Surrey's Arts/Culture/ Museums with a group

Across Surrey there is a whole wealth of arts experiences, museums telling Surrey’s history and all kinds of culture activities, from live music to traditional theatre.  Here are a few to show the great variety.

The Lightbox
The Lightbox is a modern gallery built right in the town centre of Woking.  With striking architecture the inside space loans its self to small local exhibitions to large international show cases.  The Lightbox also contains the history of Woking, showing visitors the complete past of the town.  With regular changes in the exhibitions and free entry this is a great stop for a group.

Parking – Parking for mini buses, drop off point for coaches (main coach park is in Woking)
Catering – light snacks, lunches & afternoon teas
Other – tours of the Lightbox, 10% discount in the Shop on selected items
Length of Visit – 2 – 3 hours

Farnham Maltings
Farnham Maltings is a collective space for all forms of art and culture.  With regular festivals, theatre, dance and music performances the Maltings works with a range of communities across SE England.  Included in the Maltings is the Farnham Museum showing the rich history of the town and in fact the Maltings buildings as well.  With 25 craft studios the Maltings also is a showcase for local crafts, from wood to jewellery, textiles to ceramics, with many of the artists work for sale in the shop.  Suitable for all sizes of groups it is well worth keeping an eye on their What’s On calendar for future events and activities.
Prices – vary depending on the event
Parking – two spaces in The Hart
Catering – Riverside cafe
Other – Shop, hiring space for meetings and events
Length of Visit – depends on event being visited

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Guildford’s premier theatre, offering a great diversity of performances, many of which are pre and post west end productions.  The theatre also produces its own performances.
Prices – vary depending on performance
Parking – Guildford town centres coach parking
Catering – a café during the day, restaurant from 6pm
Length of visit – 2+ hours

Watts Gallery
Watts Gallery is a unique nationally important Gallery situated in the Surrey Hills.  Built by the famous Victorian artist GF Watts, just over 100 years ago, Watts Gallery was home to Watts and his wife Mary towards the end of his life.  Today the gallery houses both his work and Mary’s pottery, indeed the Watts Chapel, just down the road from the Gallery was built by Mary.
Prices – discounts for groups
Parking – no coach parking, so recommend, drop off and park at Artington Park and Ride
Catering – café for light snacks, lunches and afternoon tea
Length of visit – 2 – 4 hours

The New Victoria Theatre, The Ambassador group
The New Victoria Theatre in Woking is a well established theatre receiving many ‘blockbuster’ performances from the theatre world.  As a large theatre it is suited to lavish musical performances as well as intimate drama.
Prices – groups of 10+ prices vary depending on performance
Parking – drop off only
Catering – bars open during performances
Other – cinema and Rhoda McGaw theatre also within the complex
Length of visit – 2+hours

Itineraries and suggested ideas: 

- Combine a visit to Woking with an afternoon at The Lightbox, an early evening meal and then an evening performance at the New Victoria Theatre.

- Morning and lunch at Watts Gallery with afternoon at Loseley Park

- A visit to Denbies Wine Estate, followed by a walk around Dorking with a visit to the Wow Gallery, followed by an evening at the Harlequin Theatre.

- Start at Grayshott Pottery for a factory guided tour, some retail therapy and morning coffee, travel to Farnham to see Farnham Maltings and the afternoon to explore the town.

- The morning at Watts Gallery and the afternoon in Guildford to visit Guildford House Gallery, the Undercroft, the Castle followed by a performance at either Yvonne Arnaud theatre.