Surrey located in the South East of England is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire and is divided into 11 Boroughs and Districts.  

The name Surrey is Saxon meaning "South Ridge" though later the name of the area was Sudergeona or "southern".  Little remains of the Roman or the Saxon periods in Surrey exist. However there is an Iron Age hillfort at Holmbury Hill and remnants of the Roman roads Stane Street and Ermine Street. The title of Earl of Surrey was given as reward for loyalty during the rebellion that followed the death of William I of England, with the signing of the great charter at Runnymede in 1215. 

Find the answers to some frequently asked questions about Surrey.

Read on for taste of each regional getaway.

Guildford
The historic county town, although the county administration Surrey County Council was moved to Kingston upon Thames in 1893.  Guildford with its picturesque setting on the River Wey, dates back to Saxon times and is the largest town in Surrey.   Renowned for its shopping and arts, Guildford attracts many innovative businesses including gaming companies and satellite technology.

Woking
The second largest town in Surrey, Woking has much to explore, with an award-winning arts centre, The Lightbox and home to WWF-UK at the Living Planet Centre.  Take a heritage trail and you will discover a dramatic sculpture by Michael Condron, "The Woking Martian" which commemorates the author HG Wells who lived in the town.

Mole Valley
Is the perfect location to explore all of Surrey.  Known for its rolling hills, it is home to stunning scenery including Box Hill.  The charming towns of Dorking and Leatherhead offer great local pubs and small boutique shopping.

Waverley

Discover the bustling towns of Godalming, Farnham as well as a host of attractive villages, packed with places of interest, great walks and cycling and places to dine out.

Runnymede
The Borough of Runnymede is steeped in history dating back thousands of years.  Situated in the Thames Basin the towns and villages of Addlestone, Chertsey, Egham, Englefield Green, Longcross, Lyne, New Haw, Ottershaw, Row Town, Thorpe, Virginia Water and Woodham which make up the Borough each have their own individual histories. 

Spelthorne
Spelthorne is the northernmost borough of Surrey stretching along the River Thames. Beautiful walks along the Thames Path link up Memorial Gardens to the Lammas Recreation Ground and Laleham Park. With Staines-upon-Thames a bustling market town offering an excellent range of shops and places to eat.

Despite its location next to London, Surrey contains a great deal of mature woodland. The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers a quarter of the county. The hills stretch across the chalk North Downs that run from Farnham in the west above Guildford, Dorking and Reigate, to Oxted in the east. This area is a rural paradise with stunning countryside and landscapes.  Among its many notable beauty spots are Box Hill, Leith Hill, Frensham Ponds, Newlands Corner and Puttenham and Crooksbury Commons. It is the most wooded county in Great Britain, with 22.4% coverage. Box Hill has the oldest untouched area of natural woodland in the UK, one of the oldest in Europe.

Much of Surrey is in the Green Belt and rolling downland, the county's geology being dominated by the chalk hills of the North Downs. There are many commons with an extensive network of footpaths and bridleways including the North Downs Way. Towards the north of the county, the land is largely flat around Staines and borders the River Thames. The highest elevation in Surrey is Leith Hill near Dorking at 965 ft (294 m) above sea level, is the highest point in southeastern England.

Surrey’s proximity to London and strategic location within South East England has resulted in it becoming one of the most affluent and successful counties in the UK. The busiest single runway airport in the world (Gatwick) was historically in Surrey, but is now part of West Sussex.

Surrey is also renowned for gardening, with the RHS’s flagship RHS Garden Wisley, along with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in Greater London.

Did you know the first known record of cricket was in Guildford, Surrey?  Discover some more weird and wonderful facts about Surrey.

Come and discover sun-dappled footpaths that criss-cross the most wooded county in the country. Leap into the 21st Century in our modern art galleries.  Experience first-hand the very latest in music at a festival or in the pubs and clubs that abound. Or visit our imposing stately homes with their beautifully maintained landscape gardens where, for centuries, celebrated artists, musicians and literary figures have found inspiration.

Our comprehensive public transport network means that you can leave your car at home and discover the area with ease by simply hopping on a bus, train or even boat.

Whether you stay in a cosy bed and breakfast or one of our first class spa hotels, you will find that there is always plenty to do in a county where old traditions and institutions such as royal residences, cream teas and cricket rub shoulders with modern architecture, contemporary theatre, international horse racing (including the world-renowned Derby held each year in June), excellent sporting facilities and state-of-the-art theme parks.

For further information on Surrey visit the Surrey County Council website.

The 11 Districts and Boroughs of Surrey are:

Elmbridge Borough Council – Walton-upon-Thames, Esher, Claygate
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council – Epsom, Ewell
Visit Guildford – Guildford, Shere, Albury, East & West Horsley
Mole Valley District Council – Dorking, Leatherhead
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council – Banstead, Reigate, Redhill, Horley
Runnymede Borough Council – Egham, Chertsey
Spelthorne Borough Council – Staines, Ashford, Sunbury
Surrey Heath Borough Council – Camberley, Chobham, Bagshott
Tandridge District Council – Oxted, Lingfield, Godstone
Waverley Borough Council – Farnham, Haslemere, Godalming, Cranleigh 
Woking Borough Council – Woking, Horsell, West Byfleet