Staines Travel and Tourism Guide

Staines is located in Surrey, about 30km to the west of London. It has its origins in Roman times; there used to be a settlement at the banks of the River Thames. There's not really anything left of it today, though, and Staines is mainly known for being to home town of Ali G, a character played by a comedian. The town has a lot of shops after a major regeneration project and is very full, especially on weekends, when people from neighbouring towns come in to shop in the pedestrianised High Street or the Two Rivers complex, which boasts a multi-screen cinema as well as many superstores. There are also plenty of restaurants, some of which are surprisingly good considering Staines is not a bigger, more metropolitan city. Thorpe Park, an amusement park, is close-by and buses go there directly from the train station.

The old town of Windsor and its famous castle are within easy reach of Staines, and with a little more travelling time, budding historians can also visit Hampton Court Palace.

Staines is only a half-hour train journey away from Central London, and is situated just a few miles from Royal Holloway University of London. The river front near the town centre was also part of an extensive regeneration project, and offers opportunities for beautiful walks and cycle rides up and down the Thames paths. There are several large and pretty parks around the town, including the Lammas on the banks of the Thames.

There really is something for everyone.