Runnymede National Trust

It's now been over 800 years since King John sealed Magna Carta here at Runnymede over a bitter disagreement with the church and a series of high taxes levied to fund the ongoing war with France. In 1215 England was in political turmoil. King John had become vastly unpopular – and an alliance of disgruntled barons and important members of the clergy had been mounting pressure on the king for years. Events came to a head here in June when King John finally met with the barons to hear their demands – and by 15 June he agreed to seal the proposed 'Great Charter of Liberty' enshrining their rights in law. This milestone of individual rights and freedoms has provided inspiration for many important constitutional documents – including the 1791 United States Bill of Rights and in 1948 the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Jurors memorial was added here in 2015, 800 years after this historic moment took place. We will also see the John F Kennedy memorial. Set in a symbolic acre of land donated to the USA by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965 in the presence of Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The words inscribed are taken from President Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961.

Windsor Castle

The original settlement of Old Windsor has shown occupation from as far back as the 7th century – and was used by the Anglo-Saxon Kings for hunting and its name probably derives from ‘Windleshore’ or ‘winding shore’ (mention the bends of the meandering River Thames). We will stop for lunch at one of the riverside restaurants. Afterwards we will stroll through the historic town of Windsor before entering the castle. I will accompany you, but we are expected to use the castles audio guiding system. I’ll make sure nothing is missed and help you make the most of your time in the grounds.