Information on Historic Guildford, Surrey, England

Historic Guildford, Surrey, England

Historic Guildford

Guildford is the county town of Surrey and lies as a gateway to the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With picturesque villages and beautiful landscapes at its doorstep, it’s hard to believe the area is also within easy reach of London (under 40 miles away).

Offering first class entertainment and shopping in and around its cobbled High Street, Guildford is a great place to base yourself. Not only can you enjoy some of the finest shopping in the South East, but a wealth of attractions are within easy reach. For those looking for something more tranquil, you are also perfectly placed for an easy escape into the hills to enjoy walking, stunning viewpoints, pub lunches and afternoon teas.

Attractions in the surrounding area include historic buildings, such as the National Trust’s Clandon Park, an outstanding Palladian house with magnificent marble hall and Hatchlands Park, which houses the world’s largest collection of keyboard instruments associated with famous composers. Loseley Park on the other hand, is a beautiful Elizabethan mansion with walled gardens, set amidst magnificent parkland scenery. Other fine gardens in the area include Wisley - the flagship of the Royal Horticultural Society and Painshill Park, an award winning restoration of England’s Georgian heritage. Another attraction is Guildford Cathedral, with its imposing exterior yet beautiful interior of pale Somerset sandstone and white Italian marble floors; it is floodlit to spectacular effect at night.

From May to September, volunteers conduct guided tours of the historic market town’s centre. Visits include the Norman castle keep with its splendid municipal gardens and Guildford Museum, which has displays relating to Lewis Carroll, who is buried here. Memorablia of another famous resident, Gertrude Jekyll, the landscape gardener, is also on display and there are many examples of her gardens in Surrey. The tour also takes in the Guildhall and its magnificent overhanging clock.

For evening entertainment, the Yvonne Arnaud theatre, set on the banks of the River Wey at the bottom of the High Street, shows pre and post West End productions, there is also the Electric Theatre and Odeon Cinema. Guildford also boasts a wide range of places to eat and drink with restaurants providing French, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine, wine bars offering fine wine and pubs with real ale (some of it brewed locally) and traditional fayre. For the more active, the Spectrum Leisure Complex offers ice-skating, ten-pin bowling and a whole range of other sporting activities whilst the Guildford Lido offers open-air swimming.

For more information on Guildford and accommodation in the area, please contact the Tourist Information Centre listed below.

For more Information please contact:
Guildford Tourist Information Centre
14 Tunsgate
Guildford
Surrey GU1 3QT
Web: www.visitguildford.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 444333
Fax: +44 (0)1483 302046

Where to stay and things to do in Surrey

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