The random patch of land less than an hour from London that's technically part of the USA

A tiny patch of land about an hour from London belongs to the USA. It was handed to our Transatlantic cousins in May 1965 to honour the memory of the then-recently-assassinated President, John F. Kennedy.

The one-acre patch of land is located in Runnymede in Surrey, and includes a memorial which can be accessed by a 50-step staircase that represents the 50 states. It was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II alongside JFK’s wife Jackie, their two kids, and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1965.

The front of the memorial is a tribute to the late President, while the back of it reads: “This acre of English ground was given to the United States of America by the people of Britain in memory of John F. Kennedy, born 29 May 1917, President of the United States, 1961-63, died by an assassin's hand, 22 November 1963.

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“Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, or oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and success of liberty. From the inaugural address of President Kennedy, 20 January 1961.”

Before it was handed to America, the entire hillside was given to the National Trust by the local council in 1963. That's not the end of Runnymede's American links; in 1929, an American family gifted the adjacent meadows to the National Trust.

How to get there

The JFK memorial is about 40 minutes' drive away from central London. Alternatively, you can catch a train from Waterloo to Egham, then get a bus to Langham Place and stroll the rest of the way. For a shorter walk, you can get a train from Paddington to Slough, then catch a bus to Priest Hill Kennels, which is only five minutes from the memorial.

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