M25

M25 Junction 26: Waltham Abbey (A121)

Map of M25 Junction 26: Waltham Abbey — M25 Junction 26: Waltham Abbey. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map drawing © Corporate Ace Limited.

Junction 26 links the M25 to the A121 for Waltham Abbey and Loughton, which is about two and a half miles south-east. Epping Forest begins on the east side of the junction. The Epping Forest District Museum is about a mile and a half west, and the Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park about two and a half miles north-west.

Waltham Abbey and Loughton residents, walkers and riders heading into Epping Forest, and families on their way to the Lee Valley use Junction 26.

Check this junction now: live M25 speed flow map · latest M25 traffic news · M25 serious incidents · M25 accidents

M25 Junction 26 Now: Accidents, Incidents and Roadworks

Live traffic news at M25 Junction 26

Incidents and roadworks between Junction 25 and Junction 27 that we are aware of.

M25 clockwise Jct 27 to Jct 28 Lane 1,2 closure

PlannedRoadworksClockwise

Time now: Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 21:47 (9:47pm)

21:28 (9:28pm)21 Oct 2026reported 19 min ago

Location: M25 clockwise between J27 and J28
Direction: Clockwise
Lanes closed: Lane closures
Reason: Roadworks
Schedule: 22:00 (10pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 05:30 (5:30am) Thu 22 Oct 2026

Forecast - not confirmed

🚧HA scheduled: 22:00 (10pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026 → 05:30 (5:30am) Thu 22 Oct 2026 starts in about 12 minutes · lasts ~7h 30m

+ 2 more near Junction 26 - see all the M25 traffic news →

This is the news for Junction 26 only, not the whole M25. For the rest of the motorway see all the latest M25 traffic news, the overhead signs and the speed limits in force now.

Updated 21:47 (9:47pm) Wed 21 Oct 2026

Live Traffic Speeds at M25 Junction 26

The speed strip below shows the M25 around this junction, both directions, from National Highways’ live data, checked every five minutes.

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60 mph +50–5930–4915–29under 15

closedM62connecting motorwayA6A road👈M1our site: tap for its map

services, on the side you can reach them

crashincidentqueueroadworksspeed limitspeed shown on the signsstop-startoverhead sign

reported by drivers, which can’t always be relied onconfirmed by National Highways

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Go to our live M25 traffic speed flow map ›

In an emergency call 999. To report a problem on a motorway, call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 (24 hours).

NOTE: The speed flow, overhead sign messages or other information shown on our live traffic speed flow map is updated every few minutes. We cross check the data and aim to provide warnings if there could be a delay or an inaccurate speed reading. There can be occasions, beyond our control, and despite our best efforts where the speed flow could be inaccurate. We cannot therefore guarantee the speed you can expect on any stretch of the motorway is always accurately shown. However we hope you will find our live traffic speed flow map a useful tool in trying to plan your journey. Safe driving.

All the latest M25 traffic news →Live M25 traffic speed flow map →

M25 J26 in Our Records

Incidents here, last 13 days42 collisions, 2 breakdowns or obstructions

Typical time to clear85 minutesthe middle value of 4 cleared

Slowest daytime hour clockwise16:00–17:00average 51 mph (typical 38 mph)

Slowest daytime hour anticlockwise07:00–08:00average 40 mph (typical 34 mph)

Half of the incidents we recorded at J26 were collisions (2 of 4). In both directions, traffic has been running faster than its typical speed, even at the slowest times of day.

Average speed by hour of day at J26

our average, last 11 daysNational Highways’ typical speed

Clockwise

Anticlockwise

Incidents per week at J26

collisionsbreakdowns and obstructions* part week: we started recording during it

The latest 4 here

Tue 20 Oct, 15:03 (3:03pm) Broken Down Vehicle ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 clockwise between junctions J26 and J27
✓ Cleared after about 4 minutes
Tue 20 Oct, 15:02 (3:02pm) Broken Down Vehicle ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 clockwise between junctions J26 and J27
✓ Cleared after about 206 minutes (3.43 hours)
Tue 13 Oct, 07:39 (7:39am) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 anti-clockwise between junctions J26 and J25
✓ Cleared after about 56 minutes
Sun 11 Oct, 08:46 (8:46am) Collision ✓Reported by National Highways
M25 clockwise between junctions J25 and J26
✓ Cleared after about 85 minutes (1.42 hours)

Built from our own records of National Highways’ live data for the M25 either side of J26: speeds from 11 days of five-minute readings, incidents from the last 13 days (we started recording incidents on 09/10/2026). Each incident is counted once. Updated every five minutes.

Junction M25 J26, Waltham Abbey
Roads at this junction A121
Nearest town Loughton, 2.5 miles south-east
Junction before J25, Waltham Cross, about 3.5 miles in a straight line
Junction after J27, Theydon, about 4.0 miles in a straight line

Around M25 Junction 26: Waltham Abbey: Towns and Places on the Map

Map of the area within about 5 miles of M25 Junction 26: Waltham Abbey, showing the towns, villages, roads and places to visit — The area within about 5 miles of M25 Junction 26. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Map drawing © Corporate Ace Limited.

Places on the Map Near M25 Junction 26
Place	What it is	From the junction
Epping Forest District Museum	Attraction	About 1.5 miles west
Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills	Attraction	About 2 miles north-west
RSA Interpretation Centre	Attraction	About 2 miles west
Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park	Attraction	About 2.5 miles north-west
Loughton	Railway station	About 3 miles south
Theobalds Grove	Railway station	About 3 miles west
Brimsdown	Railway station	About 3 miles south-west
Myddelton House Gardens	Attraction	About 4 miles west