There is just so much to experience during a visit to Surrey in 2025. Whether you love seeing beautiful gardens bloom, exploring arts and culture attractions, relaxing with fantastic food and drink or just taking some time to get lost and inspired in the Surrey Hills, here is a selection of ideas for making the most of your year ahead in Surrey:
Pic: Surrey Day
1. Surrey Day - the annual celebration of all that is great about our county, Surrey Day is set to return for the seventh year on Saturday May 10. As the timing coincides with the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we will be exploring how Surrey was impacted by World War Two. There will also be a secondary theme, Take The Lead, to share our favourite dog walks and dog-friendly destinations.
2. Discover new places by set-jetting – did you know that Surrey is a star in its own right, having appeared in numerous blockbuster movies and TV shows with major international film studios on the doorstep? Learn more about Surrey’s film locations here.
3. Jane Austen 250 – Britain is celebrating the 250th birthday of the famed and beloved author, Jane Austen, in 2025. Did you know that the novel 'Emma' is set in Surrey, including the infamous picnic at Box Hill?
4. Drink with a view – experience a cocktail with sky high views at the Loft sky bar, which is found 22 floors up at Hilton Woking.
5. Take a wine flight – from Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking to Greyfriars Vineyard near Guildford, explore the Surrey Hills wine route and discover the English wine success story. Keep an eye out for their Summer Spectacular weekend in June, which sees special events taking place across the county in celebration of English Wine Week.
Pic: Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking
6. Experience a Michelin star meal – take a culinary journey at Pennyhill Park’s Latymer restaurant. You’ll also find lots of enticing Surrey food and drink options here.
7. Afternoon tea – with so many beautiful country hotels in Surrey, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of places to enjoy a top-notch afternoon tea (often with a seasonal theme!).
8. Pamper yourself with a Surrey spa stay – go on, treat yourself or a loved one to something a little special. You’ll find some fantastic Surrey spa retreats here.
9. Check out a show – Surrey has a thriving theatre scene – both indoor and outdoor. Learn more here. Also, make sure to celebrate the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre's 60th anniversary in Guildford.
10. Discover artistic inspiration – this year, Surrey Artists' Open Studios is celebrating its 25th year. Look out for open studios across our county in June. In the meantime, Surrey is blessed with a palette of indoor and outdoor galleries and exhibitions.
Pic: Polesden Lacey at Great Bookham
11. A reason to trust - From the royal landscape garden at Claremont and historic country house at Polesden Lacey to the best hilltop views in Surrey at Box Hill and Hindhead, there are so many places to discover with the National Trust.
12. The hills are alive – from the Menuhin Hall in Stoke d’Abernon to the Surrey Hills International Music Festival via rock ‘n’ roll shenanigans at The Boileroom in Guildford, if you love music, you'll love Surrey. Find local concerts and gigs here.
13. Collect inspiring views – explore the series of sculptures dotted throughout the Surrey Hills National Landscape at some of our county’s most picturesque beauty spots. And have you really lived if you haven’t experienced a sunrise or sunset in the beautiful Surrey Hills?!
14. Walk the North Downs Way – tackle the whole route from Farnham in the west to the Kent border in the east, following the historic Pilgrim’s Way with each step. Or maybe do it a stage at a time exploring our county’s country pubs along the way.
15. Explore gorgeous gardens – famously home to RHS Garden Wisley, there are beautiful gardens to visit around every corner in Surrey. Check out the National Garden Scheme for smaller hidden gems. Find more here.
Pic: RHS Garden Wisley near Woking
16. Have a blooming good time – this year marks the last RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival for two years, as the show will be touring to Badminton Estate next year, before returning to the historic palace in East Molesey in 2027.
17. Animal adventures - The UK's largest bird park, Birdworld in Farnham, is expected to open an enchanting new forest concept in the spring/summer, giving families more opportunities to learn and play throughout the 26-acre park. Explore animal attractions here.
18. Secret Surrey – discover something completely different, from wife carrying races and wine half-marathons in Dorking to pram racing in Oxted and Windlesham, classic car hill climbs in Shere, medieval fairs in Abinger and more. Send us a postcard if you’ve got more quirky Surrey events to add!
19. Spinning around – one of the highlights of the cycling calendar in Surrey, the Guildford Town Centre Cycle Races in July sees competitors tackle the cobbled High Street at high speeds.
20. Get in the swing - The 2025 BMW PGA Championship will take place from September 9 to September 14 and brings the world’s best golfers to Wentworth Club at Virginia Water. Practice makes perfect at Silvermere Golf & Leisure, near Cobham, of course.
Pic: Epsom's horse racing history can be seen around the town
21. A day at the races – with Lingfield Park, Epsom Downs, Sandown and Kempton Park, you’re not short of options to watch the gee-gees in Surrey. The Epsom Derby is known as the Greatest Flat Race in the World and you can read more about its history, here.
22. Hit for six – did you know that Surrey County Cricket Club play some of their home games at Woodbridge Road in Guildford every year? There are three fixtures in the diary for July and August this year.
23. Let off steam - Britain is celebrating 200 years since the birth of the modern railway with the nationwide Railway 200 programme. Local events include the Stoke Park Railway Gala Weekend in July.
24. Visit the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation - Brooklands Museum in Weybridge was the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit, which opened in 1907. One of its highlights, the Brooklands Festival of Motorsport, takes place in June.
25. Top gear - The Concours of Elegance displays 60 of the rarest cars in the world at the incredible Fountain Garden at Hampton Court Palace every September.
Pic: Hampton Court Palace at East Molesey
And, finally, speaking of cars, cross your fingers for an added bonus... the M25 works at junction 10 are due to be largely completed this year…
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Find more on Visit Surrey
- English Tourism Week takes place in March.
- Half Term in Surrey is our regularly updated Half Term page through the year
- Celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day in Surrey
- The best places to see spring flowers in Surrey
- Look ahead to the Easter Holidays in Surrey
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