Car Hire Egham

Just off the A30 and near the M25, it quietly sits between riverside stretches and royal backroads. The legacy of the Magna Carta hums beneath everything here, from the open fields of Runnymede to the quiet trails near Englefield Green. Tucked within easy reach of Virginia Water, it makes an ideal stop for anyone curious about history, nature or simply a slower pace that its size and only 6,000 residents provide.

Weather shifts often, especially near the river—dry one hour, drizzly the next—so it’s worth packing with that in mind. In spring and summer, wildflowers spill over the towpaths. Come autumn, the memorial woods turn coppery and still. While driving in from Staines, we found ourselves slowing down without meaning to—and that’s the kind of place Egham is.

Attractions In Egham

Egham blends the familiar—quiet parks and listed pubs—with the unexpected. You might stumble upon a hay sculpture in a clearing or find yourself beneath an ancient yew tree older than the town itself. We uncovered a number of places where history, nature and gentle surprises cross paths.

Runnymede Pleasure Ground

Set along Windsor Road, the Runnymede Pleasure Ground lives up to its name. Families stretch out with picnics, children cycle between trees and ducks are a constant presence. The Thames loops gently past it and the café does a steady trade in ice creams. Open daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, it’s the kind of place where you end up lingering longer than planned.

Writ In Water

We didn’t expect to be moved by a room with no roof. But this quiet circular structure—created by Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger—caught us off guard. Writ in Water sits just off the footpath near Englefield Green, its stone walls and mirrored pool honouring the Magna Carta’s legacy with simple gravity. Open at all hours and free to visit, it’s the kind of space that slows you down.

Egham Museum

Tucked inside the Literary Institute on High Street, Egham Museum is easy to miss. Inside, it’s tightly curated but rich in detail, covering the town’s role in suffrage movements, smuggling routes and student life. Open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm, plus Saturday mornings until 1:00 pm. A short trip from Hampton brought us here and it offered a completely different rhythm.

Magna Carta Memorial And JFK Memorial

Two very different tributes share this peaceful corner of Runnymede. One is a simple domed column commemorating the 1215 sealing of the Magna Carta, erected by the American Bar Association. The other is a stone stepway leading to a memorial for John F. Kennedy, set in a woodland glade gifted by the people of Britain. During a visit to Chertsey, we made a detour here and stayed longer than we planned. Both are open all day, every day and often surrounded by quiet rather than crowds.

Runnymede Air Forces Memorial

Up on Cooper’s Hill Lane, this stark and dignified memorial overlooks the Thames Valley. Inside, over 20,000 names are carved in stone—all airmen and women with no known grave. There’s a hush to the place, even when visitors are present. Open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm daily (10:00 am on weekends), it’s a place to pause and look outward.

Truss’s Island

A narrow sliver of land in the middle of the river, linked by footbridges and popular with duck-feeders and dog walkers. Technically just over the border in Shepperton but close enough to Egham that you can stroll there in under half an hour. Open all hours.

National Trust – Runnymede

The wider Runnymede landscape is part of the National Trust and stretches from the memorials through to meadows, towpaths and shady woodland. We wandered through on a late afternoon walk and caught the light just right over the Thames. Paths are well-marked, with parking nearby. Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Hay Sculptured Village

If you’ve never seen a rabbit made entirely of hay, you’re not alone. This small seasonal display near Englefield Green pops up with little warning, drawing in curious walkers. A popular option with those based in Sunbury On Thames, especially when the weather holds.

Bell Weir Lock

Boats drift in and out. The lock hisses, churns, then rests. Bell Weir Lock—just off the A308—is a quiet place to sit, read or watch the river do its thing. There’s a hotel nearby with a terrace that gives a fine view, if you’re ready for a cup of something.

Ankerwycke Yew

A short trip from Addlestone takes you to this ancient tree—more than two millennia old by some accounts—tucked across the Thames on the Wraysbury side. Rumour says King John may have signed the Magna Carta in its shade. Even if he didn’t, standing beneath its twisted branches is something of a time slip. Open all day.

Magna Carta Fountain

Gently trickling on Egham’s High Street, this modest fountain marks the town’s historic role with quiet pride. Beside it, a plaque offers context. Nearby, the museum helps fill in the gaps. Open 24 hours—it’s more of a detail than a destination but it connects the dots.

Mile Marker

Just outside 105 High Street, a weathered milestone marks the old coaching route from London. Blink and you’ll miss it. We caught sight of it on our way toward Ashford and it reminded us how many feet and wheels have passed through Egham over the centuries.

Egham, Close To The Ground

Egham’s charm lies not in big shows but quiet texture. The cafés along Station Road lean independent, with flaky pastries and polite queues. There’s a mix of functional hotels, student-heavy rentals and tidy B&Bs near Englefield Green. Local shops lean practical rather than boutique, though we found a lovely secondhand bookshop near the railway bridge.