Out & About in Guildford

The county town of Surrey, Guildford, has so much to offer including historic buildings, stunning gardens and first class entertainment. In fact Guildford and the surrounding area are situated in some of the most beautiful scenery in the South East of England. Guildford is also home to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The author of the story, Lewis Carroll, spent the last year of his life in Guildford and the town regularly puts on events to commemorate him and his tales.

Guildford grew because of its location - roughly the half way point between the admiralty in Greenwich and the naval port at Portsmouth. Travellers would stop at the Guildford inns, such as The Lion or The Angel, to swap horses. When steam trains came, Guildford was no longer used for this purpose and fell into decline. But gradually as people started to commute to London the town once again became popular.

Shopping

The unique atmosphere of Guildford is what sets it apart. There is a busy but relaxed feel to the place and the town offers some of the South East's best shopping. There is a good range of shops behind the traditional frontages of some of the town's historic buildings. It is a delight to discover that the High Street is cobbled and is criss-crossed by narrow alleyways and lanes. Here you will find a good selection of cafes, restaurants and designer stores. There is a large shopping centre called The Friary on North Street and, off the main street, are smaller shopping centres. Every Friday and Saturday in North Street a street market is held. On the first Tuesday of the month, except for January, there is a Farmers' Market in the High Street.

Food and Drink

In the town and surrounding villages there are numerous excellent places to eat and drink. There are cosy pubs and traditional restaurants. Based on your love of Indian, Thai, Italian, French, Chinese or Malaysian, you can take your pick. Pubs in the town offer pub grub and restaurants usually offer a la carte and various specials. Look out for early evening meals as they can often be cheaper than those eaten later on.

Arts & Entertainment

There is much to see and do in Guildford and the choice ranges from theatre to live music. There are venues to suit all ages and tastes. Warm hospitality awaits at the quality bars and clubs. The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is located in the town centre as is the Electric Theatre and both host shows, live music, concerts and films.

During the daytime, Guildford Museum is well worth a visit. You can also walk through the grounds of the castle and visit the Great Tower of Guildford. There are free guided walks with Guildford Town Guides who are entertaining and informative. Guildford has a magnificent Guildhall which you can tour and see its famous clock. The oldest surviving building in Guildford, St Mary's Church, is open to visitors and of course the Cathedral offers a welcome to all.

Nearby, the Royal Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley are only 15 minutes drive away. There are wonderful walks with spectacular views over Surrey at Newlands Corner on the Southern side of the North Downs. Denbies English Vineyard is an all-weather destination and their "Indoor Wine Experience" tours operate year-round. This beautiful vineyard is a very popular venue for locals and visitors. Leith Hill at nearby Dorking is owned by the National Trust and is the highest summit in the South East of England. An unrivalled panorama can be enjoyed from its 18th century Gothic tower.

Hotels and Travel

The M25 is only nine miles from Guildford. Heathrow Airport is about 25 miles away and Gatwick Airport 35 miles away. There is a frequent rail service to London Waterloo. To Portsmouth the train takes 55 minutes. All this ensures that Guildford is easily accessible to both business and leisure travellers. An easy way to get into the city centre is to use one of the many park and ride carparks situated around the city.

Well known hotel chains are in and around the area such as Ramada, Jarvis and Holiday Inn. As well as these, you can find privately-owned hotels and guesthouses all offering a warm welcome. All tastes and budgets are catered for from high-end establishments with tennis courts and swimming pools to small but comfortable Bed and Breakfast family-run places. Whether you are taking a short break or a business trip you are sure to find the accommodation that is just right for you.