The line on which it stands was opened in 1839, but this station was only opened by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway on 1 April 1886. The name originates from Oak of Honor Hill, or One Tree Hill. The legend is that on 1 May 1602, Elizabeth I picnicked with Sir Richard Bulkeley of Beaumaris in the Lewisham area by an oak tree at the summit of a hill. The tree came to be known as the Oak of Honor. The tree surrounded by railings is an oak, and was planted in 1905 as a successor to the historic one. One Tree Hill is the central feature of Honor Oak's landscape. It is at the northern end of a string of hills stretching from Croydon, previously part of the Great North Wood. In addition to its connection with Queen Elizabeth I, the hill is reputed by a long-standing rumour to have been the site of the final defeat of Queen Boudica by the Romans in AD61, while Dick Turpin is also rumoured to have used it as a look-out post. The beacon at the summit of One Tree Hill was erected to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George VI in 1935. It was subsequently used for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, her silver and golden jubilees and also at the Millennium. Beacons on the same site were used to give warning of invasion by the Spanish and later the French. The Hill was also the site of Watson's General Telegraph, a relay system established in 1841 linking London with shipping in the English Channel
There are four tracks through the station, with platforms on the outer Slow lines. These platforms are connected to the booking office by a footbridge. The station has benefited from the London Overground East London Line extension, completed in May 2010, but which saw London Overground take over operating the station in September 2009. The East London line scheme has led to Honor Oak Park being well connected to other stations in South and East London with direct trains to Whitechapel (19 minutes), Shoreditch (23 minutes), Canada Water (10 minutes), London Victoria and London Bridge (11 minutes). Commuter areas such as Canary Wharf, Liverpool Street, Kings Cross and Waterloo are just one change of train away. From 2018/19 you will be able to directly interchange with Crossrail service at Whitechapel. From 2018 this station may also benefit from the Thameslink Project which could introduce direct trains from Honor Oak Park through to London Bridge and on to Hertfordshire via St Pancras International. This would enable most of London to be accessible in a relatively short time compared to now. This will also coincide with Crossrail being constructed at Whitechapel ensuring that East-to-West as well as South-to-North London will be easily accessible from Honor Oak Park. The station is in Travelcard Zone 3 and has wi-fi, help points, a bridge and waiting room but no toilets.
Connections: National Rail. London Buses routes P4 and P12 serve the station.
