Waltham Abbey is a suburban town and civil parish located in the Epping Forest District of Essex, England. It sits within the metropolitan and urban area of London, approximately 13.5 miles (21.7 km) north-east of Charing Cross.
The town is situated in the Lea Valley on the Greenwich Meridian, positioned between the River Lea to the west and Epping Forest to the east. Large sections of the area form part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.