Save the Date - Saturday May 8, 2027
Surrey Day 2027 - Inspirational Surrey
Join us for the ninth annual Surrey Day celebration of our wonderful county!
The theme for Surrey Day 2027 is Inspirational Surrey - celebrating a county that has inspired generations of artists, writers, musicians and creative minds.
From the landscapes, towns and villages that inspired great writers to Surrey’s extraordinary musical heritage, creativity runs through the county.
Surrey has a rich creative heritage. HG Wells wrote The War of the Worlds while living in Woking, Lewis Carroll had strong ties to Guildford, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also made his home in Hindhead.
Our musical connections are just as impressive: Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, Paul Weller in Woking, and members of Queen, Genesis, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles have called Surrey home.
In the visual arts, George Frederic and Mary Watts made their home at Compton, now home to Watts Gallery and the celebrated Watts Chapel, part of a creative legacy that continues across the county.
Celebrating Surrey’s Creative Past and Present
On Surrey Day, we’ll be celebrating these remarkable connections while also shining a spotlight on the people finding inspiration in Surrey today.
Across the county, communities, attractions, artists, performers and organisations will come together to tell their stories and celebrate the places, people and ideas that make Surrey special.
Surrey Day is led by founding partners Visit Surrey, BBC Radio Surrey and the Surrey Lieutenancy.
We’re honoured that previous Surrey Day ambassadors and supporters have included the Duke of Edinburgh - then the Earl of Wessex - Dame Judi Dench, Dame Penelope Keith, Sir Brian May, Brian Blessed and Chesney Hawkes.
We’ll soon be announcing our Surrey Day 2027 Ambassador - watch this space!
Whether Surrey has inspired you to create, explore, perform, write, make music or simply see the world a little differently, we’d love you to join us and celebrate Inspirational Surrey on Saturday May 8, 2027.
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Surrey Day 2026 Unearths Surrey’s Hidden Treasures
Thousands of people across Surrey came together on Saturday May 9 to celebrate the eighth annual Surrey Day - a county-wide celebration of everything that makes Surrey such a special place to live, work and visit.
This year’s event embraced the themes of Exploring Surrey Underground and Surrey’s Hidden Treasures, with attractions, museums, vineyards, libraries and community groups hosting a packed programme of events and activities across the county.
Scientist and television presenter Dame Maggie Aderin served as Surrey Day 2026 ambassador and spent part of the day with members of Girlguiding Surrey East at Horton Country Park in Epsom. Nearly two hundred Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers took part in outdoor challenges and activities while earning the very first Surrey Day badge.
Exploring Secret Surrey
Across Surrey, visitors discovered hidden histories, underground spaces and fascinating local stories.
Highlights included the opening of the historic Limpsfield air raid shelters, hands-on fossil sessions at Surrey museums, Epsom's unique Deep Shelter opening for guided tours, two-for-one entry at Watts Gallery and Lightbox Gallery, and special events hosted by the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, showcasing how the geology beneath the vines contributes to the production of award-winning wines.
Major celebrations also took place in towns including Dorking and Oxted, while Surrey’s libraries marked the day with events linked to the National Year of Reading and local authors. Surrey County Council’s archaeology team also joined the celebrations with exclusive content exploring “Roman Surrey beneath our feet.”
BBC Radio Surrey dedicated a full day of broadcasting to Surrey Day. Presenter James Cannon spent the morning in Epsom for the unveiling of a new mural celebrating the town, while presenter and Deputy Lieutenant Mark Carter visited Godstone, where residents and businesses have faced fifteen months of disruption following the collapse of the High Street. The day concluded with a Surrey Day celebration at Flower Farm in Godstone.
An occasion marked across the county - and further afield
Dignitaries including Michael More-Molyneux, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, and Joosje Hamilton, High Sheriff of Surrey, visited attractions and events across the county.
The Lord Lieutenant’s itinerary included visits to the seventeenth-century Dorking caves, Shere Museum and Kingfisher Farm Shop, which hosted a special event celebrating Surrey’s food and drink producers.
The Surrey Poet Laureate, Adam Gary - president and founder of the Surrey Poetry Society - was also commissioned to write a special poem in celebration of Surrey Day.
Celebrations even extended to Westminster, where Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle gathered Surrey MPs outside Parliament for a special Surrey Day photograph with the county flag.
A celebration of people, place and community
Surrey Day is managed by BBC Radio Surrey, Visit Surrey and the Surrey Lieutenancy, in partnership with charities, businesses, attractions and organisations from across the county.
Christine Howard, Chair of Visit Surrey, said:
“Surrey Day captures everything that makes this county so special - its people, places, communities and incredible sense of pride. From our towns and villages to our countryside, attractions and businesses, the day shines a spotlight on the very best of Surrey and encourages people to discover something new on their own doorstep. The atmosphere across the county this year was absolutely fantastic.”
Mark Carter, founder of Surrey Day, added:
“Surrey Day 2026 surpassed all expectations. The scale of community support, the number of events taking place and the incredible response on social media showed just how much affection people have for Surrey. This year’s themes of ‘Going Underground’ and ‘Hidden Treasures’ sparked curiosity, creativity and discovery right across the county, and having Dame Maggie Aderin as our ambassador made the day even more special.”
Surrey Day will return on Saturday May 8, 2027
Led by partners Visit Surrey, BBC Radio Surrey and the Surrey Lieutenancy, Surrey Day brings communities together across towns, villages and attractions to celebrate everything that makes Surrey such a special place to live, work and visit. Each year features special visits, well-known ambassadors, live radio coverage, podcasts and celebrations across the county. Here’s a look back at how Surrey Day has grown.
Surrey Day 2025 – Saturday 10 May
Theme: How World War Two shaped Surrey and “Take the Lead” dog-friendly destinations.
Ambassador: Chesney Hawkes
In 2025, with VE Day parties taking place, Surrey Day took on a special poignance on Saturday May 10.
Our annual community event, brought Surrey’s towns, villages and attractions together in celebration, in partnership with BBC Radio Surrey and the Surrey Lieutenancy.
Once again we were blessed with spectacular sunshine. In 2025, we had two key themes: How World War Two shaped Surrey and “Take the Lead” dog-friendly destinations.
Towns and villages broke out the bunting, memories and wartime stories were shared and local dignitaries, including the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff of Surrey, visited events across the county, as well as shining a spotlight on some of Surrey’s lesser-known gems.
“This was our seventh celebration of life in Surrey, and it definitely felt like our best to date,” said Surrey Day founder and BBC Radio Surrey presenter Mark Carter.
“The BBC Surrey team, Visit Surrey and the Surrey Lieutenancy worked collaboratively with a host of individuals and organisations to deliver a fantastic celebration. During the day, I lost count of the number of people who stopped me to say how much they appreciate the effort that everyone puts in to making this such a successful, annual event.”
BBC Radio Surrey broadcast throughout the day, with highlights including a How World War Two shaped Surrey podcast special; Sara Thornton venturing across the county in a vintage World War Two jeep; James Cannon’s Big Dog Walk at local beauty spot, Newlands Corner; music from new and unsigned musicians from across the area; and a grand finale from D’Oyly Carte Island near Weybridge, on the banks of the River Thames.
As well as the VE Day celebrations and World War Two stories, many attractions across Surrey also adopted the “Take the Lead” theme by welcoming dog owners and their furry friends to explore at a slightly different pace. Bespoke doggy menus were even created for the occasion at destinations such as Albury Organic Vineyard, Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher and Painshill in Cobham.
“The One and Only” singer Chesney Hawkes, who lives in the county, also leant his support - following in the footsteps of previous Surrey Day ambassadors, including Dame Judi Dench, Dame Penelope Keith, Sir Brian May and Brian Blessed.
“From all of us at Visit Surrey, we would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who got involved in Surrey Day 2025 and made it such a success - from the attractions that hosted events and BBC Surrey broadcasts to the residents who so enthusiastically embraced this wonderful celebration of our county,” says Chris Howard. “We can’t wait to celebrate with you all again next year!”
Surrey Day 2024 – Saturday 11 May
Theme: Surrey from the Sky
Ambassador: Brian Blessed
The sixth Surrey Day celebrated the theme Surrey from the Sky, highlighting our county’s aviation heritage and spectacular viewpoints.
The theme reflected Surrey’s strong links with aviation, from the iconic Concorde at Brooklands Museum near Weybridge to the lifesaving missions flown by the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex from Redhill Aerodrome.
We also celebrated some of Surrey’s finest viewpoints, including Box Hill and Leith Hill, home to Leith Hill Tower - the highest point in south east England.
At Painshill Park in Cobham, lucky visitors experienced balloon flights over the landscape, now widely recognised for its appearances in Bridgerton.
Actor Brian Blessed, a proud Surrey resident and honorary patron of the Guildford Shakespeare Company, served as Surrey Day ambassador.
Throughout the day, BBC Radio Surrey broadcast from Birdworld near Farnham, Fairoaks Airport near Chobham and concluded with a celebratory tea party at Brooklands Museum.
Surrey Day 2023 – Saturday 13 May
Theme: Celebrating Surrey’s Waterways
Ambassador: Penelope Keith
Surrey Day 2023 took place a week later than usual to accommodate the coronation of King Charles III.
The fifth annual celebration proved the most successful yet and welcomed one of Britain’s best-loved actors, Penelope Keith, as its ambassador.
Best known for The Good Life and To the Manor Born, and a long-time Surrey resident who had also served as Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff, she was a fitting figurehead for the day.
Events and visits took place across the county, including an appearance by Dame Penelope at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre.
A heritage bus from the London Bus Museum carried the BBC Radio Surrey team to locations such as Painshill Park, RHS Garden Wisley and Hampton Court Palace.
The theme shone a spotlight on Surrey’s waterways, celebrating communities and landscapes along the River Wey and River Thames.
Surrey Day 2022 – Saturday 7 May
Theme: Local food and drink
Ambassador: Eamonn Holmes
Surrey Day 2022 celebrated our county’s outstanding food and drink producers.
Ambassador Eamonn Holmes sampled the Great Surrey Menu at Loseley Park alongside BBC Radio Surrey presenter James Cannon.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey visited venues across the county, including The Wood Fired Larder, Openview Farm, The Lightbox and the Peace Garden at Shah Jahan Mosque.
A special podcast featured Visit Surrey chair Chris Howard walking the North Downs Way from Farnham to the Kent border with BBC Radio Surrey.
Presenter Lesley McCabe broadcast from around the county aboard a heritage bus from the London Bus Museum.
As evening fell, Guildford Cathedral was once again illuminated in green.
This year marked the end of the Surrey Day partnership with Surrey Life, as the magazine closed later that summer.
- Listen to Walking the North Downs Way through Surrey on BBC Radio Surrey
Surrey Day 2021 – Saturday 1 May
Themes: Raise a Glass, Towns and Villages, Natural Beauty
Ambassador: Brian May
Surrey Day 2021 took place while pandemic restrictions were easing but large gatherings were still limited, so most celebrations remained online alongside a small number of ticketed events.
Brian May shared his love of Surrey’s nature and landscapes, while audiences joined BBC Radio Surrey, Visit Surrey and Surrey Life across social media and on air.
Highlights included Raise a Glass, which encouraged people to toast those who had helped keep communities going during difficult times, and a spotlight on Surrey’s towns and villages, recognising the resilience of independent shops, pubs, theatres and high streets.
The county’s countryside was also celebrated for supporting wellbeing during lockdown, and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex visited Kingfisher Farm Shop.
Surrey Day 2020 – Saturday 2 May
Theme: Surrey celebrities shared their favourite places
Ambassador: Judi Dench
The second Surrey Day was reimagined as a virtual celebration as the pandemic and national lockdown took hold.
Despite the circumstances, organisers welcomed one of Surrey’s most famous residents, Dame Judi Dench, as the event’s first ambassador. She shared her love for the British Wildlife Centre.
Surrey Life also interviewed well-known Surrey figures about their favourite local places.
Audiences from around the world tuned in to BBC Radio Surrey and followed #SurreyDay online, with residents sharing the places they missed most and expats sending memories from afar.
The programme featured online tours of museums, galleries and attractions across the county, and the celebrations concluded with Guildford Cathedral illuminated in green by Peachy Productions.
Surrey Day 2019 – Saturday 4 May
Theme: The Seven Wonders of Surrey
The first Surrey Day took place on Saturday 4 May 2019, launching a new annual celebration of the people, places and heritage of Surrey.
The event was created by Visit Surrey, BBC Radio Surrey and Surrey Life magazine to raise the county’s profile through events, tours and storytelling.
BBC Radio Surrey listeners selected the Seven Wonders of Surrey, later published in Surrey Life, including Watts Gallery in Compton, Waverley Abbey near Farnham and Leith Hill Tower near Dorking.
Thousands of people took part in the inaugural event across the county, enjoying behind-the-scenes tours at National Trust properties, a lively street party at Silent Pool and a communal beacon-lighting finale at Priory Farm.
Find out how to get involved with Surrey Day
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