Godalming

Godalming is an ancient market and coaching town situated on the River Wey. As the midway point between London and Portsmouth it still retains a number of old coaching inns – amongst others, Peter the Great stayed in Godalming on his way to Portsmouth in March 1698. Godalming was the first town in the country to have a public electricity supply in September 1881 and featured in the recent Hollywood film “Holiday” starring Cameron Diaz and Jude Law. 

Villages around Godalming 

Hindhead

The highest village in Surrey, Hindhead is best known for its National Trust heathland at the Devil's Punchbowl and Gibbet Hill. With its panoramic views across Surrey, Gibbet Hill marks the point at which highwaymen were hanged. The Sailor's Stone marks the fate of one particular sailor on leave from Portsmouth and is mentioned in Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby, as Nicholas and Smike stop to read the inscription on the stone.

Frensham

Situated between the towns of Haslemere and Farnham, Frensham Common boasts around a thousand acres of countryside. The Common is part-managed by the local borough council and is the site of two large ponds, known as Frensham Great and Little Ponds. These were built in the Middle Ages to provide fish for the Bishop of Winchester's estate. Recently, their sandy beaches were featured in “Elizabeth, the Golden Age”, starring Cate Blanchett.

Chiddingfold

Historically, the town was famous for its glassworks which surrounded the green, and an example of Chiddingfold glass can be found in the lancet window of St Mary’s church in the village. Chiddingfold today is well known for its annual Guy Fawkes’ bonfire celebrations, attracting around 10,000 visitors each year. A torch-lit procession starts the celebrations, which always take place on the Saturday closest to November 5th.