Guildford Town Centre Car Free Day 2023

Sunday 24 September 2023
10.00-16.30

Be part of a Greener Guildford

Guildford’s third annual Car Free Day will be held on Sunday 24 September 2023 from 10:00 to 16:30 inviting residents to “Be part of a Greener Guildford”. 

Guildford Borough Council is coordinating the free, fun and interactive event, bringing in hundreds of local providers, traders and community organisations, all working together.  The event will involve a range of education and awareness activities, family entertainment, and many different stalls.  Car Free Day encourages motorists to choose alternative travel such as walking, cycling or public transport, instead of using their car for the day.  

• Learn how you can do more to tackle climate change.
• Food and drink stalls for every taste.
• Live music.
• Have a go on e-bikes and e-skateboards and learn about active travel.
• Children’s activities including circus skills, 9m climbing tower and street play. 
• Vegan, Antiques, Farmers and Arts market stalls.

What's On

On the closed roads in the town centre (Upper High Street, Tunsgate and High Street), the following zones will be filled with events, stalls and activities:

• EcoZone (Upper High Street): 

• Zero Carbon Guildford – locals making a difference
• Guildford Environmental Forum – promoting their work
• Geared Up Cycles’ Bike Doctor – get your bike fixed for free
• Stagecoach – pop up bus stop
• SCC Active Travel – smoothie bike
• University of Surrey – ground breaking research
• Experience Guildford – promoting Greener Guildford
• St Edwards North Street display
• Guildford Bike User Group / Kidical – promoting cycling
• Extinction Rebellion – promoting awareness of climate change
• Surrey Wildlife Trust

• ActivZone / FunZone (Upper High Street): 

• E-bikes – have a go
• 9m climbing wall – are you brave enough?
• Circus Skills – have a go, from juggling, to tight rope walking!

• MarketZone (High St): 

• Antique & Brocante stalls
• Rural Craft stalls
• Market stalls
• Art & Maker stalls

• VeganZone (High St): 

• Ethical Vegan Food stalls
• Ethical Vegan craft stalls

• MusicZone (Under Tunsgate Arch): 

• Rock Choir
• H&T Creative – performances/workshops on plastic pollution
• Cactus Brass Band

• PlayZone (Tunsgate): 

• GBC Community Play Rangers – fun interactive fun for kids
• Facepainting

Getting Here

• Only Upper High Street’s closure will affect public transport, with buses diverted up/down York Road to access/egress the bus station.
• Whilst two blue badge parking spaces will be temporarily lost in Upper High Street, an additional 7 blue badge spaces will be temporarily created in Upper High Street car park in Eastgate Gardens.
• All car parks will remain open as usual.
• Cycling is encouraged – there is additional parking for 100 bikes across the town centre and another 500 spaces at Allen House Grounds, off Chertsey Street.

We look forward to seeing you from 10am for a fun, interesting and exciting day.

Download the Car Free Day Map

Aim of the day: 

'To open up spaces where our residents can experience, feel safe in, and enjoy, a traffic free environment.’ 

Guildford Car Free Day is also a celebration of the end of summer events in the town under the #celebrateguildford campaign. 

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus #UKSPF