Explore Surrey

Due to the uncertain nature of the coronavirus developments, we recommend you stay local and observe social distancing measures. For guidance please visit our COVID-19 webpage.  

Message from Surrey County Council
Coronavirus: countryside car parks closed

In light of the coronavirus and the critical need to prevent the spread of the virus, all our countryside car parks will be closed from Tuesday 24 March to support social distancing.

We will be monitoring the situation and UK Government advice and guidance, and will reopen the car parks as soon as we are able.

Surrey is a county waiting to be explored.  Full of history and heritage, grand designs and glorious gardens. Rolling countryside and a rich Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Surrey Hills. Surrey has lots of amazing places to explore, let us help you discover more about this county.

The county of Surrey extends from Greater London in the north to the Sussex and Hampshire borders in the south. Situated in the South East of England, its proximity to London and surrounding counties, also including Kent and Berkshire, have made Surrey an important and influential county throughout British history.

Comprising of thriving market towns and quintessentially English villages, Surrey is renowned for its green open spaces and vast areas of broadleaf and ancient woodland, in fact Surrey is the most densely wooded county in the whole of England.

Scenic Highlights
Head to the top of Leith Hill tower in the Surrey Hills and get your first awe-inspiring, 360 degree view of the scenic highlights that make Surrey such a fabulous place to visit. The highest point in the South East, offering views that extend to London in the North and the Channel (on a good day) to the South, with far reaching woodland and green open spaces in between. On a clear day it is claimed you can see 14 counties from its summit.

Steeped in heritage and history, Surrey is home to a superb selection of well preserved stately homes, many of which form part of the National Trust, including Polesden Lacey and Hatchlands Park, along with one of England's favourite Historic Royal Palaces, Hampton Court Palace.

Discover the historic landmarks of the county with a visit to the Runnymede, site of the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215, see one of Surrey's famous castles in Guildford or Farnham, or take a trip along the Wey Navigation, the first British river to be made navigable in 1653. Learn more about the History of Surrey, from family history to museums and more, and discover the Surrey Countryside , with walking trails, cycling to nature and wildlife.

Towns
Steeped in history with cobbled streets and twisting lanes, Surrey's market towns showcase beautiful timber-framed buildings, castle keeps and abbey ruins, alongside an eclectic mix of independent and big name stores.

Vibrant Guildford, the largest town of Surrey, brings together chic shopping and stylish places to eat and drink, surrounded by historic buildings, such as the iconic Guildhall and clock tower, theatres and entertainment venues.  It is also one of the major shopping destinations for Surrey and is also the County town of Surrey.

The charming town of Farnham, located in South West Surrey is known for its Georgian streets, historic buildings and craft hertiage.  Take time to explore the Castle Keep, the magnificent park as well as the quaint streets and alleyways.

The historic market town of Godalming was the first town in the world to have a public electricity supply and is known for the Pepperpot located in the beautiful High Street.

Riverside Kingston-upon-Thames offers destination shopping and waterfront dining only 25 minutes from central London. Home to a bustling market for more than 800 years, and the place where Saxon Kings were crowned, the town now hosts a busy calendar of festivals and events throughout the year.

Historic Dorking, surrounded by the beautiful Surrey Hills, is home to a thriving arts community, a renowned antiques and eclectic vintage shops quarter in West Street and is within easy reach of Denbies Wine Estate.

Whilst modern Woking, original home of 'Modfather' Paul Weller and “The Jam”, features the contemporary influence of HG Wells, author of War of the Worlds and the award-winning gallery and museum - The Lightbox.

Villages
Explore village life in Surrey and you'll discover picture postcard cottages, local stores and village greens, along with welcoming pubs at the heart of the community. Unchanged for generations, a tour of the villages in Surrey offers the chance to step back in time and learn more about the region as well as some of its famous residents.

Visit England's oldest recorded village, Abinger Common, with dwellings dating back more than 7,000 years, or England's largest village, Cranleigh, with its rare, independent department store called Manns, a lovely quaint cafe called Cromwells, because it once used by Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War and a brilliant independent fashion house and cafe named “One Forty”.

Find green-fingered inspiration in Bramley, home of acclaimed garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll or retrace the steps of the cast of blockbuster movies such as The Holiday or Bridget Jones in Shere.

Take a stroll in Holmbury St Mary to the road that inspired EM Forster to create Summer Street in Room With A View or visit the grave of famous journalist and explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley in Pirbright. 

Why not use the itinerary planner tool and build your own favourite day out.  The ITINERARY PLANNER tool (found at the top of each page)  enables you to select any number of tourism products or attractions and add them to a 'virtual' itinerary.  This itinerary can be viewed at any point as you browse around our website and shows the locations of each establishment plotted directly onto a dynamic map. The itinerary includes summaries of the included attractions as well as providing road directions and distances so that you can get an idea of how far each location is from one another.