Runnymede
Apr 27th, 2010, 09:38 AM
#1
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Runnymede
We would like to visit Runnymede and see the Magna Charter. Can we go by tube from London to Runnymede or would we have to take a train? Are there other sites of historical interest in the Runnymede area to visit?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Apr 27th, 2010, 09:54 AM
#2
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The Magna Carta is not at Runnymede. It's a field by the Thames near Windsor.
There are buses to Runnymede from Heathrow, Staines and Windsor (www.firstgroup.com - select Berkshire & Thames Valley route 71). There are trains to Staines and Windsor.
You can also get a boat to Runnymede on some days.
www.boat-trips.co.uk
www.salterssteamers.co.uk
There are buses to Runnymede from Heathrow, Staines and Windsor (www.firstgroup.com - select Berkshire & Thames Valley route 71). There are trains to Staines and Windsor.
You can also get a boat to Runnymede on some days.
www.boat-trips.co.uk
www.salterssteamers.co.uk
Apr 27th, 2010, 09:59 AM
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You cannot see the Magna Carta at Runnymede. All you can see there is a monument erected by some lawyers from the US. It is just a not very attractive field near Windsor. There is also a memorial to JFK there.
It isn't even the place where it was signed - that was on an island in the river, which has moved course since then.
You can get a train to Windsor then a bus to Old Windsor and walk there.
On the hill above is the Air Forces memorial which is worth a visit if you can face the climb. Windsor of course is also worth a visit.
It isn't even the place where it was signed - that was on an island in the river, which has moved course since then.
You can get a train to Windsor then a bus to Old Windsor and walk there.
On the hill above is the Air Forces memorial which is worth a visit if you can face the climb. Windsor of course is also worth a visit.
Apr 27th, 2010, 10:04 AM
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For the magna carta itself you need either the House of Lords, Licoln Cathedral, Dover castle or the best preserved at Salisbury Cathedral.
Durham cathedral has an early copy, as does Hereford Cathedral (which also has the Mapa Mundi). The Bodleian in Oxford has 4 copies.
Not all are on display to the public though.
Durham cathedral has an early copy, as does Hereford Cathedral (which also has the Mapa Mundi). The Bodleian in Oxford has 4 copies.
Not all are on display to the public though.
Apr 27th, 2010, 12:44 PM
#5
"<i>For the magna carta itself you need either the House of Lords, Licoln Cathedral, Dover castle or the best preserved at Salisbury Cathedral.</i>"
Are you sure there is one at Dover? The British Library has two 1215 'original copies', Salisbury - 1, and Lincoln - 1.
Are you sure there is one at Dover? The British Library has two 1215 'original copies', Salisbury - 1, and Lincoln - 1.
Apr 27th, 2010, 01:47 PM
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta#Copies
There's only four "original copies" - British Library, Westminster Palace, Lincoln Cathedral & Salisbury Cathedral.
All others date from after 1215 including the Durham, Hereford and the 4 Oxford copies
There's only four "original copies" - British Library, Westminster Palace, Lincoln Cathedral & Salisbury Cathedral.
All others date from after 1215 including the Durham, Hereford and the 4 Oxford copies
Apr 27th, 2010, 05:33 PM
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Runnymede is an empty meadow, worth a 5 minute stop only if you're driving in the area (we did a trip to Windsor and Hampton Court and stopped in between). (Yes, there were multiple original since each "Baron: got one to take home, unlike the Declaration of Independence - which has only an original.)
The few original Magna Cartas left are much too valuable to be left in a random meadow and are all in controlled conditions under very high security. Try the British Library for the simplest copy to get to..
The few original Magna Cartas left are much too valuable to be left in a random meadow and are all in controlled conditions under very high security. Try the British Library for the simplest copy to get to..
Jun 18th, 2010, 11:43 AM
#10
There is no boat from London to Runnymede. There is a boat tour from Hampton Court to Runnymede -- but it takes 4 hour each way or 9.5 hours if you went round trip - and it only runs a few times a year.
As several of us have mentioned -- there really isn't much at Runnymede. You could combine it w/ a day trip to Windsor (but not by boat)
As several of us have mentioned -- there really isn't much at Runnymede. You could combine it w/ a day trip to Windsor (but not by boat)
Jun 18th, 2010, 12:53 PM
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There is a boat from Hampton Court to Runnymede at 1430 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 21 June to 2 September, due to arrive in Runnymede at 1830.
www.boat-trips.co.uk
There is usually a boat from Westminster at 1030 to Hampton Court which, with a favourable tide, would get to Hampton Court before 1430. Thus, you could get from London to Runnymede in eight hours, then return by bus and train.
More easily, take a train to Staines or Windsor, then a boat to Runnymede (www.salterssteamers.co.uk and
www.boat-trips.co.uk), but Runnymede really isn't very interesting, and I don't think it's the prettiest stretch of the Thames.
www.boat-trips.co.uk
There is usually a boat from Westminster at 1030 to Hampton Court which, with a favourable tide, would get to Hampton Court before 1430. Thus, you could get from London to Runnymede in eight hours, then return by bus and train.
More easily, take a train to Staines or Windsor, then a boat to Runnymede (www.salterssteamers.co.uk and
www.boat-trips.co.uk), but Runnymede really isn't very interesting, and I don't think it's the prettiest stretch of the Thames.
Jul 2nd, 2010, 11:51 AM
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From the National Trust website:
http://tinyurl.com/24keumg
http://tinyurl.com/24keumg
Jul 2nd, 2010, 11:27 PM
#17
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If you want to see the document, there's a copy usually on display in the free permanent exhibition galleries in the British Library at St Pancras in London, failing which they have an online display:
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/takin...agnacarta.html
Runnymede is pretty but not much more than that. Among the memorials there is one to President Kennedy. But there really isn't anything substantial related to Magna Carta.
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/takin...agnacarta.html
Runnymede is pretty but not much more than that. Among the memorials there is one to President Kennedy. But there really isn't anything substantial related to Magna Carta.
Jul 3rd, 2010, 01:57 AM
#18
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Runymede is literally a field. Magna Carta isn't that important to us - but seems to be very iconic to Americans.
There's nothing there apart from the aforementioned monument by Yank lawyers and there is also the acre of it we gave to the yanks in memory of JFK (Techically this American soil).
To get there go to Windsor and prepare for a LONG walk.
But really - it is just a field.
There's nothing there apart from the aforementioned monument by Yank lawyers and there is also the acre of it we gave to the yanks in memory of JFK (Techically this American soil).
To get there go to Windsor and prepare for a LONG walk.
But really - it is just a field.
Jul 3rd, 2010, 04:13 AM
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