In Englefield Green, remembrance and architectural history take centre stage, with garden and landscape themes adding to the picture of the place. The Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial stands on Coopers Hill, overlooking the Thames. The Savill Garden is part of Windsor Great Park, and its main visitor centre is within the village boundaries. “Writ in Water” is also in Englefield Green: the artwork combines architecture with a reflection on Magna Carta.
Remembrance on Coopers Hill
The Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe and unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 October 1953. Its position on the hill opens up views across the Thames; it is also a place of remembrance by name. It commemorates more than 20,000 members of the air forces who died during the Second World War while serving at bases in the United Kingdom and in northern and western Europe, and who have no known graves.
A visit therefore combines a distinctive landscape view with a precise historical remembrance. For planning your trip, this focus differs from the architectural history of the church or the gardens in Windsor Great Park: here, the people and the missions to which the memorial is dedicated take centre stage.
The Savill Garden and Adventure Play
The Savill Garden comprises 35 acres of landscaped gardens, woodland and seasonally changing plantings in Windsor Great Park. The garden was created in 1932 by horticulturist Eric Savill, commissioned by King George V. Its design and seasonal changes give this subject a different character from the memorial: the focus is on garden design, woodland and ever-changing displays of plants.
Next to The Savill Garden is Adventure Play, a handcrafted woodland adventure playground. Its features include walkways, slides, sculptures and treehouses. Each session lasts two hours; all visitors entering need a ticket, including accompanying adults. If you plan to visit Adventure Play, take the session length and ticket requirement into account. Check the latest visitor information before travelling and the applicable booking details before making a booking.
The main visitor centre for the Savill Garden is within the boundaries of Englefield Green and can be reached on foot or by bicycle from the village. Check the latest access arrangements before travelling. Windsor Great Park also has walking trails through ancient woodland, alongside lakes and across varied landscapes; this describes the park trails, not a starting point in Englefield Green.
Art and architectural history
“Writ in Water” is an award-winning architectural artwork by Mark Wallinger, commissioned by the National Trust in Runnymede Meadow in Englefield Green. As an immersive space, it is dedicated to contemplation and reflection. Reflective lettering in a pool makes Clause 39 of Magna Carta visible. The artwork thus connects architecture with a specific text from Magna Carta, rather than conveying history solely through a monument or a date.
Another stop on a tour of architectural history is the Church of Saint Simon and Saint Jude in Englefield Green. The listed building is Grade II* and was built in 1859 by E. B. Lamb. The memorial, artwork and church represent different ways of engaging with the past: remembrance by name, an artistic exploration of Clause 39 and a historic church building.
What to consider when looking for accommodation
If you are looking for a hotel in Englefield Green, first decide which focus you would like to shape your stay: the history of the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial, the connection between art and Magna Carta at “Writ in Water”, or the gardens and seasonal plantings at the Savill Garden. Adventure Play has a clearly specified two-hour session length and requires a ticket for everyone entering.
Discover more destinations: Dorking, Godstone, Chiddingfold, Woldingham, Pirbright, Ockley, Ripley, Lingfield
For the wider travel overview: Surrey.
