Kings, Rebels, and Rights: Runnymede’s Riverside Memorials

(4 reviews)

Egham audio tour: Kings, Rebels, and Rights: Runnymede’s Riverside Memorials

This is a 2.2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

Egham

The United Kingdom

$9.99

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About the Tour

You’ve heard of it, but what exactly is the Magna Carta? It was at Runnymede, in these expansive Thames-side meadows, that King John sealed the document in 1215. It reshaped the relationship between rulers and the ruled forever. On this walking tour, you’ll discover how this became the birthplace of constitutional government. I’ll also point out several thoughtfully placed symbols of remembrance, which continue to inspire worldwide struggles for justice.

The tour starts next to the Queen Elizabeth II statue that honours Britain’s longest-serving monarch. You’ll follow the humming Thames Path, where boats glide and wildlife graze along the banks. As you pass Ankerwyke, I’ll tell you about Bronze Age settlements and King Henry VIII’s popular dating haunt.

The tour ends at The Jurors, twelve empty chairs that invite you to sit and engage with this living tribute to democracy.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

Hear about the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial that honours 20,456 missing airmen and women, with its control tower from which seven counties can be viewed
Explore the JFK Memorial set in an acre of American soil, where granite steps represent each of the fifty states
Understand how American lawyer Louis Ottenberg came up with the idea for the Magna Carta Memorial and how Charles Rhyne led the 1957 initiative to create it
Experience Mark Wallinger’s Writ in Water, where one clause from the Magna Carta reveals itself when reflected in a stone chamber’s pool
See the Ankerwyke Yew, a 2,500-year-old tree that witnessed both Magna Carta’s sealing and Henry VIII’s secret courtship of Anne Boleyn
Learn how Eleanor Roosevelt’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights became ”A Magna Carta for all mankind”

By the end of this 60-minute tour, you’ll have seen where medieval rebellion became the foundation of modern democracy, framed by the timeless beauty of the English countryside. You’ll also understand why this place is about far more than a bad king and rebellious barons.

Tour Producer

Timeless Walking Tours

5 tours

I’m a walking tour guide brought up and educated in Windsor, where a lifetime of local knowledge underpins everything, I do. I guide across the historic towns of Windsor and Eton, blending lived experience with rigorous research to help you understand not just what you’re seeing, but why it matters.
My academic background is in Economic History from the University of Liverpool, where my dissertation examined the growth of tourism in Windsor. That training shaped how I interpret places—connecting royal power, local enterprise, and global visitors across 1,000 years of history.
Curiosity drives my work. I love exploring new places and learning from the people who live there—their stories, customs, and everyday insights. Travel has been a constant teacher, especially in Southeast Asia, where I lived and worked in Malaysia for three years. Talking with locals always reveals layers you won’t find in guidebooks.
Alongside research, I spent 17 years running an arts events business, so experience design is second nature to me. Every tour is crafted to give listeners the best possible experience: authoritative history, priceless local knowledge, unexpected details, and moments that hopefully make you smile.
I write tours about the places and themes I’m genuinely passionate about. That includes royalty and iconic locations in Windsor and Eton; the remarkable memorial landscape of Runnymede, with features ranging from the Bronze Age to contemporary art installations; and the RAF Memorial Englefield Green, a place of calm and reflection overlooking Runnymede, honouring the airmen and women lost in the Second World War.
My routes are in locations that follow the River Thames, naturally leading to Richmond—where one tour reflects another passion of mine: Ted Lasso ! The Emmy-winning, heart-warming story of an American football coach discovering English football in the historic town of Richmond.
I see myself as an explorer and a storyteller—someone who loves discovery and sharing it. With deep roots, proven expertise, and a commitment to accuracy and delight, I aim to make every VoiceMap journey memorable.

Preview Location

Location 14

John F Kennedy Memorial II

The memorial is a seven tonne block of Portland Stone sourced from the same quarry as the stone for St Paul's Cathedral.

You'll notice that the design gives the impression that the block is floating. It's inscribed with the words from the Declaration of Independence taken f... The memorial is a seven tonne block of Portland Stone sourced from the same quarry as the stone for St Paul's Cathedral.

You'll notice that the design gives the impression that the block is floating. It's inscribed with the words from the Declaration of Independence taken from John F Kennedy's inaugural speech on 20th January 1961.

The sculptor, Alan Collins, carved the expressive lettering across the entire stone so as to give the appearance of the stone speaking.

"Let every Nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend or oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty."

The memorial was officially unveiled on 14th May 1965, by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Members of the president's family including Jacqueline Kennedy and her children attended the ceremony.

There are many beautiful trees in this memorial garden but two are particularly symbolic. The hawthorn tree has been recognized for centuries as a Christian symbol and it's said to be here to represent the President's Catholic faith. There's a larger one opposite the memorial and a more recent tree planted closer to it to replace a tree that died. It's said that the hawthorn trees are taken from The Glastonbury Thorn, a unique variety of hawthorn tree that blooms twice a year: in winter around Christmas and in spring around Easter.

According to legend, the original thorn tree grew from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea, who is said to have travelled to Glastonbury after the crucifixion of Jesus. Upon planting his staff in the ground at Wearyall Hill, it miraculously took root and blossomed.

Equally symbolic is the American Scarlet Oak that stands behind the memorial. It's native to the south eastern United States and in November, the month of Kennedy's assassination, the tree turns a stunning shade of red.

To the right of the stone you'll see a path leading to the two seats of contemplation. Behind the first bench you'll see an oak tree planted in the former president's memory by those that carried his coffin. The tranquil surroundings, including nearby trees and the River Thames, contribute to the reflective atmosphere of the site. Surrounded by a peaceful glade, Jellicoe's design really integrates natural beauty with the monument, creating a serene environment for reflection.

This is very much a place to think about peace, but in 1968 the monument was damaged by a bomb as part of an anti-Vietnam War demonstration. The damage was later repaired by the original sculptor, Alan Collins.

The JFK Memorial at Runnymede stands as a poignant reminder of shared values between the US and the UK and offers visitors a place to honour the memory and ideals of President John F. Kennedy.

If you'd like to spend some time here, you can end the tour, on Voicemap, just hit Resume Tour when you're ready to continue. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Runnymede District
Runnymede Pleasure Ground
Magna Carta Memorial
John F Kennedy Memorial
Writ in Water
The Jurors
Magna Carta Tea Room
The Jamestown Oak, Runnymede
The Thames Path, Runnymede

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Egham TW20 0AE, UK
Total distance

4km
Final location
Windsor Rd, Old Windsor, Englefield Green, Windsor TW20 0YU, UK
Distance back to start location

1km

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts at the statue of Queen Elizabeth II next to the River Thames at Runnymede Pleasure Grounds off the A308.There is parking there. If you are a National Trust member there is free unlimited parking at either of their two car parks on Runnymede but please check their website for opening and closing times.https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/runnymede-and-ankerwycke From the car parks you will need to walk along the riverside path to the pleasure grounds , you will see the statue next to the river there.
The tour ends near the National Trust Car Park, so this would be my preference.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The National Trust Magna Carta Tea Room is great and is very dog friendly. French Brothers run boat trips from their boat yard on Runnymede. Please check their website for timings.https://www.frenchbrothers.co.uk/public-trips/runnymede-45-minute-round-trip.
The Runnymede Hotel sits on the river at the Egham end of Runnymede, only a short drive from the end of the tour.
It is also a beautiful place for a picnic, either by the river or there are tables and benches near the National Trust Tea Rooms.

Best time of day

This tour can be taken all year but it can get muddy if there has been a lot of rain and particularly in the winter. It should be taken during daylight .

Precautions

Please wear sensible walking footwear as it can get muddy by the river and along the meadows. An umbrella and water are always sensible. If you are bringing a dog they are very welcome but they will need to be on a lead near the memorials as cattle graze nearby.

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