Sculpture portraying King John and Baron Fitzwalter
Sculpture portraying King John and Baron Fitzwalter
England
Egham is a small historic town. It is part of the southeastern county of Surrey, but is also considered to be part of the Greater London area. This makes the town a popular residential choice for London commuters. Egham is located just off junction 13 of the M25 motorway and only a few miles from the M3 motorway, which means it is very well provided for in terms of road connections. Egham has a very long history, recorded at least as far back as the Saxon occupation of England.

Egham sits alongside Runnymede, which is famous for its part in English heritage. Runnymede itself is an attractive but unassuming grass plains area. However, it is here that King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215. It changed the previously limitless powers of the British monarchy, as demanded by local lords, and caused significant civil unrest. Now, the National Trust maintains Runnymede plains. It is a popular visitor location for its scenery and its memorials. In addition to a cenotaph commemorating the Magna Carta, there are monuments to those lost in World War II and one to President John F Kennedy, which was added two years after his assassination in 1963.

Egham is also the location of Royal Holloway, a French-inspired grade I listed structure and one of the most distinctive academic buildings in the country. Royal Holloway was founded in the late 1800s as a women’s college, although today it offers mixed-sex education as part of the University of London. Despite being less than 20 miles outside London, Egham is a pleasantly quiet and reasonably traditional town, with a small town centre. Its appeal is increased thanks to its location. Ascot and its racecourse, and Windsor and its beautiful castle, are both within a short drive from Egham. Staines is the nearest town to Egham if you are looking for a greater choice of shopping.