Hotels in Egham, United Kingdom

Egham sits beside Runnymede, the riverside meadow where Magna Carta was agreed in 1215, and that event is what ties the town to legal history. The charter, sealed by King John under pressure from his barons, set out the principle that even a ruler was subject to the law, and over the following centuries it influenced legal systems and rights documents well beyond England.

The meadow itself is open and plain, which surprises some visitors, but several memorials across the slopes mark its significance. The American Bar Association raised a domed monument to Magna Carta, while the nearby Kennedy Memorial and the hilltop Air Forces Memorial add further points of remembrance.

For a place central to ideas about law and freedom, Runnymede stays quiet and green, more a spot for a walk than a busy attraction. It is easy to reach from Egham on foot or along the Thames.

Runnymede today is an expanse of riverside meadow and woodland kept for the public to use. You can walk the open grass where Magna Carta was sealed, then climb the wooded slope to a group of memorials, including the domed Magna Carta monument and the Kennedy Memorial set among the trees.

Higher up, the Air Forces Memorial gives wide views across the Thames valley towards Windsor. The artwork The Jurors, a set of bronze chairs, invites visitors to sit and consider ideas of law and freedom.

Footpaths thread through the meadows and along the river, so it works as much as a walk as a history visit. Cafes and parking make it straightforward to reach, and many people come simply to picnic by the water or to follow the riverside paths.

Royal Holloway was founded in the 1880s as one of the early higher education colleges in Britain open to women, which gives it a place in the history of widening access to university study. Its founder built it on the proceeds of a successful business, and the central Founder's Building is a large, ornate structure modelled on a French chateau, recognisable on the edge of Egham.

Over the years the college grew, admitted men and became part of the University of London, and today it is an active research and teaching institution. The Victorian architecture and the picture gallery housed within the Founder's Building draw visitors as well as students.

Its early commitment to educating women gives it a lasting place in the history of British education. The grounds are open to walk through, and the college sits within easy reach of both Egham and Runnymede, so it fits neatly into a wider day in the area.

Egham makes a handy starting point for walking or cycling. The Thames Path runs close by, so you can follow the river in either direction on the flat, passing Runnymede's meadows and several spots to pause along the bank.

Head the other way and Windsor Great Park is within reach, with its long avenues, woodland tracks and the open water of Virginia Water nearby, all popular with walkers and cyclists. The mix of riverside flat and parkland trails means routes suit most abilities, from a gentle hour to a longer day out.

Quieter lanes around the town also link these green spaces, so it is easy to build a loop without much road walking. Bike hire is available in the wider area, and the level riverside sections suit families or anyone after an undemanding outing. Signposting along the Thames Path and through the park is generally clear.

Getting to Egham from central London is straightforward. Direct trains run from one of the main south-western terminals and take around forty minutes to under an hour, with services through most of the day, so it works well as a day trip. The station sits a short walk from the town centre and within easy reach of Runnymede and Royal Holloway.

By road, Egham lies just off the M25 close to the M3 and M4 junctions, which makes driving simple, though traffic can be heavy at peak times. Once you arrive, the main sights are close enough to explore on foot, so you do not need a car to get around the town.

For visitors heading on to Windsor or the wider area, local buses and the same rail line connect to nearby towns, and the flat riverside paths make it easy to walk between Egham, Runnymede and the college. Train times, journey lengths and fares can change, so check official transport information before travelling.