The old Roman road from London to Salisbury, now the A30, runs through the town. The London Mark Stone, erected in 1285 and now on a pedestal dated 1781, showed the western limit of the City of London's jurisdiction on the Thames. In 1603 Sir Walter Raleigh was tried and sentenced to death in Staines because there was plague in London. There are several large reservoirs close to the town which are flooded disused gravel pits. These are popular habitats for many species of migratory waterfowl in winter and spring, and some reservoirs are the focal point of a large amusement and watersports complex at Thorpe Park.
Local industry includes light engineering works.
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