Where to stay to celebrate Magna Carta anniversary

The Magna Carta anniversary in June 2015 will see celebrations all over the country. Here is our pick of the best UK hotels taking part, offering idyllic historical getaways for all the family

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Woolley Grange Hotel. Image Credit: Luxury Family Hotels

Celebrations to mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta on 15 June 2015 will be taking place all over the UK, with events held in several towns, particularly near Runnymede, Windsor, where the famous document was signed.

If you’re interested in a historical getaway on this special occasion that will be enjoyable for all the family, here are a few of the best hotels and retreats taking part.

Woolley Grange Hotel

Woolley Grange, on the edge of the Cotswolds, is also a great vantage point from which to embark on the Salisbury to Wiltshire Trail, ending with a visit to Salisbury Cathedral, home to the four original 1215 copies of Magna Carta. Furthermore, Henry de Bohun from Trowbridge was one of the 25 barons elected to enforce Magna Carta in the in the early 13th century and can be seen holding a copy of the Charter on a stained glass window in St James’ Church.

The Elms Hotel & Spa

Set in the Worcestershire countryside, The Elms Hotel & Spa is ideally located for those keen on the Midlands Magna Carta driving trail (starting in Oxford and ending in Hereford). Nearby Hereford Cathedral also offers the chance to see a superb example of the 1217 Magna Carta – as issued by King Henry III alongside a wealth of other medieval treasures. The ‘Kings Writ‘, a letter issued by King John from the meeting of rebel barons at Runnymede, to royal officials throughout the kingdom, tells them of the peace made and the charter agreed. And if you can’t take time out for an educational family trip in June, Hereford Cathedral offers displays and re-enactments throughout the year, plus adventure playground, croquet lawn and tennis court.

The Ickworth Hotel

The Ickworth can be found just three miles from the town of Bury St Edmunds, which played a pivotal role in the history of the Magna Carta. It was the place where the Barons swore an oath of allegiance, the direct precursor to Magna Carta and the hotel sits within a National Trust owned property, so is steeped in culture and heritage. Bury St Edmunds itself is a picture-perfect medieval town where ‘Bloody’ Queen Mary, daughter of King Henry VIII, is buried at its St. Mary’s Church. And the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey, the town’s main attraction, are also a fascinating historical relic.

Related articles

Magna Carta: 800 years of history
New Magna Carta vault for Lincoln
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