Essex lies in the south east of England and covers an area of about 1,400 square miles. It contains Epping Forest - a former royal hunting ground, the marshy coastal headland known as the Naze and London's third airport - Stansted. Essex is close to London but far enough to be away from the hustle and bustle of the City. The western part of Essex backs onto the eastern suburbs of London where it is dotted with towns along the River Thames. Essex gets its name from the Old English for land of the east Saxons.