, and farmland, providing a tranquil countryside aura. East Epping Forest benefits, however, from being well connected into the London city centre via the Central Line underground tube system that connects Epping and Theydon Bois to the heart of London. It is also connected by the M25 junction 27 and the M11 junction 6, making it highly accessible by the motorway. This combination of greenery and cosmopolitan connectivity defines the area, and makes it a much sought after location for consumers who work in the city centre but also want the luxury of space, making it ideal for families. The entire area has a population of just over 7,000 residents. There is a mixture of architectural styles, ranging from 19th century manor houses, council-funded purpose built housing blocks, and mid-20th century semi-detached terraced properties.

One of the primary and biggest locales within East Epping Forest postal sector is the small village of Theydon Bois, with a population of around 4,000. Theydon Bois dates back to at least the Medieval period, and is featured in the 1086 Domesday Book. This was back when the area of Theydon was divided into three specific manors; Mount, Garnon, and Bois, which are names still used today in the area. The name of Theydon Bois village often catches visitors and Londoners alike by surprise due to its unusual spelling. The name comes from the 12th and 13th century owners of the manor, the Bois (de Bosco) family. Nowadays, the residents of Theydon Bois are proud to preserve this unique and ancient history of the area, and there is a large District Rural Preservation Society.

One unique feature of the Theydon Bois village, which rarely goes unnoticed by visitors, is the lack of streetlights! Even though closely situated to the towns of Epping and Debden, which do have streetlights, the residents of Theydon Bois have continually voted against the implementation of streetlights, opting instead for a ‘dark night sky policy’. This absence of light pollution preserves the idyllic quality of the area, which remains very important to residents.

Whilst the area is well connected to the heart of the city centre, to move around the immediate vicinity is only really achievable by car as public transport services, such as buses, are limited. As well, due to the unique identity of the East Epping Forest locale, residents are often wary in regards to planning permissions and frequently vote against new builds and property development. This area is also within the Metropolitan Green Belt area which means that property development must work within certain parameters dictated by the local council. However, despite of this, as of 2024 38 new residential dwellings have been granted for development on Forest Drive, just north of the Theydon Bois underground station.