British Library

The British Library has not one but two 1215 (original) copies of Magna Carta. The original destination of the version on display in case 23 of the John Ritblat Gallery is unknown. It was given to Sir Robert Cotton by the barrister Humphrey Wyems on January 1, 1629, and according to one account had been found in a London tailor's shop.

You can also see this cornerstone of liberty on the British Library’s website, along with a translation.

Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle was constructed during the late 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of a pre-existing Roman fortress.

The Castle was the focus of several military battles during the reign of King Stephen and King John and was besieged during the Baron's War in the early 13th century.

Visitors get the opportunity to see one of the originals of Magna Carta, on loan from Lincoln Cathedral. The document is one of only four surviving copies sealed by King John after his meeting with the Barons at Runnymede in 1215.

An exhibition, explaining the origin of Magna Carta and the far-reaching effects it has had on our lives, culminates in the darkened room where visitors can see the original Lincoln Magna Carta, preserved in the correct environmental conditions.

Salisbury Cathedral

The chapter house displays the best-preserved of the four surviving original copies of Magna Carta. The copy came to Salisbury because Elias of Dereham, who was present at Runnymede in 1215, was given the job of distributing some of the original copies. Later, Elias became a Canon of Salisbury and supervised the construction of Salisbury Cathedral.

The copy is the focus of an exhibition, setting out its constitutional significance and the Christian values it enshrines.

Runnymede

It was here, in 1215, that King John sealed the Magna Carta, an event commemorated on the site by the American Bar Association Memorial and John F Kennedy Memorial.

Also at Runnymede is The Ankerwycke Yew – a 2,000-year-old icon. It is said to have witnessed the oathing and sealing of Magna Carta and to be the location where Henry VIII met Anne Boleyn in the 1530s. This yew grows in the grounds of the ruined Priory of Ankerwycke and now measures an impressive 9.4m wide.