Celebrate Woking

Welcome to Woking in the heart of Surrey, a compact and modern town fit for the 21st century, with convenient shopping and entertainment facilities, just half an hour from London. Surrounded by extensive countryside and waterways, Woking also offers award-winning attractions on its doorstep, excellent accessibility, superb transport links, and plenty to see and do across the Borough. Whether you are a local resident yourself, or looking for somewhere new to take family and friends who are visiting, why not check out the Celebrate Woking Events Calendar for some inspiration?

Take part in the free Family Trail at Victoria Place and discover everything Woking has on offer. As well as a fantastic shopping experience, there is plenty to keep you entertained including movies at the Nova Cinema,  New Victoria Theatre shows and free kids play activities.

Woking has a thriving arts and culture scene. Year-round, visitors flock to the area’s largest theatre – the New Victoria Theatre – to watch West End touring shows, and internationally-renowned comedians, opera and dance companies. Woking also boasts a more intimate venue - The Rhoda McGaw Theatre - which showcases community, contemporary and amateur groups in its smaller performance space. Many people combine their visit with dining out at one of Woking’s popular restaurants.

Just the other side of the Basingstoke Canal lies the award-winning art gallery and museum - The Lightbox – which hosts exhibitions of world-famous sculpture, paintings and installations, and also offers regular comedy nights and arts workshops for people of all ages.

Woking is well known as one of the most environmentally-friendly boroughs in the UK, so it is fitting that WWF-UK has also made its home here. The Living Planet Centre welcomes visitors to its state-of-the-art premises, where they can find out more about how individuals can support the worldwide charity’s aims.

Woking history boasts an extensive list of famous ‘sons and daughters’ in its Hall of Fame, not least H.G. Wells, Paul Weller, Rick Parfitt, Ken Wood, and many others.
H. G. Wells wrote his classic novel The War of the Worlds whilst living in Woking just over 150 years ago. You can follow his Heritage Trail around the Borough, on foot or bike, or take a look at the legacy of Woking's anniversary celebrations.

Woking is also proud of its long and significant links with the Muslim community in Britain, which most notably began with the establishment of the Oriental Institute in 1884, by Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner. This unique heritage includes the internationally-significant Shah Jahan Mosque, Brookwood Cemetery, and the Peace Garden at the Muslim Burial Ground.  Many of Woking’s heritage sites are open throughout the year, with others welcoming visitors on special Open Days, such as the ruins at Woking Palace in Old Woking.

Woking Park’s landscaped gardens are just a short walk from the town centre, and feature ponds, seasonal tennis courts and cricket, and all-weather 3G sports pitches. Golf-lovers are spoiled for choice with 11 courses spread across the borough.

Woking’s lively town centre is surrounded by woodland and waterways. The Basingstoke Canal links Byfleet in the east to Brookwood in the west, providing an easy and picturesque route right across the borough, as well as linking with the River Wey. Horsell Common is managed by Trustees of the Horsell Common Preservation Society, who do so with great care out of respect for the wildlife and environment.

As many of Woking’s villages border the canal or river, there are many opportunities for wildlife-spotting, while enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside.

EVENTS

Celebrate Woking offers a year-long programme of free, family-friendly cultural events, starting with Chinese New Year and running through to the Christmas Lights Switch On spectacular in November.

Other highlights include the Surrey Half Marathon, Surrey Pride, the Diwali lantern parade, and the Fireworks Extravaganza. So there are plenty of good times to visit the Borough and enjoy what it has to offer.

Celebrate Woking’s flagship annual events are the hugely popular Party in the Park in July, and the award-winning Woking Food and Drink Festival at the end of the summer holidays, which attract tens of thousands of visitors each year.