The town of Egham Hythe is an attractive slice of the near-rural suburbs. Located between Runnymede and Thorpe, the area is crossed from north to south by the busy Chertsey Lane. The idyllic feel of the south of the locality is enhanced by the vast Penton Hook Marina, which is home to countless private boats, and gives the neighbourhood an almost Mediterranean vibe when the weather is nice! To the north is the main residential and business area, which borders the town of Staines. This is the neighbourhood’s main shopping district and is home to the esteemed Magna Carta School. Despite the large business park nearby, Egham Hythe distinctly lacks convenient transport routes, as the nearest station of Staines requires the crossing of the river; however, the proximity of the neighbourhood to the M25 means that the area is still popular with commuters who are willing to drive. The locality also has Staines Boat Club and four much-loved pubs, one of which, The Swan, is a large riverside inn and hotel.

Around the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066, the area belonged to Chertsey Abbey and supported only small shepherd tenements and agricultural dwellings, due mainly to the frequent flooding of the River Thames. The area passed through a number of hands, particularly following the Dissolution, until it fell into the hands of Priscilla Edgell in 1766, who was the final long-term lessee. During the early-19th century, a large amount of the common land was privatised and then enclosed, much to the disdain of the local residents. The increase in population, boosted by the introduction of the railways in the 1850s, led to the development of the town and the draining of the flood plains. By 1911 there were six large private estates. The town suffered a severe flood in 1947, but continued to grow, reaching a population of more than 30,000 by 1965. Today, the population has dropped dramatically, topping out at around 6,500 in 2011.

The famous dance troupe, Spelbound, who won the 2010 series of Britain’s Got Talent, were formed at the Magna Carta School. Not only did they win £100,000 and a performance at the Royal Variety Show, but a number of members went on to represent Great Britain at numerous world gymnastics championships. They also performed at the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics!

Whilst the nearby M25 motorway to the west may be convenient for those who drive, it is also a nuisance due to the noise and air pollution that it causes. It also makes transport difficult, cutting off Egham Hythe from Egham station, and, along with the river to the east, isolates the town from much of the surrounding area.

The nearby town centre of Egham is currently under development in what is known as Egham Gateway West. The project is part of the £200m Runnymede Regeneration Programme, which is set to provide new entrances for the town, as well as building a mixed-use development, a theatre, student residences, and plenty of retail space to accommodate the area’s growing population. The Gateway project will deliver 101 new homes and a 100 bed student accommodation block consisting of studio apartments and communal areas, as well as 1,300 sqm of new retail space and a new, high-quality public realm connecting the development to the rest of the town centre. The development is expected to be completed by the end of 2022 and the final construction stages have already been started.