Runnymede’s Riverside Memorials: A Self-Guided Walking Tour

Overview

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 self-guided 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.