With a name like Staines, one would evoke in their mind an image of a dirty, dreary city. This couldn't be further from the truth, though, and Staines is one of the most thrilling and unique parts of the Greater London Urban Area. Like many areas in Surrey and the whole conurbation as a whole, Staines is a bit compact and tightly knit but that is exactly what makes it so charming and lovable. Nearly thirty thousand people call this little suburb of London home and it sits comfortably amid similar towns like Egham and Ashford. Staines definitely has people from all over London coming and going, though, and much of this has to do with the fact that the town is a mere three miles away from one of the most well-known airports in the entire world: Heathrow Airport.
Staines' popularity has caused it to factor into all kinds of pop culture references. Famed comedian and prank artist Sacha Baron Cohen made Staines the home for his fictional alter ego "Ali G". While the shout out from a famous entertainer is certainly flattering, Staines likely would have appreciated a fictional resident who wasn't as annoying and despicable. At any rate, Ali G would have certainly appreciated the fantastic transportation system that allows residents of Staines to get to and from the various locales in and around London with remarkable speed and accuracy. The Staines Railway Station in particular is the perfect example of public transport made easy and safe. From the Railway a passenger can get to places as varied as London, Reading, and Weybridge. The bus station is a just a few blocks away from the Railway and, as mentioned above, Heathrow is mere minutes away in a taxi. Interestingly enough, there have been plans in place for quite some time to create a railway line straight from Heathrow to Staines. After all the talk and debate it looks like this will finally occur and this will naturally help bolster the fortunes of both destinations as well as nearly every other part of London and its wide swath as well.
Staines is an undeniably modern town and this fact is clear to see. There was a day, however, when this bustling burg was little more than a meager crossing sitting aside the Thames. In those days the Roman Empire was in its dying throes and Staines was an important location due to its proximity to London, which was even then one of the most prominent cities in the world. Staines was essentially a stopping point at the time and the Staines bridge was built around 43 AD to allow further traffic to get to and from London. The bridge was made of stones or, in Latin, "stanas". It is here that Staines likely got its name and, though it is indelibly linked to London throughout its history, we can love Staines for all of its unique charm and singular pleasures rather than thinking of it as just another part of the metropolis that is modern day London.
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