Staines factfile

How to get to Staines
Staines is a town which sits beside the River Thames in Surrey, 27 km (17 mi) southwest of London. As part of the London commuter belt, it is well served by bus and rail routes, and easily reached via junction 13 of the M25 motorway.

Staines through the ages
When the Romans invaded Britain in AD43, they settled in Staines in the same year.

In 1215, barons assembled in Staines before meeting King John at Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta.

Staines was also the major producer of linoleum, the floor covering invented in 1864. The term Staines Lino became a worldwide name.

Today Staines is thriving and companies like BUPA, Samsung and British Gas have major offices in the town.

Shopping in Staines
Staines has a fairly compact town centre with a wide pedestrianised High Street. The Elmsleigh and Two Rivers shopping centres are home to branches of most major retail stores. A street market is held in the Market Square on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Famous people from Staines
The girl at the centre of the Profumo scandal in the early 1960s, Christine Keeler, lived in Staines. Pop band Hard-Fi got together in Staines. And the current Doctor Who, David Tennant, is a resident.

How Staines got its name
The name Staines is thought to derive from Old English for stones, due to its associatition with a long-lost site of monoliths in nearby Stanwell.

Things to see and do around Staines
A host of picturesque villages like Egham, Laleham and Ashford surround the town and are known for their fine architecture and historic pubs.

The old town of Windsor and its famous castle are within easy reach, as are popular theme parks Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park.

Sports and leisure in Staines
Staines has numerous sports and recreational facilities. Lammas Recreation Ground has football pitches, tennis courts, croquet and giant chess. Spelthorne Leisure Centre offers swimming pools, a sports hall, squash courts and a gym.

Staines Boat Club, established in 1851, offers a friendly welcome to rowers of all ages and levels of ability.

Arts and culture in Staines
Staines Theatre regularly hosts leading productions and concerts. The Cellar Bar provides a popular venue for stand-up comedy and art exhibitions, and there is also a three-screen cinema.

Staines' claim to fame
Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional character Ali G comes from Staines and refers to his friends from the town as the Staines Massive. Rrrrespek!